# Rich Eisen: Rich Eisen reaffirmed their pick of the Lions to win the NFC while insisting the Eagles remain the team to beat, predicted the Colts beat the Cardinals on a last-second field goal, said the Chargers will not miss the playoffs, and expects Jake Browning to keep starting in Cincinnati and JJ McCarthy to return as Minnesota's starter. They also praised Jonathan Taylor as the best running back and OPOY-caliber, called Emeka Abuka the offensive rookie of the year, agreed Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the year front-runner, and said the Jets will pick in the top five. **Claimed:** Oct 6, 2025 **Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen **Outlet:** Overreaction Monday (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/overreaction-monday-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP7929384888.mp3?updated=1759771553 10 checkable claims — 2 award picks, 2 depth chart calls, 1 coach award pick, 1 conference champion, 1 game outcome pick, 1 playoff pick, 1 positional finish and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 10 have settled, averaging 56.7 out of 100, against 56.7 for a naive guess at the same calls. > The lines, I chose to win the NFC. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Detroit Lions to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **Emeka Egbuka to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jake Browning to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 83.33 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **New York Jets to pick “top five” (picks 1–5)** - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: New York Jets - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 91.7 for a naive guess - **Jonathan Taylor to finish top 1 at his position, by rushing yards** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: scored 83.33 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **Kyle Shanahan to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jonathan Taylor to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Indianapolis Colts to beat Arizona Cardinals** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Oct 12, 2025): Colts by 8.5 · favorite pick, Colts about 4 in 5 (79%). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. ## Who this take is about - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers - J.J. McCarthy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/j-j-mccarthy - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Emeka Egbuka — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Jake Browning — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-browning - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Jonathan Taylor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jonathan-taylor - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts ## What others said about the same people - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Patricia Traina on J.J. McCarthy: Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b638ed13-01ca-4ea6-9384-ec7130f912c1 (scored 100) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - 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) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0) - Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100) - Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0) --- 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 We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=rich-eisen