# Brandon Carney: 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. **Claimed:** Jan 13, 2026 **Pundit:** Brandon Carney — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/brandon-carney **Outlet:** Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/bran-coverage-with-benchwarmerbran-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182919/episodes/18502088-wildcard-reactions-and-head-coach-landing-spot-predictions-podcast-for-1-13.mp3 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. > I'm still very much standing by my Rams Super Bowl prediction. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Seattle Seahawks to beat 49ers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 17, 2026): Seahawks by 6.5 · favorite pick, Seahawks 72%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **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 - **New England Patriots to beat Texans** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 18, 2026): Patriots by 3 · favorite pick, Patriots 62%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Jake Tonges to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 91.67 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Bears** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 18, 2026): Rams by 3.5 · favorite pick, Rams about 2 in 3 (64%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Denver Broncos to beat Bills** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Jan 17, 2026): Broncos by 1.5 · a toss-up, Bills 48%, Broncos 52%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Colston Loveland to finish top 3 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess - **A.J. Brown to move to Philadelphia Eagles** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rico Dowdle to move to Carolina Panthers** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jake Tonges — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-tonges - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Colston Loveland — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/colston-loveland - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - A.J. Brown — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/a-j-brown - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Rico Dowdle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rico-dowdle - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers ## 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) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (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) - John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0) - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) ## 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) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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