# Nick Wright: Wright picked the Broncos to beat the Patriots in a low-scoring AFC Championship game (17-16), said Sean Payton would coach Denver to the Super Bowl, picked the Rams to win outright in Seattle 31-20, believes the winner of the NFC game wins the Super Bowl with the Rams the better team, and expects Matt Stafford to be named league MVP.

**Claimed:** Jan 24, 2026
**Pundit:** Nick Wright — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright
**Outlet:** First Things First (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/first-things-first-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FOXM4062541542.mp3?updated=1769213493

7 checkable claims — 2 game outcome picks, 2 score predictions, 1 award pick, 1 conference champion and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 7 have settled, averaging 32.7 out of 100, against 34.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> The Broncos crowd and the Broncos defense carries them to a seventeen thirteen, seventeen fourteen type of victory.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Los Angeles Rams to beat Seattle Seahawks**
  - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
  - Line: Closing line (Jan 25, 2026): Seahawks by 2.5 · underdog pick, Rams 44%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade.
- **Los Angeles Rams 31 — Seattle Seahawks 20**
  - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 33.33 out of 100, against 95.3 for a naive guess
  - Line: Closing line (Jan 25, 2026): Seahawks by 2.5, total 45.5 · this 31–20 calls a Rams win (by 11; the line gave the Rams 44%) and more points (51). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade.
- **Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl**
  - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Denver Broncos 17 — New England 16**
  - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: scored 45.24 out of 100, against 47.69 for a naive guess
  - Line: Closing line (Jan 25, 2026): Patriots by 3.5, total 43.5 · this 17–16 calls a Broncos win (by 1; the line gave the Broncos about 1 in 3 (36%)) and fewer points (33). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade.
- **Denver Broncos to beat Patriots**
  - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
  - Line: Closing line (Jan 25, 2026): Patriots by 3.5 · underdog pick, Broncos about 1 in 3 (36%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade.
- **Matthew Stafford to win MVP**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl**
  - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- Matthew Stafford — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/matthew-stafford

## What others said about the same people

- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0)
- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0)
- Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0)
- Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/005e6ad1-bc95-49da-9db2-3a9da2d5041d (scored 100)
- Colin Cowherd on Matthew Stafford: Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c1faeb3-7adb-456d-bd42-275be95269e8 (scored 100)
- Pete Prisco on Denver Broncos: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 97.62)

## More game outcome picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Sam Monson on New York Giants: Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f4cb7a1e-1380-4f08-b39b-1432b97db846 (scored 0)
- Eva Geitheim on Washington Commanders: Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c011abef-0b18-41ad-acad-6a67dfbd41fd (scored 100)
- Conor Orr on New York Giants: Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ba669379-043c-448a-a167-2f2e3695a52e (scored 0)
- Albert Breer on New York Giants: Breer picked all 14 Week 10 games straight up, favoring the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fdc16abc-9ae2-4bf4-a327-8e9d9ae283b6 (scored 0)
- Mitch Goldich on New York Giants: Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/706c628f-bb25-4892-b33e-84c81bfb6e4a (scored 0)
- Matt Verderame on New York Giants: Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dfeb0994-1abf-414f-b153-d01b6e4e5365 (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

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