Manti Te'o· Nov 1, 2025
Praises Seattle's surprising offense and defense, and reviews his preseason picks: proud of the Broncos as AFC West champs and having three AFC West teams in the playoffs, regrets not picking the Lions to win the NFC North, wishes he could change his Vikings pick, and doubles down on the Ravens winning the AFC North. Also picks the Panthers to win the NFC South.
“So I'm doubling down that the Ravens will win the AFC North.”
said on air or in an interview · Move the Sticks (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
7 checkable claims — 4 playoff picks and 3 division winners — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 7 have settled, averaging 71.4 out of 100, against 28.6 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
7 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.
- Division WinnersDenver BroncosNov 1, 2025
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I am most proud of my Broncos pick as the AFC West champions.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 156
- method:
- division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- KC
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- the naive guess:
- last season's winner of the same division
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- won the division:
- yes
- Division WinnersCarolina PanthersNov 1, 2025
Carolina Panthers to win the division
“So i'd have to give the to the pants come on over.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 156
- method:
- division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
- they picked:
- CAR
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- TB
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- the naive guess:
- last season's winner of the same division
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- won the division:
- yes
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensNov 1, 2025
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“But that the pick that I will double down on the Ravens when winning the AFC North.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- method:
- division winners read off the bracket: the bye teams and the wild-card hosts
- they picked:
- BAL
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- BAL
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- the naive guess:
- last season's winner of the same division
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- won the division:
- no
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersNov 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“I do like the Niners that I brought him into that playoff category at the wild card spot.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- SF
- skill:
- 156
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive guess said:
- no
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- yes
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersNov 1, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs because they're looking as far as the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs, they are looking like all three will be in the playoff picture.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- LAC
- skill:
- 0
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive guess said:
- yes
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- yes
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosNov 1, 2025
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs ... the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive guess said:
- yes
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- yes
- weeks left when called:
- 10
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsNov 1, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I have three a AFC West teams in the playoffs ... the Chargers, the Broncos and the Chiefs”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive guess said:
- yes
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- no
- weeks left when called:
- 10
What others said about the same people
- Scott KennedyScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 52Expects the Falcons to fall to 0-2 in Cooper Rush starts, losing 24-13 to Carolina.
- Seth WalderGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta.
- Garrett ChapmanScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 50Thinks Atlanta matches up well but still falls short, picking Carolina 23-20.
- Jerry JonesScore Predictions · Carolina PanthersClose · 52Predicts Carolina pulls away from Atlanta, with the Falcons defense keeping it close early, in a 27-16 Panthers win.
- Eric MoodyGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta.
- Pamela MaldonadoGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Eisen 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. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.