Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Jul 17, 2026
Eisen predicted both George Kittle and Patrick Mahomes will play in Week 1, that neither the Rams nor Seahawks will miss the playoffs (with one of them undefeated at their Christmas meeting), that the Cowboys will go 14-3, that Messi will score in the World Cup final, and that LeBron James' team will finish 23 games over .500.
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 I think both are playing week one.
- Where it was said
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
- The episode
- Hour 2: ‘What’s More Likely,’ Messi’s GOAT-ness, Brockman’s Top 5, plus Flavor Flav
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 12, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- 1Dallas Cowboys to finish with 14 wins“I I Cowboys go 14 and threes more likely.”
- 2Patrick Mahomes — “playing week one”“I I think both are playing week one.”
- 3Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs“They're not missing the playoffs, man. ... The seven that made the NFC playoffs last year... It will not include the Seahawks or the Rams.”
- 4George Kittle — “playing week one”“More likely future hall of famer to play week one. George Kittle or Patrick Mahomes? ... Both are playing week one.”
- 5Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs“I'll go either either the Rams or or the Seahawks are undefeated on Christmas when they face ... They're not missing the playoffs, man.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys to finish with 14 wins1 | Season Win Totals | — | — | — | — | |
| Patrick Mahomes — “playing week one”2 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs3 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| George Kittle — “playing week one”4 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs5 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 2 playoff picks, 2 roster spot calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Dallas Cowboys · 2026 season · wins19 calls from 14 pundits between 3 wins and 14 wins. Rich Eisen said 14 wins. the room's median is 10 wins. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
winsTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Season Win TotalsDallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys to finish with 14 wins
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Roster Spot CallsPatrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes — “playing week one”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Playoff PicksSeattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Roster Spot CallsGeorge Kittle
George Kittle — “playing week one”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Playoff PicksLos Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams 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
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
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.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
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.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.Dave Richard · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
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.