Gregg Rosenthal· Sep 4, 2026
Rosenthal picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP (switching off Lamar Jackson), Justin Jefferson for Offensive Player of the Year and Will Anderson for Defensive Player of the Year, then laid out a full playoff field with the Texans beating the Ravens 9-3 in the AFC title game and topping the Rams 16-13 in the Super Bowl.
“They're due to lose in another one of the greatest defensive performances that we've ever seen by the Super Bowl champion, Houston, Texas.”
said on air or in an interview · Around the NFL (podcast) · read the original →
29 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 7 award picks, 6 playoff picks, 2 conference champions, 2 score predictions, 1 coach award pick, 1 game outcome pick, 1 season win total and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 22 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Seattle Seahawks
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- Aaron Donald
- Minnesota Vikings
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Detroit Lions
- Patrick Mahomes
- Will Anderson Jr.
- Arvell Reese
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Jadarian Price
- Justin Jefferson
- Denver Broncos
- Tristan Wirfs
The games in this take
- Ravens at Texans 3 calls
- Rams at Seahawks 11 calls
29 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.
- Score PredictionsHouston TexansSep 4, 2026
Houston Texans 9 — Ravens 3
“the Texans beating the Ravens in this particular game, the AFC Championship... You kick the extra point, you win nine to three.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansSep 4, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“Do we all have the Texans winning it?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“put three teams from the West into the playoffs as my second and third wildcard teams, the Broncos, the Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysSep 4, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“I have the Cowboys. I failed to mention as one of my wildcard teams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 4, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“I have the Seahawks as my number one wildcard team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsHouston TexansSep 4, 2026
Houston Texans to reach the Super Bowl
“two-thirds of this crew today have the Texans go into the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensSep 4, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“I have the Ravens as my AFC North pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 4, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I believe the Buffalo Bills will win the AFC East... I picked them too.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles RamsSep 4, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“You have the Rams in. I have the Rams in. We have the exact same Super Bowl right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsNew England PatriotsSep 4, 2026
New England Patriots to finish with 10 wins
“I do think they're going to be good this season, double-digit wins.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksAaron DonaldSep 4, 2026
Aaron Donald to win Comeback Player of the Year
“I'll go Aaron Donald. He's not coming back from an injury, but certainly you could give him comeback player of the year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksSep 4, 2026
D'Amico Ryans to win Coach of the Year
“Last award is Coach of the Year... I have D'Amico.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsSep 4, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“So I had them as my last wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 4, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win
“The Rams are at home, and they do get the win. They get the Seahawks back in the conference championship.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsHouston TexansSep 4, 2026
Houston Texans 16 — Rams 13
“a forced fumble returned by aziz al-shayer is the difference in a 16 to 13 super bowl victory”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksHouston TexansSep 4, 2026
Houston Texans to win the Super Bowl
“another one of the greatest defensive performances that we've ever seen by the Super Bowl champion, Houston, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to win the division
“So I have the Chiefs winning the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 4, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“But I have the Lions winning the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPatrick MahomesKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Patrick Mahomes to win MVP
“I'm changing it... I think he comes in second. It is Patrick Mahomes.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksWill Anderson Jr.Houston TexansSep 4, 2026
Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year
“my defensive player of the year is Will Anderson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksArvell ReeseNew York GiantsSep 4, 2026
Arvell Reese to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“I'll go with my heart here a little over my head and go Arvel Reese”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesSep 4, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“I'm just going to stick with the Eagles because whenever I don't, they make me regret it.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 4, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division
“The Buccaneers in the NFC South are my favorite favorite.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJadarian PriceSep 4, 2026
Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“I'll go Jadarian Price as my offensive rookie of the year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJustin JeffersonSep 4, 2026
Justin Jefferson to win Offensive Player of the Year
“I'm going with the next name on the board, who I guess would be the sixth favorite, and that's Justin Jefferson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsSep 4, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“I have the Pats as my first wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosSep 4, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“put three teams from the West into the playoffs as my second and third wildcard teams, the Broncos, the Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsSep 4, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“So Jordan and I have the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksTristan WirfsSep 4, 2026
Tristan Wirfs to win Protector of the Year
“I went to a predictable name, which is Tristan Wirfs”
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.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Chicago BearsHit · 100Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though he thinks they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.
- Andrew WhitworthDivision Winners · Green Bay PackersMiss · 0Whitworth named the Green Bay Packers as the best team in the NFC North and the one he expects to come out of that division, while suggesting the Bears — not the Eagles — may be the team poised to make a run.