JP Acosta · Mar 18, 2026
Acosta sorted all 32 teams into tiers for 2026: Seattle, the Rams and Denver as his Super Bowl favorites; New England, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston and Philadelphia as playoff teams; Jacksonville, Chicago and the Chargers as 'hipster' Super Bowl contenders; and Washington, New Orleans and Tennessee as turnaround candidates. He also predicted the Raiders take Fernando Mendoza first overall and that Minnesota could win 12 games with Kyler Murray.
“They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Pushing the Pile (podcast) · read the original →
19 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.
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“This is obviously operating on your assumption that the Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. That feels like a foregone conclusion at this point.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsMar 18, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Detroit Lions”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksGreen Bay PackersMar 18, 2026
Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Green Bay Packers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansMar 18, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams... the Houston Texans”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesMar 18, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“and the Philadelphia Eagles... this team is too talented to just say they're gonna miss the playoffs outright.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Conference ChampionsJacksonville JaguarsMar 18, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... And these are the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Power RankingsMar 18, 2026
“But I just think if I had to rank it, I would go Ravens, Bills, Chiefs because the Chiefs might not have Patrick Mahomes for the first quarter of the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsWashington CommandersMar 18, 2026
Washington Commanders to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... I said the Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Super Bowl PicksSeattle SeahawksMar 18, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... They are the defending champions, Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Super Bowl PicksLos Angeles RamsMar 18, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... the Los Angeles Rams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Super Bowl PicksDenver BroncosMar 18, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl
“Last tier, Super Bowl favorites here... and the Denver Broncos. I was sort of debating on where to put the Broncos and then they traded for Jaylen Waddle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Season Win TotalsMinnesota VikingsMar 18, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to finish with 12 wins
“the one team that isn't in the in that tier, we said earlier is the Minnesota Vikings, who could win 12 games with Kyler Murray as their quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Depth Chart CallsJC LathamTennessee TitansMar 18, 2026
JC Latham to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think he's sort of locked in this season as you're starting right tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Conference ChampionsChicago BearsMar 18, 2026
Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... Chicago Bears... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles ChargersMar 18, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to reach the Super Bowl
“These are the the hipster Super Bowl picks... and Los Angeles Chargers... if things break right, they could find themselves in the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsMar 18, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... New Orleans Saints... One thing breaks right and you are leading that division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsTennessee TitansMar 18, 2026
Tennessee Titans to beat expectations
“I think these are trendy turnaround candidates... and Tennessee Titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsMar 18, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“These are the playoff teams. I think these teams are going to be in post season contention... And these are the New England Patriots, the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, the Houston Texans, and the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Power RankingsMar 18, 2026
“unfortunately, I have to put the chargers last... But between the Jaguars and the Bears, I actually sort of think I'm gonna lean towards the Jaguars”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.