John Middlekauff · Jun 24, 2025

Middlecoff predicts Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs with nine or ten wins, that Zac Taylor's Bengals will fire him and have a new coach in 2026, and that the Patriots make the playoffs. He also expects Jackson Dart to be inserted as the Giants' starter early and thinks the Giants win only four or five games, while believing Josh Allen will win a Super Bowl.

“Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.”

said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →

9 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 Calls Jaxson Dart New York GiantsJun 24, 2025
“So I would expect We talked about this yesterday. Jackson dart to be inserted much earlier than later.”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+16.67 skill
How this was scored
club:
NYG
skill:
16.67
player:
Jaxson Dart
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
Think this is wrong?
Season Win Totals Indianapolis ColtsJun 24, 2025
“Again, they're just looking nine to ten wins. I'm not talking twelve thirteen.”
Scored 80a naive guess scored 95-30 skill
How this was scored
team:
IND
naive:
8.25
skill:
-30
what happened:
8
season:
2025
zero at:
5
accuracy:
80
baseline:
95
predicted:
9
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Playoff Picks New England PatriotsJun 24, 2025
“Speaking of the Patriots, I think they make the playoffs.”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skill
How this was scored
team:
NE
skill:
200
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
naive said:
false
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
made playoffs:
true
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Season Win Totals New York GiantsJun 24, 2025
“This is a this tough schedule. Colling Thiss got four or five wins written all over it.”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 65+70 skill
How this was scored
team:
NYG
naive:
5.75
skill:
70
what happened:
4
season:
2025
zero at:
5
accuracy:
100
baseline:
65
predicted:
4
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Super Bowl Picks Buffalo BillsJun 24, 2025
“I believe that josh Allen will get a Super Bowl ring for it's all said and done.”
Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
they picked:
BUF
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
champion:
SEA
runner up:
NE
naive pick:
PHI
difficulty:
2
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Daniel Jones Indianapolis ColtsJun 24, 2025
“This race is over. He's going to be the starting quarterback.”
Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
IND
skill:
0
player:
Daniel Jones
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
Think this is wrong?
Playoff Picks Indianapolis ColtsJun 24, 2025
“Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.”
Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skill
How this was scored
team:
IND
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
Think this is wrong?
Surprise Team Calls New England PatriotsJun 24, 2025
“I like the Patriots to be playing some games in January, like old times.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Surprise Team Calls Indianapolis ColtsJun 24, 2025
“You're gonna think I'm nuts. Daniel Jones leads the Colts to the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?