# Manti Te'o: Manti picked their 14 playoff teams: AFC division winners Bills, Ravens, Texans and Broncos with wild cards Chiefs, Chargers and Steelers (seventh seed); NFC division winners Eagles, Buccaneers, Rams and Vikings with wild cards Commanders, Lions and 49ers (seventh seed).

**Claimed:** Sep 2, 2025
**Pundit:** Manti Te'o — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/manti-te-o
**Outlet:** Move the Sticks (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/move-the-sticks-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-good-morning-football/gmfb-tuesday-hour-1-afc-quarterbacks-playoff-predictions

14 checkable claims — 8 division winners and 6 playoff picks — 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.

All 14 have settled, averaging 35.7 out of 100, against 21.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> Bo Nix will lead the Denver Broncos and that nasty defense to the AFC West Championship the first time in ten years.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Philadelphia Eagles to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Minnesota Vikings to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Minnesota Vikings
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Buffalo Bills to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Houston Texans to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Baltimore Ravens to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Denver Broncos to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Los Angeles Rams to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Washington Commanders to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: San Francisco 49ers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings
- Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills
- Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions
- San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs

## What others said about the same people

- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0)
- Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0)
- Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0)
- Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (scored 0)
- Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0)
- Jordan Dajani on Washington Commanders: Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/46f7646f-2c64-4827-a522-67975af79fb6 (scored 95.24)

## More division winners

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

- Daniel DiBerardinis on Atlanta Falcons: Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. They also give a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8a8e0b7c-9f1c-4c13-8138-1332d73b9b02 (scored 0)
- Colin Cowherd on New York Giants: Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. They also expect Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and they float the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd243624-9451-4824-a8a4-7b468d681c8f (scored 0)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15192136-24b9-4127-ac9d-69dc69aab3d5 (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman on Chicago Bears: Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though they think they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e86c9e4d-7802-432a-a26c-4edefb3b6aee (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on New England Patriots: Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ae722f6b-44e2-42bb-a847-4435f539db5b (scored 100)

---

Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=manti-te-o
