Jerry Markarian· Sep 4, 2026
Bold 2026 Bears predictions: Caleb Williams throws for 4,500 yards and 35 TDs and enters the MVP conversation; Colston Loveland posts 1,200 receiving yards and 10 TDs while leading the team in receiving; Kyler Gordon grabs four interceptions; the Bears average about 30 points per game and score 500 points; Gallimore and van den Berg combine for 10 sacks; Austin Booker leads the team with 10-12 sacks.
“He'll firmly place himself in the MVP conversation with a 4,500-yard, 35-TD campaign.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 6 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Colston Loveland · 2026 season · receiving yards6 calls from 5 pundits between 1,000 receiving yards and 1,200 receiving yards. Jerry Markarian said 1,200 receiving yards. the room's median is 1,000 receiving yards. 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.
Their call against the record
passing tdsTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
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Who this take is about
6 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.
Caleb Williams to record 35 passing tds
“He'll firmly place himself in the MVP conversation with a 4,500-yard, 35-TD campaign.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colston Loveland to record 1,200 receiving yards
“He'll reach the 1,200-yard mark and haul in ten touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 4,500 passing yards
“he'll shatter the 4,000-yard mark as long as he stays healthy. He'll firmly place himself in the MVP conversation with a 4,500-yard, 35-TD campaign.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyler Gordon to record 4 interceptions
“Kyler Gordon catches four interceptions ... He returns with a vengeance and snags an interception in his first game back against Green Bay (in Week 5). He follows it up with three more the rest of the way”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Austin Booker to record 10 sacks
“I could see him finishing the season with 10-12 sacks and actually leading the team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colston Loveland to record 10 receiving tds
“He'll reach the 1,200-yard mark and haul in ten touchdowns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
- Eric CohenGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league.
- Gene ChamberlainScore Predictions · Chicago BearsClose · 57Chamberlain picks the Bears to beat the Panthers in Week 1 at Charlotte, 34-30, giving Chicago the edge in the run game, passing game, pass defense and coaching.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Herbstreit 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.
More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ross JacksonPlayer Season Numbers · Tyler ShoughMiss · 4Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- Chris BroussardPlayer Season Numbers · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 100Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 84Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among his weekly picks he expects the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.
- Shannon SharpePlayer Season Numbers · T.J. WattMiss · 0On a Bengals-Steelers matchup, Sharpe took the over on several player props: Ja'Marr Chase over 74.5 receiving yards, Joe Flacco over 36.5 pass attempts, and T.J. Watt over 3.5 tackles+assists, adding that Watt will get two sacks. He also predicted Rico Dowdle would make the Pro Bowl this season.
- Rich EisenPlayer Season Numbers · Micah ParsonsClose · 56Eisen made a series of picks: Micah Parsons will out-sack any two Cowboys combined (after initially leaning the other way), the NFC North is more likely to produce a Super Bowl team than the NFC East, Eagles wins will outnumber Cowboys losses, Bo Nix/Courtland Sutton will out-touchdown Cam Ward/Calvin Ridley, and Marvin Harrison Jr./James Conner will beat Kamara/Olave in yards and TDs. He also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record.