Brandon CarneyJan 13, 2026
Carney sticks with the Rams as their Super Bowl winner, picks the Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks and Rams in the divisional round, and makes a series of head coaching landing-spot predictions plus fantasy takes on Colston Loveland.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Brandon Carney said
I'm still very much standing by my Rams Super Bowl prediction.
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Wildcard Reactions and Head Coach Landing Spot Predictions - Podcast for 1/13
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidJan 13
- GradedAug 13–17
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference Champions | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Game Outcome Picks | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Trade and Signing Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
How each call scored
10 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 2 trade and signing calls, 1 conference champion, 1 depth chart call, 1 positional finish and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
8 of 10 have settled so far, averaging 74 out of 100, against 58.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Conference Champions1 close callShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“I'm gonna go with the Rams though and, you know, continue on their road to the Super Bowl”
NE and SEA wonpicked LAR50Close50 − 0 naive = 50 × 1 difficulty = +50 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 50
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 50
- baseline:
- 0
- champions:
- NE, SEA
- difficulty:
- 1
- the naive guess:
- last season's conference champions
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- reached the Super Bowl:
- no
- lost the conference final:
- yes
Game Outcome Picks4 hitsShow ▸Hide ▾
Seattle Seahawks to beat 49ers
“So we will see how that one plays out, but I certainly have Seattle as well.”
100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Jan 17): Seahawks by 6.5 · favorite pick, Seahawks 72%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- SEA
- score:
- 6-41
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- SEA
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
New England Patriots to beat Texans
“Texans at Patriots... Who you got? I'm taking the patriots.”
100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Jan 18): Patriots by 3 · favorite pick, Patriots 62%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- NE
- score:
- 16-28
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- NE
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- NE
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Los Angeles Rams to beat Bears
“I'll I'm going with the Rams because they are my Super Bowl pick.”
100Hit100 − 0 naive = 100 × 1 difficulty = +100 skill
Closing line (Jan 18): Rams by 3.5 · favorite pick, Rams about 2 in 3 (64%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- LAR
- score:
- 20-17
- skill:
- 100
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Denver Broncos to beat Bills
“I am gonna stick with the Broncos here. I'm gonna go with Denver at home.”
100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 1 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Jan 17): Broncos by 1.5 · a toss-up, Bills 48%, Broncos 52%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- DEN
- score:
- 30-33
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DEN
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Super Bowl Picks1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Yeah. I think I I'm still very much standing by my Rams Super Bowl prediction.”
SEA won itpicked LAR0Miss0 − 0 naive = 0 × 1 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- champion:
- SEA
- runner up:
- NE
- the naive pick:
- PHI
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Depth Chart Calls1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
Jake Tonges to be 1st on the depth chart
“Honestly, Jake Tarras would probably be a guy being drafted as a fringe tight end one, honestly, just with the system.”
No. 2called No. 1 · by receptions91.67Hit91.67 − 91.67 naive = 0 × 1 difficulty = 0 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- SF
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jake Tonges
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 91.67
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- TE
- naive slot:
- 3
- actual slot:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 1
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Positional Finishes1 close callShow ▸Hide ▾
Colston Loveland to finish top 3 at his position, by fantasy points
“Outside of Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, I don't know if there's anyone else I'm putting above Colson Loveland for next season... you wanna rank him as t three next year? Be my guest.”
Finished #9called #3 · by fantasy points50Close50 − 75 naive = −25 × 1 difficulty = −25 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- −25
- player:
- Colston Loveland
- season:
- 2025
- zero credit this far off:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 50
- baseline:
- 75
- position:
- TE
- ranked by:
- fantasy points
- difficulty:
- 1
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — the startable tier at TE
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 12
- actual finish:
- 9
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- predicted finish:
- 3
Trade and Signing Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
A.J. Brown to move to Philadelphia Eagles
“I think there is a strong chance that AJ Brown has played his last snap as a Philadelphia Eagle”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rico Dowdle to move to Carolina Panthers
“So, yeah. He's probably out of Carolina.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Conor Orr · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Orr picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Chargers in Week 10.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Mitch Goldich · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Goldich picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Matt Verderame · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Verderame picked the Giants, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.