Jacob Westendorf· Sep 13, 2026
Westendorf picks the Packers to win the opener 27-21, with Tucker Kraft leading the team in catches, Christian Watson in yards, Jayden Reed in touchdowns and Josh Jacobs in rushing. He tabs Bo Nix as MVP, the Broncos as the AFC's top team and Super Bowl winner over the Rams, the Lions to win the NFC North, and the Packers to finish 8-9.
“Jacob: Denver Broncos. ... they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 conference champions, 1 award pick, 1 division winner, 1 score prediction, 1 season win total, 1 seeding, byes and home field, 1 sleeper call and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 13 have settled so far, averaging 23.8 out of 100, against 58.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Green Bay Packers · 2026 season · wins12 calls from 8 pundits between 3 wins and 11 wins. Jacob Westendorf said 8 wins. the room's median is 9 wins. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Packers at Vikings 41 calls
13 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.
- Score PredictionsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Green Bay Packers 27 — Vikings 21
“Jacob Westendorf: Packers 27, Vikings 21 .”
Miss · 24Scored 23.81a naive guess scored 58.25-68.89 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 22-39
- skill:
- -68.89
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 23.81
- baseline:
- 58.25
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 6
Christian Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacob: Tucker Kraft in receptions, Christian Watson in yards and Jayden Reed in touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJosh JacobsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Josh Jacobs to be 1st on the depth chart
“Who Will Lead Packers in Rushing? Jacob: Josh Jacobs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksBo NixDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Bo Nix to win NFL MVP
“Jacob: Bo Nix. The MVP award is given to the quarterback who is usually on the best team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to take the top seed
“I anticipate the Broncos being the top team in the AFC, which helps Nix edge out other candidates.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 13, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“NFC North Winner Jacob: Lions. ... I defer to the Lions, who have flaws, but also have the easiest schedule in the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTucker KraftGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Tucker Kraft to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacob: Tucker Kraft in receptions, Christian Watson in yards and Jayden Reed in touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl
“they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles RamsSep 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“they emerge from a tough AFC playoffs and knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Green Bay Packers to finish with 8 wins
“Jacob: 8-9.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJayden ReedGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Jayden Reed to be 1st on the depth chart
“Reed's quickness in the red zone should allow him to rack up touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMatthew GoldenGreen Bay PackersSep 13, 2026
Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost
“Jacob: Matthew Golden. Golden put together another excellent training camp and looks poised to be the one to take on a lion's share of the 100-plus targets.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksDenver BroncosSep 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl
“Super Bowl Winner Jacob: Denver Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky 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.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 10Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 7Dajani picks the Broncos over the Chiefs, 17-14.
- John BreechScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 5In the Pick Six newsletter, Breech picks the Broncos to upset the Chiefs on Monday night, 23-21.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2The unbylined CBS Sports preview picks Denver to win at Arrowhead in Week 1, 21-20, and expects Kenneth Walker III to be Kansas City's lead back while Jaylen Waddle serves as Bo Nix's top receiving target in Denver.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In 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.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In 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.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.