# Cynthia Frelund: Freeland picked three games: the Texans to upset the Chargers at SoFi Stadium behind their pass rush, the 49ers to beat the Bears on Sunday night, and the Patriots to handle the Jets. **Claimed:** Dec 26, 2025 **Pundit:** Cynthia Frelund — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/cynthia-frelund **Outlet:** Around the NFL (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/around-the-nfl-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-daily/week-17-nfl-picks-with-cynthia-frelund 3 checkable claims — 3 game outcome picks — 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. All 3 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 33.3 for a naive guess at the same calls. > Ultimately I think that the Texans take care of business and have the upset here at SOFI Stadium. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **New England Patriots to beat Jets** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **San Francisco 49ers to beat Bears** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to beat Chargers** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess ## Who this take is about - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans ## What others said about the same people - John Middlekauff on San Francisco 49ers: In a Week 2 preview, Middlekauff argued Matt LaFleur is under enormous pressure in Green Bay, predicted blowout wins for the 49ers over Miami and the Eagles over Tennessee, and offered season win-total views on the Saints, Buccaneers, Texans and Jaguars while backing Dallas to win the NFC East. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6b74ac24-5cde-4063-b243-78341ac76343 (scored 100) - Alain Poupart on San Francisco 49ers: Poupart predicts the 49ers beat the Dolphins 27-17 at Levi's Stadium in Week 2, though he expects the game to be closer than the spread suggests. He also anticipates a larger role for De'Von Achane and a big passing day from Brock Purdy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70e53b3b-fd72-43e7-a99b-655f41a11160 (scored 71.43) - Derek Brown on San Francisco 49ers: In a Week 2 start/sit column, Derek Brown gave lineup advice on running backs, including a prediction that the 49ers would blow out the Dolphins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2ce05a0a-dccb-4701-80fa-9809feec8175 (scored 100) - Colin Cowherd on Houston Texans: Cowherd repeats his claim that Caleb Williams will be viewed as a top four or five quarterback by the end of the season, restates his preseason pick of the Ravens to win their division, and expects a angry Houston defense to beat Cincinnati on Sunday. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e43d4655-1b30-4892-a8ee-3cfe6bf29dba (scored 0) - Chris Broussard on Houston Texans: Brew stood by the Lions as division winners and playoff team, picked the Texans over Cincinnati, the Bears over Minnesota, the Patriots to beat Pittsburgh with a solid Drake Maye game, flagged Jacksonville over Denver as his upset alert, and said he still feels good about the Ravens winning the AFC. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a54915e0-49e6-427b-a7a5-4feb5d0f3cbb (scored 0) - Greg Jennings on Houston Texans: Jennings put the Cardinals up as his upset alert over Seattle, backed the Texans over Cincinnati and the Bears over Minnesota with chips, put two chips on Denver beating Jacksonville, and wrote a headline of the Packers beating the Jets; he also called the Bengals a playoff team and the Chiefs winners over Indianapolis. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/420d3e29-6224-43a2-8d68-b15c864838cd (scored 0) ## More game outcome picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Michael Hanich on Seattle Seahawks: Hanich argues the Week 2 road game at Arizona is not a true trap game, citing Seattle's long winning streak in the series, Mike Macdonald's preparation and injuries in the Cardinals' secondary, and rates his confidence in the Seahawks at 7. He also suggests safety Nick Emmanwori may miss a second straight game. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/735e7874-81a3-4bde-8c8f-d718cadf6e33 (scored 100) - 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) - Eric Moody on Carolina Panthers: Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8781a68b-56d0-4cd0-bf58-b7791e174082 (scored 100) - Pamela Maldonado on Carolina Panthers: Picks the Panthers to beat the Falcons in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/738530b5-6f35-4dc3-95f4-716358983f8a (scored 100) - John Middlekauff on Philadelphia Eagles: In a Week 2 preview, Middlekauff argued Matt LaFleur is under enormous pressure in Green Bay, predicted blowout wins for the 49ers over Miami and the Eagles over Tennessee, and offered season win-total views on the Saints, Buccaneers, Texans and Jaguars while backing Dallas to win the NFC East. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6b74ac24-5cde-4063-b243-78341ac76343 (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Carolina Panthers: Amid a slate of against-the-spread picks, Wright makes a few outright calls: Jacksonville beats Denver straight up, Carolina wins at Atlanta, and he reiterates that he picked Denver to make the playoffs despite his concerns after their Week 1 loss. He also expects Ladd McConkie to sit out the Chargers' game. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0290838b-8539-4133-bb24-a8c3a617bbd3 (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=cynthia-frelund