John Breech#34 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 9, 2026
A CBS Sports piece presents SportsLine's simulation of the entire 2026 season, projecting both conferences' playoff fields, division winners, win totals, every playoff game, and the Rams beating the Ravens in Super Bowl LXI.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What John Breech said
If our simulation shows us one thing, it's that the Rams are inevitable.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- 2026 NFL predictions: Projecting the 14 teams that will make the playoffs and the Super Bowl LXI winner
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 9
- PlayedSep 14–28
- GradedSep 16–29
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Outcome Picks | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Season Win Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Conference Champions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Seeding, Byes and Home Field | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Super Bowl Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 2 | 52 |
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
54 checkable claims — 14 playoff picks, 14 season win totals, 13 game outcome picks, 8 division winners, 2 conference champions, 2 seeding, byes and home field and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 54 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 16 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 14.
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
Houston Texans · 2026 season · wins3 calls from 3 pundits between 4 wins and 11 wins. John Breech said 11 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.
Game Outcome Picks2 misses · 11 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- Bears 27–7Eagles at Bears0Miss
0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- CHI
- score:
- 7-27
- skill:
- −200
- they picked:
- PHI
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Denver Broncos to beat Chiefs
“(6) Chiefs at (3) Broncos ... the home team coming out victorious in five of our six wild-card games”
Chiefs 31–10Broncos at Chiefs0Miss0 − 100 naive = −100 × 2 difficulty = −200 skill
Closing line (Sep 14): Chiefs by 2.5 · underdog pick, Broncos 46%.
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- KC
- score:
- 10-31
- skill:
- −200
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- KC
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to beat Ravens
“Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium (5) Rams over (1) Ravens”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to beat Patriots
“(7) Patriots at (2) Texans ... the home team coming out victorious in five of our six wild-card games. The only road team to win is the Rams”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to beat Jaguars
“(5) Jaguars at (4) Bills ... the home team coming out victorious in five of our six wild-card games”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division
“4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champion)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not 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 win the division
“3. Philadelphia (NFC East champion) ... Our simulation has the Eagles running away with the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“1. Seattle Seahawks (NFC West champion) ... Our simulation has the SEAHAWKS winning the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks14 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“7. New England Patriots (Wild card 3)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“AFC playoff projection ... 1. Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champion)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs
“4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champion)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“7. Minnesota Vikings (Wild card 3) ... we have the Vikings stealing the NFC's final playoff spot”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
“5. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild card 1)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Season Win Totals14 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jacksonville Jaguars to finish with 10 wins
“5. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild card 1) Projected record: 10-7”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish with 9 wins
“our computer has the Buccaneers doing exactly that with a 9-8 record”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denver Broncos to finish with 10 wins
“3. Denver Broncos (AFC West champion) Projected record: 10-7”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Detroit Lions to finish with 11 wins
“2. Detroit Lions (NFC North champion) Projected record: 11-6”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Minnesota Vikings to finish with 9 wins
“7. Minnesota Vikings (Wild card 3) Projected record: 9-8”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to finish with 12 wins
“our simulation does have them finishing at 12-5”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to finish with 10 wins
“3. Philadelphia (NFC East champion) Projected record: 10-7”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to finish with 10 wins
“6. Kansas City Chiefs (Wild card 2) Projected record: 10-7”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to finish with 10 wins
“4. Buffalo Bills (AFC East champion) Projected record: 10-7”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seattle Seahawks to finish with 12 wins
“1. Seattle Seahawks (NFC West champion) Projected record: 12-5”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to finish with 11 wins
“2. Houston Texans (AFC South champion) Projected record: 11-6”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New England Patriots to finish with 9 wins
“7. New England Patriots (Wild card 3) Projected record: 9-8”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Conference Champions2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Baltimore Ravens to reach the Super Bowl
“the simulation has Jackson and the Ravens moving on”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seeding, Byes and Home Field2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Super Bowl Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“in the end, the Rams won the Super Bowl on their home turf at SoFi Stadium”
—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
Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
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.Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.
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.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Carolina Panthers · Hit 100
Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.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.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.