# Kevin Wildes: Wildes calls the first big upset of the knockout round, picking Japan over Brazil, has Ivory Coast running to the semis, France winning the whole thing, and predicts Drake Maye will lead quarterbacks in yards with AJ Brown.

**Claimed:** Jun 29, 2026
**Pundit:** Kevin Wildes — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/kevin-wildes
**Outlet:** First Things First (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/first-things-first-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FOXM1563975750.mp3

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> Japan will beat Brazil today

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Drake Maye to finish top 1 at his position, by passing yards**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-maye
- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots

## What others said about the same people

- Julian Edelman on New England Patriots: Edelman picked the Patriots to win the season opener in Seattle, saying New England's offseason additions and the bad taste from the previous season would carry them, and gave a final score of 28-24. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ec6f039f-3212-4e37-8fdb-fb4e95248198 (scored 47.62)
- Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell on New England Patriots: Boston Connor took the Patriots in the season opener against Seattle, framing it as a redemption spot after the Super Bowl loss. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/81f37749-a752-4bb2-a7b4-9161c4281d1f (scored 0)
- Darius Butler on New England Patriots: Butler initially picked Seattle but switched to the Patriots before the show ended; he also called the Colts a likely No. 1 seed, said Jacksonville sneaks into the playoffs, and expects Sam Darnold to land a new contract. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/619c7bcd-5c13-4522-bfe2-21070176447e (scored 0)
- Jason McIntyre on New England Patriots: McIntyre takes the Patriots on the moneyline in the season opener at Seattle, picks the Jaguars over the Browns, and says Baker Mayfield's new deal keeps Tampa a perennial playoff team. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/57e6d050-3be4-4a2c-bd4e-e4422acf969a (scored 0)
- Mike Florio on New England Patriots: Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4b20f46e-ebc0-462f-9e7a-2ab82f91a2ea (scored 50)
- Conor Orr on New England Patriots: Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/54ae8d21-7621-4c3d-816c-e879aed9b5c2 (scored 0)

## More positional finishes

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Chris Brockman on Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c47d130c-5598-4cd0-b546-1121046b9166 (scored 100)
- Ryan Tracy on Bryan Cook: Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; he names Brian Robinson as his target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/18bb787c-4f93-4c95-b8c2-02daeeffe823 (scored 0)
- Pat Gustavson on Bijan Robinson: Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/06884586-5b21-40c8-9439-e303a3e8a806 (scored 75)
- JP Acosta on Bijan Robinson: JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/660e3494-2b0b-415e-beb7-9e3bf3464e30 (scored 75)
- Rich Eisen on George Pickens: Eisen called the Rams-winning-it-all take an overreaction but expects Los Angeles to win the NFC West, said he doesn't see how Myles Garrett fails to win Defensive Player of the Year, and called George Pickens perhaps the third-best receiver in the NFL this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2b6828d6-b24c-4c65-ac95-56bf45c4ebf7 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Puka Nacua: Eisen defended his preseason call of the Packers reaching the Super Bowl, said the Chiefs will win the AFC West, called the Ravens the favorites in the AFC North, said the Colts are a playoff team, expected Denver to handle Cincinnati and the Giants to beat the winless Saints, and endorsed Puka Nacua as the league's best receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e0759bb3-fd2c-400d-8ee9-f77e5c5fe3e6 (scored 91.67)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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