Matt HamiltonSep 8, 2026
Hamilton picked Cowboys, Packers, Saints, Rams, Bills, Ravens, Texans and Broncos as division winners, with Seahawks/Eagles/Bears and Chiefs/Jaguars/Bengals as wild cards, a Rams win over the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and awards to Jordan Love, JSN, Jeremiah Love, Ruben Bain and Jesse Minter. They also picked Denver to beat Kansas City 27-17 in Week 1.
Said on air, transcribed by us · KC Sports Network (podcast)Hear the original
What Matt Hamilton said
We're gonna get it, and we're getting fireworks in LA for that Super Bowl Chiefs Rams.
- Where it was said
- KC Sports Network (podcast)
- The episode
- KC Laboratory 9/7: Predicting How the Chiefs Will Finish in 2026
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 7
- PlayedSep 14–20
- GradedSep 16–21
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score Predictions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Coach Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Conference Champions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
How each call scored
24 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 6 playoff picks, 4 award picks, 2 conference champions, 2 score predictions, 1 coach award pick and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 18 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 24 have settled so far, averaging 53.6 out of 100, against 71.8 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.
Score Predictions1 hit · 1 missShow ▸Hide ▾
Kansas City Chiefs 24 — Colts 14
“But I think the Chiefs bounced back and beat the Colts. I'm gonna say twenty four fourteen.”
Chiefs 33–30called Chiefs by 10 · won by 383.33Hit83.33 − 91.63 naive = −8.3 × 2 difficulty = −16.59 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- score:
- 30-33
- skill:
- −16.59
- they picked:
- KC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 83.33
- baseline:
- 91.63
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- −0.52
- predicted margin:
- 10
Denver Broncos 27 — Chiefs 17
“I do think the Broncos are gonna win this game week one. I'm gonna say twenty seven seventeen.”
Chiefs 31–10called Broncos by 10 · lost by 2123.81Miss23.81 − 51.93 naive = −28.12 × 2 difficulty = −56.25 skill
Closing line (Sep 14): Chiefs by 2.5, total 42.5 · this 27–17 calls a Broncos win (by 10; the line gave the Broncos 46%) and more points (44).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- score:
- 10-31
- skill:
- −56.25
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 23.81
- baseline:
- 51.93
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 21
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 0.81
- predicted margin:
- 10
Award Picks4 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“I'm gonna go Ruben Bayne... I think he has a dominant year”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba to win Offensive Player of the Year
“I'm going JSN. I think he becomes just the third player to win it back to back.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“I'm gonna go with Notre Dame starter, because I think, he he's gonna catch them all a lot... going with Jeremiah Love.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jordan Love to win MVP
“I'm calling Jordan Love... So I'm going Jordan love.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“I'm going Seahawks... they'll be my top wildcard team”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“And then I'm gonna go bears because I agree with a lot of the stuff you said, Kent.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“My wild card teams, I'm going with the Chiefs as the top wild card spot.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I'm going with Ken Swanson's favorite new favorite team, the Bengals, as my final wild card spot”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“then I'll go Eagles. I don't think the wheels are totally gonna fall off this thing yet.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“I'm gonna go Saints. I like what I saw from Tyler Shuck.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“I'm gonna go with the Ravens... So I think the Ravens are gonna be right back, in the class of the AFC”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I'm also gonna go with the Bills... I think they're good enough to win win the East.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to win the division
“So I'm gonna go with the Texans there edging out the Jaguars.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Green Bay Packers to win the division
“But I'm gonna go with the Packers... but I'm I'm in on Jordan Love.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“I'm gonna go with the Rams... I think the Rams did overtake them this year.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“So I think the cowboys end up edging edging out the eagles there in the East.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denver Broncos to win the division
“But I'm going to pick the Denver Broncos... I am picking the Broncos to win the west.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Super Bowl Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“I think I think the Rams pulled off over the Chiefs. I think there's too much firepower.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Coach Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jesse Minter to win Coach of the Year
“I'm gonna go Jesse Minter. I think, the Ravens had a nice big bounce back here.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Conference Champions2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“on the NFC side, I'll be I'll take the low hanging fruit of the Rams”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl
“And I think it's the Kansas City Chiefs. I think they're going.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Rueben Bain, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jeremiyah Love, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Jordan Love, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Daniel DiBerardinis · Division Winners · Atlanta Falcons · Miss 0
Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. They also give a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · New York Giants · Miss 0
Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. They also expect Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and they float the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
Cowherd unveiled their top 10 NFL teams entering next season, with Seattle first, the Rams second and the Chiefs tenth, and separately picked the Chargers to win the AFC West.Rich Eisen · Division Winners · New England Patriots · Hit 100
Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed.Rich Eisen · Division Winners · New England Patriots · Hit 100
Eisen previewed week 15 games, predicting Joe Burrow would play well in their first home start back against Baltimore, and speculated on a possible Colts-Steelers wild card matchup. They also asserted the Chiefs will not win their division for a tenth straight year, keeping the Patriots' record of 11 straight division titles safe.