Bill Bender· Oct 28, 2026
Bender picked the Packers to win 27-22 over the Panthers.
“Sporting News' Bill Bender is taking the Packers, 27-22.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.
The call scored 92.9 out of 100, against 79.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Panthers at Packers 26 calls
1 checkable claim 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.
- Score PredictionsGreen Bay PackersOct 28, 2026
Green Bay Packers 27 — Panthers 22
“Sporting News' Bill Bender is taking the Packers, 27-22.”
Hit · 93Scored 92.86a naive guess scored 79.94+20.8 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 19-27
- skill:
- 20.8
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 92.86
- baseline:
- 79.94
- difficulty:
- 1.61
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 11
- naive home margin:
- −0.43
- predicted margin:
- 5
Closing line (Oct 29): Packers by 3.5, total 47.5 · this 27–22 calls a bigger Packers win (by 5) and more points (49).
What others said about the same people
- Bill HuberGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite his rib injury. He also sketches the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersClose · 64Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Derek BrownGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Brown picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the Packers to win outright in New England and the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night. He was bullish on Jonah Coleman's rest-of-season value, expected Jonathan Taylor to play for the Colts, floated a Breece Hall trade, and did not expect DJ Reed to play in Week 9.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Parkins named the seven AFC teams he believes are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as his Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.
- John MiddlekauffGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Middlekauff declared the AFC South over and the Jaguars the division champs, while listing several clubs he expects in the playoffs and pegging the Jets for a top-five draft slot. He also leaned Packers and Bears in Week 9 games, predicted roughly five or six wins for Washington, said Brandon Aiyuk is not coming back, and called Tyson Bagent's current deal the biggest he'll ever sign.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Harmon picked the Packers, Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in Week 9, predicted Justin Jefferson would top 100 receiving yards with two touchdowns against Buffalo, and said Minnesota would lose and then trade for Jonathan Taylor.
More score predictions
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeremy BrenerScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
- Randy GurziScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 93Gurzi expects Seattle to win comfortably again with Drew Lock starting, predicting a 27-10 Seahawks victory.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Houston TexansClose · 55Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Bryan DeArdoScore Predictions · Chicago BearsHit · 98DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.
- Randy GurziScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 93Predicts Seattle runs away with the game, 27-10 over Arizona.
- Russell BaxterScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksClose · 79Predicts the Seahawks beat the Cardinals 26-21 in Week 9, with Seattle's pass rush making Gardner Minshew uncomfortable.