Cody Rourke· Jul 24, 2026
Rourke predicts the Broncos finish 13-4 in 2026, going 4-2 over a brutal opening six games, sweeping Kansas City again, and losing only at San Francisco, at home to Seattle, at Carolina and on Christmas Day to Buffalo. He also expects Carolina to return to the playoffs.
“We both have them finishing thirteen and four, which is obviously, one less win than they had last season.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Broncos (podcast) · read the original →
18 checkable claims — 16 game outcome picks, 1 playoff pick and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 18 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Denver Broncos · 2026 season · wins12 calls from 7 pundits between 9.7 wins and 13 wins. Cody Rourke said 13 wins. the room's median is 11 wins. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Broncos at Chiefs 45 calls
- Jaguars at Broncos 5 calls
- Rams at Broncos 9 calls
- Broncos at 49ers 3 calls
- Broncos at Chargers 4 calls
- Seahawks at Broncos 4 calls
- Broncos at Panthers 3 calls
- Raiders at Broncos 5 calls
- Dolphins at Broncos 4 calls
- Bills at Broncos 3 calls
- Broncos at Patriots 3 calls
18 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.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“the Broncos, they open up on the road at Kansas City against the Chiefs, Monday night football. You and I both have them winning that game.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- KC
- score:
- 10-31
- skill:
- -200
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- KC
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“a week eight matchup at home against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs... I got Denver winning this one as well”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- KC
- score:
- 10-31
- skill:
- -200
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- KC
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Season Win TotalsDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to finish with 13 wins
“We both have them finishing thirteen and four, which is obviously, one less win than they had last season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“Then week 15, you go on the road at the Raiders... I think Denver continues their win streak against the Raiders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“we both had the Broncos going on the road and being the patriots in week 17... I really felt confident about that one as well”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“And I've got them winning at the Steelers where you have them dropping that game, and that is a Black Friday game as well”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“in the first six games, you and I predicted the same exact losses at the 40 Niners and at home against the Seahawks (week two vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars a win)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksSan Francisco 49ersJul 24, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to win
“you and I predicted the same exact losses at the 40 Niners and at home against the Seahawks in a short week”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“I've got them coming out winning against the Raiders at home”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“the Broncos will be taking on the Miami Dolphins... This one's definitely gotta be the w.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksBuffalo BillsJul 24, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win
“the Christmas Day marquee matchup against the Buffalo Bills... I have Denver dropping this one”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“But that's why I got them beating the chargers here”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“you and I both have them also beating the Rams in the first portion of this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“then we go week five on the road at the chargers. This is the time where I think you gotta put the chargers back in place”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksCarolina PanthersJul 24, 2026
Carolina Panthers to win
“you had the Broncos dropping that one on the road against Carolina... it is a loss in my opinion on this one”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksSeattle SeahawksJul 24, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win
“you and I predicted the same exact losses at the 40 Niners and at home against the Seahawks in a short week”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJul 24, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“opening up week seven, you and I both have the Broncos winning on the road against the Arizona cardinals”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCarolina PanthersJul 24, 2026
Carolina Panthers to make the playoffs
“I think they're gonna be back in the playoffs this upcoming season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · San Francisco 49ersMiss · 0In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 10Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Pluym's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Matt VerderameGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Verderame's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Mike KadlickGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Kadlick's Week 1 straight-up picks for all 16 games.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Nick Wright lays out his 2026 season picks: all eight division winners, the Ravens as the AFC's No. 1 seed with 13 wins and a 6-0 start, Chiefs and Eagles in the Super Bowl with Kansas City winning, plus value picks on the Seahawks and Eagles to win the NFC.
- Richard ShermanGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Sherman previewed the AFC, picking the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens and Texans as division winners with Denver, New England and Jacksonville as wild cards, called several individual early-season games, and predicted a big year for Travis Hunter at cornerback.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Nick Wright locked in his preseason picks: the Ravens as the AFC's No. 1 seed with 13 wins, eight division winners, Eagles/Broncos/Chiefs to make the playoffs, Eagles and Seahawks to come out of the NFC, and a Chiefs win over the Eagles in the Super Bowl.