Chris Long· Oct 9, 2026
Previewing NFL Week 5, Chris Long expects the Jaguars to beat the Eagles in London, picks the Browns, Steelers and Texans to win their games, names the Falcons as NFC South champions, lists his current top five teams, and calls the Vikings and Texans sleeping giants. He also flags Ja'Marr Chase and Dallas Goedert as returning, Jake Majors starting at center for Philadelphia, and Baltimore having to pay Cam Jurgens 50-plus.
“I think the Titans, the Texans get their first win, though.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Green Light with Chris Long (podcast) · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 2 availability calls, 2 surprise team calls, 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner, 1 power ranking and 1 score prediction — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
4 of 12 have settled so far, averaging 75 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Eagles at Jaguars 33 calls
- Texans at Titans 25 calls
- Colts at Steelers 21 calls
- Browns at Jets 19 calls
12 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 9, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to beat Colts
“So I got I got the Steelers here. I I I do think it's a Steelers spot.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- PIT
- score:
- 22-34
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- PIT
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- PIT
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 11): Steelers by 3 · favorite pick, Steelers 59%.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansOct 9, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Titans
“I I think the Titans, the Texans get their first win, though.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+178 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- HOU
- score:
- 26-3
- skill:
- 178
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- TEN
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 11): Texans by 6.5 · favorite pick, Texans about 3 in 4 (73%).
- Game Outcome PicksCleveland BrownsOct 9, 2026
Cleveland Browns to beat Jets
“I'll go Browns. Okay. Browns winning four straight.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-178 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- NYJ
- score:
- 12-17
- skill:
- −178
- they picked:
- CLE
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- NYJ
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 11): Jets by 2.5 · underdog pick, Browns 44%.
- Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsOct 9, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Eagles
“They could lose this game, and I expect them to, and I will not blame the quarterback solely... Right now, the the Jags are better.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- JAX
- score:
- 17-19
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- JAX
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- JAX
- difficulty:
- 1.78
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 14
Closing line (Oct 11): Jaguars by 7.5 · favorite pick, Jaguars about 3 in 4 (76%).
- Power RankingsOct 9, 2026
“Top five teams in the NFL... I think in no order, Seattle and San Francisco have to be in that top five, and I think the best three teams in the AFC are currently the Chiefs, the Bills, and the Jags.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsDallas CowboysOct 9, 2026
Dallas Cowboys 26 — bucks 20
“Thursday night time machine... Chris, cowboys, twenty six, bucks twenty.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Ja'Marr Chase should probably play... I I think they'll be with him this weekend. (Week 5 vs Dolphins)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsHouston TexansOct 9, 2026
Houston Texans to beat expectations
“And I think the Texans are a sleeping Giant. Don't wake them up. They got guys coming back this week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersAtlanta FalconsOct 9, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to win the division
“Blunt implement to your head, NFC South champion. The Falcons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsMinnesota VikingsOct 9, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to beat expectations
“The the Vikings are sleeping Giants, because if they ever get good quarterback play, they're gonna roll.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Majors to be 1st on the depth chart
“it's one thing to trot out Willie Lampkin, and Jake Majors is gonna start at center. He's never played in the regular season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“but you get the... You you get Dallas Goater back. I think he's coming back. (Week 5 vs Jaguars)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Joel CorryRoster Spot Calls · Lane JohnsonHit · 100Corry predicts the Eagles will keep Lane Johnson on the 53-man roster and delay processing his retirement until at least June 2 of next year for salary cap reasons, and that the $10.85 million option bonus payment due in December likely won't be paid.
- Jack MarkowskiRoster Spot Calls · Brandon SmithMiss · 0Markowski argues the Steelers should move on from Tyreek Hill given his injury and possible NFL discipline, and names promoting practice-squad receiver Brandon Smith to the 53-man roster as the most obvious way Pittsburgh addresses its receiver need.
- Adam CarlsonTrade and Signing Calls · Jordan AddisonMiss · 0Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace.
- Dan ParrScore Predictions · Atlanta FalconsClose · 50Parr picked every Week 5 game with scores, leaning on Chicago's ground game at Lambeau, Seattle's defense against the unbeaten 49ers, and the Rams handling Buffalo on Monday night.
- Brooke CersosimoScore Predictions · Atlanta FalconsClose · 48Cersosimo picked winners and scores across the Week 5 slate, including the Vikings moving to 5-0 in New Orleans, the Browns at the Jets, the Colts at Pittsburgh and the Falcons over a Lamar-less Baltimore.
- Jeremy PargoScore Predictions · Atlanta FalconsClose · 40Bergman picked winners and exact scores for every Week 5 game, siding with Jacksonville in London, the Saints over the unbeaten Vikings, the Jets over Cleveland and the Rams over Buffalo.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John GreenGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Green argues the Bills will beat the Rams on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium, citing Josh Allen's career success against Los Angeles, James Cook III's rushing against a middling Rams run defense, and Buffalo's edge in special teams field position.
- Anthony "Tone Digz" DiGuilioGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Picked the Rams to beat the Bills on Monday night because of their defense.
- Darius ButlerGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Said Brian Flores could be Coach of the Year for what he is doing with the Vikings defense, and picked the Rams to beat the Bills on Monday night with Stafford outplaying Josh Allen.
- Pat McAfeeGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Picked the Rams to beat the Bills in the Monday night game at SoFi Stadium.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Took the Rams over the Bills on Monday night, saying they win by seven in a high-scoring quarterback duel.
- Blaine GrisakGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Grisak expects the Rams to lose to the Bills on Monday night, dropping to 2-3, before getting right against the Cardinals in Week 6. He also expects Myles Garrett back more realistically in Week 7 against the Raiders and Terrance Ferguson back in Week 8 against the Chargers, and thinks Aaron Donald and Colby Parkinson will be available against Buffalo.