# Ross Jackson: Jackson predicted the Lions beat the Saints 27-20 in Week 1, and separately said he expects New Orleans to start 0-2 while still being a playoff-caliber team.

**Claimed:** Sep 10, 2026
**Pundit:** Ross Jackson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/ross-jackson
**Outlet:** Locked On Saints (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/locked-on-saints-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/83ac39/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9/episodes/998c4c39-3248-4895-9951-8e087fc1a6ed/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9&awEpisodeId=998c4c39-3248-4895-9951-8e087fc1a6ed&feed=aKgoC4uX

3 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 playoff pick and 1 score prediction — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 85.7 out of 100, against 96.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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

> I think the line's gonna win this game.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Detroit Lions 27 — Saints 20**
  - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: scored 85.71 out of 100, against 96.35 for a naive guess
- **New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Travis Etienne, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions
- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Travis Etienne — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/travis-etienne

## What others said about the same people

- Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (scored 0)
- Pete Prisco on Detroit Lions: Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973 (scored 100)
- Kirk Herbstreit on Detroit Lions: Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5bc3755c-9b84-484f-b8f2-b18d51a12261 (scored 100)
- Matt Dery on Detroit Lions: Derry predicted a Lions win over the Saints by a 24-20 score, with the Saints covering the 7.5-point spread. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fcf586b4-8b78-41d0-9f73-44a6023b8459 (scored 92.86)
- Mitchell Eisenstein on Detroit Lions: Mitchell picked the Lions to beat the Saints at home, 34-24. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/35222c39-16ed-4f7d-90ee-03fb1d1441bb (scored 78.57)
- Mike Florio on Detroit Lions: 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 78.57)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)

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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.

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:
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