Pushing the Pile (podcast) · Jan 2, 2026
The unnamed host (Speaker 0) laid out his Week 18 picks: Broncos as the AFC's No. 1 seed, wins for Carolina, San Francisco, Baltimore, Denver (by 20+), Jacksonville, New England, Detroit, Dallas and Minnesota, plus Drake Maye as MVP and Kirk Cousins leaving Atlanta.
“That being said, I think the Broncos do win by 20 plus points, and I think it's going to be a laugher.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast) · read the original →
12 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.
- Award PicksDrake MayeNew England PatriotsJan 2, 2026
Drake Maye to win MVP
“So those are four. Drake may be the fifth. And he'll have Will Campbell back to do it against the Dolphins.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- award:
- mvp
- naive:
- the naive pick was Josh Allen, who won it the year before
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Drake Maye
- season:
- 2025
- winner:
- Matthew Stafford
- correct:
- false
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1.06
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 1
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDenver BroncosJan 2, 2026
Denver Broncos to take the top seed
“the chargers are sitting their starters in that game against the Denver Broncos. So looks like the Broncos will be your one seed.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksCarolina PanthersJan 2, 2026
Carolina Panthers to win
“Yeah. I'm gonna go with the Panthers as well. And it's because I think it's because of how injured the Bucks are.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosJan 2, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“That being said, I think the Broncos do win by 20 plus points, and I think it's going to be a laugher”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Kirk Cousins to move to Atlanta Falcons
“This is his last season with the Falcons. His cap hit is such that they're going to be moving on from him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksBaltimore RavensJan 2, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win
“I I just don't see it. I I don't think it's going to be close. Three and a half points, I think, is way too low in this one.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksSan Francisco 49ersJan 2, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to win
“Give me the 40 niners at home. Just trust as much as crazy to say. Trust Brock a little more than Donald at this point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsJan 2, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win
“I think the Jags win. I think they win big too.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksNew England PatriotsJan 2, 2026
New England Patriots to win
“I agree. Drake may looks like now he's the front runner to win the MVP. (agreeing the Patriots win this one big)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksDetroit LionsJan 2, 2026
Detroit Lions to win
“That being said, I actually think the Lions win.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksDallas CowboysJan 2, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win
“but I do think the Cowboys win. This is one of my locks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Game Outcome PicksMinnesota VikingsJan 2, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to win
“I got four. I got the Vikings minus seven and a half.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.