Rich Eisen · Jun 12, 2025
Eisen ran a top-five list of would-be pleasant surprises for the 2025 NFL season: Brian Schottenheimer succeeding as head coach/play caller, Sam Darnold improving on his Minnesota form in Seattle, the Jaguars playing Travis Hunter 100 snaps a game, Pete Carroll leading the Raiders to the playoffs, Tyler Shough becoming the real deal in New Orleans, plus a bonus of Shedeur Sanders making the Browns and crushing a start late in the year.
“Number two would be pleasant surprise for the 2025 season. Pete Carroll takes Jay Feli's Raiders to the playoffs.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
7 checkable claims from this
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.
- Depth Chart CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans SaintsJun 12, 2025
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
“The number one would be pleasant surprise in the 2025 season is if Tyler Shuck becomes the real deal for the New Orleans Saints.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+16.67 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NO
- skill:
- 16.67
- player:
- Tyler Shough
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- naive basis:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Playoff PicksLas Vegas RaidersJun 12, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders to make the playoffs
“Pete Carroll takes Jay Feli's Raiders to the playoffs... And Pete leads the Raiders back to the playoffs in his first year.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- LV
- skill:
- -200
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- naive said:
- false
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made playoffs:
- false
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Depth Chart CallsJoe FlaccoCleveland BrownsJun 12, 2025
Joe Flacco to be 1st on the depth chart
“If you wanna talk about more likely than not, the Browns do start Flacco, maybe give Pickett a run.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+16.67 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CIN
- skill:
- 16.67
- player:
- Joe Flacco
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- naive basis:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Depth Chart CallsSam DarnoldSeattle SeahawksJun 12, 2025
Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart
“Is that Sam Darnold could be replaced as the Seattle quarterback by week one because of all those seven on seven picks he's been throwing. I'm going the other way.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SEA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Sam Darnold
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- QB
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- passing yards
- naive basis:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Roster Spot CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsJun 12, 2025
Shedeur Sanders to make the roster
“Chidor makes the browns and crushes a start.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsLas Vegas RaidersJun 12, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders to beat expectations
“Would that be one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2025 season?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Sleeper CallsSam DarnoldSeattle SeahawksJun 12, 2025
Sam Darnold to outplay his draft cost
“Sam Donald gets even better. Sam goes to Seattle and is better than the Sam version in Minnesota.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.