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John Middlekauff· Oct 30, 2026

After the Packers' Thursday night win over Carolina, Middlekauff set Green Bay's season range at nine to about eleven wins, said Jordan Love will throw double-digit interceptions this year, and picked Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Jacksonville to win their Week 8 games. He also predicted the Titans win only three games, that Jeffrey Simmons is a lock for another All-Pro if healthy, that the Bears will draft in the 20s, that Cleveland will never give Deshaun Watson another dollar, and he named Brian Flores his Coach of the Year.

“I would say, worst case, they're nine wins. Best case, 11-ish.”

said on air or in an interview · 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast) · read the original →

9 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 2 season win totals, 1 coach award pick, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

4 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →

Who this take is about

The games in this take

9 checkable claims in this take

Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing. 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.

  • Game Outcome PicksPittsburgh SteelersOct 30, 2026

    Pittsburgh Steelers to beat Cleveland Browns

    “I like Pittsburgh a lot in this spot. I really do. ... So I like Pittsburgh in this spot. I by no means take Cleveland.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    PIT
    score:
    6-27
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    PIT
    season:
    2026
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    PIT
    difficulty:
    1.61
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    11

    Closing line (Nov 1): Steelers by 3.5 · favorite pick, Steelers 64%.

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  • Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsOct 30, 2026

    Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Colts

    “Would anyone be shocked if Jacksonville just runs them out of the building? ... I could see this thing being a bloodbath.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    JAX
    score:
    7-42
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    JAX
    season:
    2026
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    JAX
    difficulty:
    1.61
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    11

    Closing line (Nov 1): Jaguars by 10 · favorite pick, Jaguars about 4 in 5 (80%).

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  • Game Outcome PicksDetroit LionsOct 30, 2026

    Detroit Lions to beat Minnesota

    “It's why I like Detroit big in this game.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    DET
    score:
    15-19
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    DET
    season:
    2026
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    DET
    difficulty:
    1.61
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    11

    Closing line (Nov 1): Lions by 3 · favorite pick, Lions 60%.

    Think this is wrong?

  • Game Outcome PicksTampa Bay BuccaneersOct 30, 2026

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Atlanta

    “But to me, if Tampa gets some momentum off that win and generate pressure, I like Tampa in this game.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    TB
    score:
    0-16
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    TB
    season:
    2026
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    TB
    difficulty:
    1.61
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    11

    Closing line (Nov 1): Buccaneers by 2.5 · favorite pick, Buccaneers 54%.

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  • Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsJeffery SimmonsChicago BearsOct 30, 2026

    Jeffery Simmons to make All-Pro

    “who's coming off an all-pro season in 25, who, if he stays healthy, is a lock to be an all-pro again”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

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  • Team Draft Slot CallsChicago BearsOct 30, 2026

    Chicago Bears to pick “drafting in the 20s”

    “you're going to be drafting in the 20s. Worst case scenario for the Bears, you don't win the division, you lose in the first round, that picks 23.”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

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  • Coach Award PicksOct 30, 2026

    Flores to win Coach of the Year

    “I don't think he's the assistant coach of the year. I think he's the coach of the year.”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

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  • Season Win TotalsTennessee TitansOct 30, 2026

    Tennessee Titans to finish with 3 wins

    “They look best-case scenario win four games... But if I was Ben Mann right now, I'd say three wins. I'd say three wins.”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

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  • Season Win TotalsGreen Bay PackersOct 30, 2026

    Green Bay Packers to finish with ? wins

    “I would say, worst case, they're nine wins. Best case, 11-ish. It's hard to see them winning the division if they can't run the ball, but that was impressive.”

    Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.

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What others said about the same people

More game outcome picks

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