Jordan Dajani#23 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 10, 2026

Dajani picks the Rams over the 49ers, Texans over Bills, Ravens over Colts, Bengals over Buccaneers, Vikings over Packers, Cowboys over Giants and Broncos over Chiefs in Week 1, with exact scores. They also predict the Bills win the AFC East, the Cowboys win their division, and Caleb Downs wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

1 of 7calls landed1 hit · 4 close calls · 2 misses · 3 waiting

47.6Average accuracyout of 100, across 7 calls

45.3A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

7Games calledeveryone’s picks below

#23Jordan Dajani’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Jordan Dajani said

Caleb Downs is going to win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Jordan Dajani, the lead quote

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: NFL Week 1 picks: Our experts face off on 49ers vs. Rams in Australia, Bills at Texans and more
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidSep 10
PlayedSep 10–14
GradedSep 12–16

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Close	Misses	Waiting
Score Predictions	1	4	2	0
Award Picks	0	0	0	1
Division Winners	0	0	0	2
All	1	4	2	3

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

10 checkable claims — 7 score predictions, 2 division winners and 1 award pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

7 of 10 have settled so far, averaging 47.6 out of 100, against 45.3 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 · 4 close calls · 2 missesShow ▸

Denver Broncos 17 — Chiefs 14
“Prediction: Broncos 17, Chiefs 14”
Denver Broncos
Chiefs 31–10called Broncos by 3 · lost by 21
7.14Miss
7.14 − 51.93 naive = −44.79 × 2 difficulty = −89.58 skill
Closing line (Sep 14): Chiefs by 2.5, total 42.5 · this 17–14 calls a Broncos win (by 3; the line gave the Broncos 46%) and fewer points (31).
How this was scored
score:
10-31
skill:
−89.58
they picked:
DEN
season:
2026
accuracy:
7.14
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:
3
Think this is wrong?
Cincinnati Bengals 21 — Buccaneers 20
“Prediction: Bengals 21, Buccaneers 20”
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals 33–27called Bengals by 1 · won by 6
88.1Hit
Closing line (Sep 13): Bengals by 3.5, total 50.5 · this 21–20 calls a closer game (Bengals by 1) and fewer points (41).
How this was scored
score:
27-33
skill:
7.3
they picked:
CIN
season:
2026
accuracy:
88.1
baseline:
84.44
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
6
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−0.53
predicted margin:
1
Think this is wrong?
Houston Texans 23 — Bills 21
“Prediction: Texans 23, Bills 21”
Houston Texans
Bills 36–31called Texans by 2 · lost by 5
42.86Close
42.86 − 36.83 naive = 6.03 × 2 difficulty = +12.06 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Bills by 1.5, total 44.5 · this 23–21 calls a Texans win (by 2; the line gave the Texans 50%) and fewer points (44).
How this was scored
score:
36-31
skill:
12.06
they picked:
HOU
season:
2026
accuracy:
42.86
baseline:
36.83
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
5
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−0.53
predicted margin:
2
Think this is wrong?
Minnesota Vikings 22 — Packers 16
“Prediction: Vikings 22, Packers 16”
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 39–22called Vikings by 6 · won by 17
73.81Close
73.81 − 58.25 naive = 15.56 × 2 difficulty = +31.11 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Vikings by 1.5, total 46.5 · this 22–16 calls a bigger Vikings win (by 6) and fewer points (38).
How this was scored
score:
22-39
skill:
31.11
they picked:
MIN
season:
2026
accuracy:
73.81
baseline:
58.25
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
17
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−0.53
predicted margin:
6
Think this is wrong?
Dallas Cowboys 28 — Giants 23
“Prediction: Cowboys 28, Giants 23”
Dallas Cowboys
Giants 28–20called Cowboys by 5 · lost by 8
42.86Close
42.86 − 79.68 naive = −36.82 × 2 difficulty = −73.65 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Cowboys by 3, total 47.5 · this 28–23 calls a bigger Cowboys win (by 5) and more points (51).
How this was scored
score:
20-28
skill:
−73.65
they picked:
DAL
season:
2026
accuracy:
42.86
baseline:
79.68
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
8
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−0.53
predicted margin:
5
Think this is wrong?
Baltimore Ravens 27 — Colts 23
“Prediction : Ravens 27, Colts 23”
Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 41–23called Ravens by 4 · won by 18
66.67Close
66.67 − 5.87 naive = 60.8 × 2 difficulty = +121.59 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Ravens by 3, total 48.5 · this 27–23 calls a bigger Ravens win (by 4) and more points (50).
How this was scored
score:
41-23
skill:
121.59
they picked:
BAL
season:
2026
accuracy:
66.67
baseline:
5.87
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
18
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−0.53
predicted margin:
4
Think this is wrong?
Los Angeles Rams 24 — 49ers 20
“Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 20”
Los Angeles Rams
49ers 27–7called Rams by 4 · lost by 20
11.9Miss
11.9 − 0 naive = 11.9 × 2 difficulty = +23.81 skill
Closing line (Sep 10): Rams by 3.5, total 47.5 · this 24–20 calls a bigger Rams win (by 4) and fewer points (44).
How this was scored
score:
27-7
skill:
23.81
they picked:
LAR
season:
2026
accuracy:
11.9
baseline:
0
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
actual margin:
20
weeks left when called:
18
naive home margin:
−8.5
predicted margin:
4
Think this is wrong?

Award Picks1 waitingShow ▸

Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Caleb Downs is going to win Defensive Rookie of the Year”
Caleb Downs Dallas Cowboys
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Division Winners2 waitingShow ▸

Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“I even have them winning the division!”
Dallas Cowboys
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I love the Buffalo Bills and believe they will win the AFC East this year.”
Buffalo Bills
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

The games in this take

every pundit’s pick on each

Who this take is about

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

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.
Jason Harmon · Roster Spot Calls · Max Brosmer · Miss 0
Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
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.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
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.

More score predictions

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.
John Breech · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 90
Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson.
Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.
Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.