# Pat Gustavson: Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. His awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year. **Claimed:** Jan 6, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Gustavson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/pat-gustavson **Outlet:** Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/bran-coverage-with-benchwarmerbran-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182919/episodes/18462936-black-monday-reactions-playoff-predictions-award-picks-podcast-for-1-6.mp3 20 checkable claims — 9 game outcome picks, 5 award picks, 2 coach award picks, 2 conference champions, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 20 have settled, averaging 50.8 out of 100, against 21.1 for a naive guess at the same calls. > I do have the Patriots over the Bears in the Super Bowl, and I'm really not happy about it. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Charles Cross to make Protector of the Year** - Kind: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · About: Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Seahawks** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to beat Packers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to beat Jags** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 66.67 out of 100, against 22.92 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Rams to beat Panthers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Chicago Bears to beat Eagles** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Bills** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to beat Chargers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to beat Steelers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Vance Joseph to win Assistant Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Denver Broncos to beat Houston** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Carson Schwesinger to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Matthew Stafford to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Drake Maye to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Puka Nacua to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tyler Shough to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - Charles Cross — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/charles-cross - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Carson Schwesinger — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carson-schwesinger - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Matthew Stafford — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matthew-stafford - Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-maye - Puka Nacua — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/puka-nacua - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints ## What others said about the same people - Ethan Hurwitz on Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: Hurwitz writes that the elevations of Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Mike Brown likely mean Leonard Taylor III stays a healthy scratch and Joshua Farmer could be one too for the Week 3 game at Jacksonville, and that both elevated players will revert to the practice squad after Sunday. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fc98ac5c-1a8e-4462-94fa-993b02c52d00 (scored 0) - Blaine Grisak on Dean Connors: Grisak argues Wesley Bailey has essentially played his way onto the Rams' roster after a 10-pressure preseason game, suggests Dean Connors and Tim Keenan III could be cut and stashed on the practice squad, and makes a case for Jarquez Hunter making the 53 despite bubble status. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/dd80ddb6-ed9f-4eb7-9ec6-58f9e56d90d8 (scored 0) - Blaine Grisak on Dean Connors: After the Rams' first preseason game, Grisak predicted the full 53-man roster, naming three quarterbacks, four running backs, five receivers, five tight ends, nine offensive linemen, four linebackers, six defensive linemen, four edge rushers, five cornerbacks, five safeties and three special teamers, with Dean Connors headed for the practice squad instead. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/893ce849-9f8b-40c4-b5bc-a578611b14f8 (scored 100) - Blaine Grisak on Dean Connors: Reviewing the Rams' preseason win, Grisak predicted roster outcomes: Dean Connors likely lands on the practice squad rather than the 53, Xavier Smith's roster chances look poor, Nick Andersen is a strong practice squad candidate, and Mark Redman is likely a practice squad candidate. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6093b2fb-ed84-405f-9566-ec32fbdee8b6 (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jonah Coleman: Jensen expects the Broncos to sign fullback Adam Prentice to the active 53-man roster early the following week rather than risk losing him on waivers, with a corresponding cut coming Monday. He also anticipates Denver will clear a roster spot for Jonah Coleman once the running back's four-game IR stint ends around Week 7. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/660f418e-5ec3-4df4-a4f3-1f4221b7a451 (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Ameer Abdullah: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) ## More game outcome picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Richard Sherman on Green Bay Packers: Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 (scored 0) - Bill Huber on Green Bay Packers: Huber forecasts the Packers starting 3-4 through seven games — losing at Minnesota and Tampa Bay, beating the Jets and Falcons, losing to the Bears — and finishing the season with about eight wins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2df248b5-ab27-436f-ae3f-7b2ccb53ade6 (scored 0) - Patricia Traina on New York Giants: In her weekly Giants mailbag, Traina said the Giants would beat the Rams if Los Angeles didn't play its best, predicted Aaron Donald wouldn't play a full game Monday night, and said she doesn't expect Paulson Adebo to still be with the Giants in 2027. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ed7864bb-8795-4c1b-9517-fd7164fefb20 (scored 0) - Danny Parkins on New York Giants: Parkins picked the Giants to beat the Rams outright, backed Jacksonville over Denver, Cincinnati over Houston and Chicago over Minnesota in the chips segment, endorsed Buffalo as the AFC's Super Bowl representative, and predicted Deshaun Watson has started his last NFL game. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/36d4ede8-3066-4102-abbc-cb08e4544c92 (scored 0) - Garrett Podell on New York Giants: In a Week 2 bold-predictions piece, CBS Sports predicts the Giants will upset the Rams on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium, dropping Los Angeles to 0-2, and that Colts quarterback Daniel Jones will throw multiple touchdowns on Sunday Night Football at Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f2748c71-ff83-4632-bb1c-3039b21359a2 (scored 0) - Seth Walder on Carolina Panthers: Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/61d68b2a-468b-44a5-b949-a6b152bbafc0 (scored 100) --- 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. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=pat-gustavson