Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 18, 2026
Eisen has the Ravens getting back into the AFC playoffs in place of the Steelers, puts the Lions in the NFC field ahead of a Packers team they think slips out, disagrees with Brockman by saying Houston makes the playoffs, and expects the Bears to return to the postseason.
Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original
What Rich Eisen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI think Lamar is gonna have a great year, and I think the Ravens are back in it.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 1: NFL Playoff Predictions, Cowboys’ Outlook, plus Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs“And the team that did just miss it last year, I think, gets back in... I think the Ravens are back in it.”
- 2Houston Texans to make the playoffs“and I think Stroud plays well enough for them to make the playoffs”
- 3Chicago Bears to make the playoffs“But I'd I'd be surprised if they're not making it again. That would definitely be a a shocker.”
- 4Detroit Lions to make the playoffs“So I'm concerned that they don't make it this year. And if they don't, I'm putting the Detroit Lions in.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs1 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Houston Texans to make the playoffs2 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Chicago Bears to make the playoffs3 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Detroit Lions to make the playoffs4 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 4 playoff picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
1Playoff PicksBaltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Ross Jackson · Playoff Picks · New Orleans Saints · Miss 0
Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called their shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. They also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Buffalo Bills · Hit 100
Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.