Akbar Gbaja-Biamila· Jan 7, 2025
Akbar ranked the AFC wild card teams Chargers, Steelers, Broncos and the NFC trio Vikings, Packers, Commanders, while predicting Washington beats Tampa Bay in the wild card round and that the Lions reach the Super Bowl.
“I still believe in the Vikings... They win and they go far. I see Vikings.”
said on air or in an interview · Move the Sticks (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
4 checkable claims — 2 power rankings, 1 conference champion and 1 game outcome pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 4 have settled, averaging 62.5 out of 100, against 31.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
4 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.
- Conference ChampionsDetroit LionsJan 7, 2025
Detroit Lions to reach the Super Bowl
“I've been talking about the Lions, and you know, I do the Lion King chant because I believe that they're going to the Super Bowl.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-100 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- -100
- they picked:
- DET
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- champions:
- PHI,KC
- difficulty:
- 1
- the naive guess:
- last season's conference champions
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- reached the Super Bowl:
- no
- lost the conference final:
- no
- Game Outcome PicksWashington CommandersJan 7, 2025
Washington Commanders to beat Buccaneers
“I do think though, that the Commanders will end up beating the Buccaneers in that first game.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+100 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- WAS
- score:
- 23-20
- skill:
- 100
- they picked:
- WAS
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- TB
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Power RankingsJan 7, 2025
“at the number three spot, I've got Washington... Number two, the Green Bay Packers... We're talking about the Minnesota Vikings... I see Vikings.”
Close · 75Scored 75a naive guess scored 25+50 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 50
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 25
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Power RankingsJan 7, 2025
“But I've got Broncos, Steelers and Chargers... I like the Chargers to go really far and compete with the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Close · 75Scored 75a naive guess scored 0+75 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 75
- method:
- spearman
- season:
- 2024
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- teams ranked:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
What others said about the same people
- David HarrisonGame Outcome Picks · Washington CommandersMiss · 0Harrison lays out a path for the Washington Commanders to exceed their 7.5-win total, identifying eight specific games he projects them to win: home vs. Seattle (Week 3), vs. Indianapolis in London (Week 4), a sweep of the Giants (Weeks 5 and 10), at Arizona (Week 12), at Tennessee (Week 13), vs. Atlanta (Week 15) and vs. Dallas (Week 18). He also says the Bengals (Week 11) and Texans (Week 14) games are winnable.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
- Garrett PodellTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100A CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels.
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100In a quarterback rapid-fire segment and later discussion, Brooks named starters for several clubs (Kyler Murray over JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, Tua in Atlanta, Jeremiah Love as Arizona's starting running back), called Chris Olave a No. 1 receiver, backed Stefon Diggs landing with the Commanders and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams, argued Baker Mayfield belongs among the top 15-17 quarterbacks, and published a top-five defensive tackle list topped by Jeffrey Simmons.
- Joe MarinoTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100Marino projects DJ Moore to bounce back in Buffalo's offense with over 1,000 receiving yards (talking up around 1,200), and expects rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun (IGB) to win a starting job opposite Christian Benford. He also thinks free agent Stefon Diggs ends up signing with Washington.
- Gregg RosenthalTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100Rosenthal picked rookies he expects to start right away — a Steelers left tackle and Colts linebacker — said Terry McLaurin is Washington's clear No. 1 receiver, and said he wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders signed Stefon Diggs as a solid No. 2.
More power rankings
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 85Eisen power ranked the 10 teams with new head coaches by their chances of a Mike Vrabel-style turnaround, with Baltimore first and Arizona last. He also predicted Kirk Cousins would be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, expected Deshaun Watson to start in Cleveland, and named the Titans as a team he likes.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 73Eisen delivered his final NFL power rankings of the season, a top 10 with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks first, the Rams second and the Patriots third, ahead of the Bears, Broncos, 49ers, Bills, Packers, Texans and Jaguars.
- Anthony GarganoPower RankingsClose · 75Gargano also took Indiana over Miami as a mismatch, but split from Schwartz on wild card weekend by picking the Bears over the Packers and the Bills over the Jaguars, while liking the Patriots and Texans and ranking the Rams, Eagles and Bills as the top remaining contenders.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 93Rich Eisen delivered his final traditional power rankings of the season, counting down the top 10 teams in reverse order and putting the Seahawks first, with the rest of the top four ordered by playoff seeding.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 83Rich Eisen delivered his Week 16 NFL power rankings, keeping the Rams at No. 1 with the Broncos second and the Bears holding at 10, and also predicted James Cook wins the rushing title while expecting the Bears and Rams to win their upcoming home games.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 76Rich Eisen gave his Week 15 top-10 power rankings, installing the Rams at No. 1 as the best team in football, adding the Jaguars and keeping the Bears despite their loss, while dropping the Cowboys and Eagles off the list. He also projected 10-win seasons for both Chicago and Jacksonville and said the Jaguars would handle the Jets at home.