Cody RourkeSep 9, 2026
Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. They also expect long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
Said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Broncos (podcast)Hear the original
What Cody Rourke said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBut that defense alone should help get them to the postseason.
- Where it was said
- Locked On Broncos (podcast)
- The episode
- AFC: Denver Broncos Ready to BATTLE AFC Sleepers as NEW Threats Emerge in 2026
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 9
- GradedSep 25
- 1Mitchell Fraboni to land on the practice squad“it tells us that we know that Mitchell for Boney is going to be one of the activations for game day against Kansas City here specifically”
- 2Pat Bryant to be 3rd on the depth chart“Cortland and Jalen are gonna be the primary two guys. Pat, we know, is probably gonna be the third guy.”
- 3Baltimore Ravens to beat expectations“the one team that comes to my mind first and foremost, I would have to say that's looking to bounce back that could be dangerous inside the AFC, I feel like it's the Baltimore Ravens”
- 4Houston Texans to make the playoffs“but that defense alone should help get them to the postseason. At least in the AFC South, it should help them.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Fraboni to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | 2 weeks on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Pat Bryant to be 3rd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Baltimore Ravens to beat expectations3 | Surprise Team Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Houston Texans to make the playoffs4 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 miss · 3 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive4 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 playoff pick, 1 roster spot call and 1 surprise team call — 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.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 0 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.
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
Pat Bryant · 2026 season11 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 3. Cody Rourke said 3. the room's median is 3. 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.
1Roster Spot CallsMitchell FraboniDenver Broncos
Mitchell Fraboni to land on the practice squad
What happened2 weeks on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Mitchell Fraboni
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 1
2Depth Chart CallsPat BryantDenver Broncos
Pat Bryant to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Surprise Team CallsBaltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens to beat expectations
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.
Who this take is about
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.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.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.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.