Rich Eisen#38 of 87 NFL pundits · Nov 21, 2025

Eisen said the Texans can win the AFC South and make the playoffs, called the Rams the best team in football, predicted Aaron Rodgers will start against the Bears, and said they believe Joe Burrow returns for the Patriots-Bengals game.

Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original

3 of 5calls landed3 hits · 1 close call · 1 miss · all settled

68.3Average accuracyout of 100, across 5 calls

78.3A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

5 of 5Settlednone still waiting

#38Rich Eisen’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Rich Eisen said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

I don't think I'm overstating the fact that the Texans can make the playoffs and win their division.

Rich Eisen, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was said: The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
The episode: Hour 2: Week 12’s Top 5 Games, Texans’ “Championship Defense,” plus NFL Insider Tom Pelissero
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidNov 21, 2025
GradedAug 13–Oct 7, 2026

1Power Rankings“the Rams, as I've mentioned in the last two power rankings, is the best team in football”
2Houston Texans to win the division“I don't think I'm overstating the fact that the Texans can make the playoffs and win their division.”
3Houston Texans to make the playoffs“the Texans can make the playoffs and win their division”
4Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart“I think a a Ron is gonna start at the end of the day.”
5Joe Burrow to be 1st on the depth chart“Patriot Bengals. I I think Burrow's coming back, man.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
“the Rams, as I've mentioned in the last two power rankings, is…”¹	Power Rankings	Ranked #5	50	100	−69.5
Houston Texans to win the division²	Division Winners	—	0	0	0
Houston Texans to make the playoffs³	Playoff Picks	Made the playoffs	100	100	0
Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart⁴	Depth Chart Calls	No. 1	100	100	0
Joe Burrow to be 1st on the depth chart⁵	Depth Chart Calls	No. 2	91.67	91.67	0
5 calls · 3 hits · 1 close call · 1 miss · all settled			68.3	78.3

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive

5 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 division winner, 1 playoff pick and 1 power ranking — 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.

All 5 have settled, averaging 68.3 out of 100, against 78.3 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.

Their call against what happened

1They said

5What happened

Their call against what actually happened.

1Power Rankings
“the Rams, as I've mentioned in the last two power rankings, is the best team in football”
What happenedRanked #5called #1
50Close · naive 100
50this call100a naive guess−50worse than naive1.39difficulty−69.5skill
How this was scored
team:
LAR
naive:
finishes where it finished last season (15)
skill:
−69.5
season:
2025
window:
top 1
accuracy:
50
baseline:
100
settled by:
final standings: win percentage, then point differential
actual rank:
5
difficulty:
1.39
weeks in the season:
18
clubs ranked:
32
predicted rank:
1
weeks left when called:
7
zero at places out:
8
Think this is wrong?
2Division Winners Houston Texans
Houston Texans to win the division
VerdictMiss
0Miss · naive 0
0this call0a naive guess0better than naive1.39difficulty0skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
method:
division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
they picked:
HOU
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
the naive pick:
HOU
difficulty:
1.39
the naive guess:
last season's winner of the same division
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
7
won the division:
no
Think this is wrong?
3Playoff Picks Houston Texans
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
What happenedMade the playoffs
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive1.39difficulty0skill
How this was scored
team:
HOU
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
the naive guess said:
yes
difficulty:
1.39
weeks in the season:
18
made the playoffs:
yes
weeks left when called:
7
Think this is wrong?
4Depth Chart Calls Aaron Rodgers Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive1.39difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
PIT
skill:
0
player:
Aaron Rodgers
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
position:
QB
naive slot:
1
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
1.39
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
7
Think this is wrong?
5Depth Chart Calls Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 2called No. 1 · by passing yards
91.67Hit · naive 91.67
91.67this call91.67a naive guess0better than naive1.39difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
CIN
skill:
0
player:
Joe Burrow
season:
2025
accuracy:
91.67
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
1
actual slot:
2
difficulty:
1.39
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
7
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 5 settled calls, each counted once
68.3naive 78.3

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.Pick every open claim on Picks →

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