Carter Bahns· Sep 23, 2026
Bahns argues the Bengals are now a complete, top-tier team whose defensive additions can carry them back to the Super Bowl, while the Chargers' season may already be lost with road games at Buffalo and Seattle looking unwinnable. He also sees the Saints as division favorites, picks Jacksonville over New England and expects the Eagles to reach 3-0 against a Bears team likely without Caleb Williams.
“The defensive personnel changes are difference makers -- ones that can help the Bengals get back to the Super Bowl.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 4 game outcome picks, 1 availability call, 1 conference champion and 1 division winner — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Chargers at Bills 14 calls
- Patriots at Jaguars 9 calls
- Eagles at Bears 11 calls
- Chargers at Seahawks 5 calls
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.
- Game Outcome PicksBuffalo BillsSep 23, 2026
Buffalo Bills to beat Chargers
“in order to salvage the first month of the campaign, the Chargers have to right their wrongs on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. That feels unachievable.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Availability CallsCaleb WilliamsChicago BearsSep 23, 2026
“Caleb Williams is likely out with a hamstring issue (Week 3, Monday Night Football vs. Eagles)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 23, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to beat Chargers
“the Chargers have to right their wrongs on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. That feels unachievable.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsSep 23, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to beat New England Patriots
“The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost consecutive games just once since 2024 and could put up a number New England cannot match in this contest between 1-1 squads.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 23, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The schedule ahead is favorable, and if the Saints take advantage, the division should be theirs to lose.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 23, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to beat Chicago Bears
“That is an unenviable matchup for a third-string quarterback and a prime spot for the Eagles to improve to 3-0.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsCincinnati BengalsSep 23, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl
“The defensive personnel changes are difference makers -- ones that can help the Bengals get back to the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Ameer AbdullahHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Cole PaytonHit · 100Kerr ranks the Eagles' 2025 draft picks by cut risk, predicting seventh-rounders Keyshawn James-Newby and Cole Wisniewski land on the practice squad, while Cole Payton, Uar Bernard, Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers and Markel Bell make the 53. He also says Lemon starts Week 1 and Bell is the right tackle of the future.
- Ross JacksonRoster Spot Calls · Juwan JohnsonHit · 100Ross Jackson gives his final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be.
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Ar'maj Reed-AdamsMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Buffalo Bills' final 53-man roster ahead of Week 1 against Houston, naming every player who makes it, who gets cut, and a few depth-chart outcomes (Damar Hamlin as backup safety, Alec Anderson as a new starter on the offensive line, Shane Buechele back on the practice squad).
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Rocco UnderwoodMiss · 0Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood.
- Jeff KerrRoster Spot Calls · Ty RobinsonHit · 100Kerr assesses which Eagles have played their way onto or off the initial 53-man roster, projecting roster spots for Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Ty Robinson and others, depth-chart placements for Kendall, Will Shipley, Markel Bell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and trouble for Andy Dalton, Rocco Underwood, Micah Morris and Andre Sam.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Richard ShermanGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersMiss · 0Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP.
- Bill HuberGame Outcome Picks · Green Bay PackersMiss · 0Huber forecasts the Packers starting 3-4 through seven games — losing at Minnesota and Tampa Bay, beating the Jets and Falcons, losing to the Bears — and finishing the season with about eight wins.
- Jared DubinGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Dubin picks the Rams to beat the Giants on Monday Night Football, sticking with preseason expectations over Week 1 overreaction. He gives two conditional scores depending on whether Puka Nacua plays: a comfortable 27-17 win if Nacua suits up, and a narrow 17-16 win if he sits.
- Dan OrlovskyGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Orlovsky said that even without Puka Nacua the Rams would find a way to beat the Giants on Monday night, though he thought the Giants would keep it within a touchdown.
- Patricia TrainaGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsMiss · 0In her weekly Giants mailbag, Traina said the Giants would beat the Rams if Los Angeles didn't play its best, predicted Aaron Donald wouldn't play a full game Monday night, and said she doesn't expect Paulson Adebo to still be with the Giants in 2027.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsMiss · 0Parkins picked the Giants to beat the Rams outright, backed Jacksonville over Denver, Cincinnati over Houston and Chicago over Minnesota in the chips segment, endorsed Buffalo as the AFC's Super Bowl representative, and predicted Deshaun Watson has started his last NFL game.