Brandon Carney · Jan 13, 2026

Carney sticks with the Rams as his Super Bowl winner, picks the Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks and Rams in the divisional round, and makes a series of head coaching landing-spot predictions plus fantasy takes on Colston Loveland.

“I'm still very much standing by my Rams Super Bowl prediction.”

said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) · read the original →

19 checkable claims from this

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.

Super Bowl Picks Los Angeles RamsJan 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“Yeah. I think I I'm still very much standing by my Rams Super Bowl prediction.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
skill:
0
they picked:
LAR
season:
2025
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
champion:
SEA
runner up:
NE
naive pick:
PHI
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
0
Think this is wrong?
Game Outcome Picks New England PatriotsJan 13, 2026
New England Patriots to win
“Texans at Patriots... Who you got? I'm taking the patriots.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
won:
NE
score:
16-28
skill:
0
they picked:
NE
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
naive pick:
NE
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
0
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Jake Tonges San Francisco 49ersJan 13, 2026
Jake Tonges to be 1st on the depth chart
“Honestly, Jake Tarras would probably be a guy being drafted as a fringe tight end one, honestly, just with the system.”
Hit · 92Scored 91.67a naive guess scored 91.67+0 skill
How this was scored
club:
SF
skill:
0
player:
Jake Tonges
season:
2025
accuracy:
91.67
baseline:
91.67
position:
TE
naive slot:
3
actual slot:
2
difficulty:
1
measured by:
receptions
naive basis:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
0
Think this is wrong?
Game Outcome Picks Los Angeles RamsJan 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win
“I'll I'm going with the Rams because they are my Super Bowl pick.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+100 skill
How this was scored
won:
LAR
score:
20-17
skill:
100
they picked:
LAR
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
naive pick:
CHI
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
0
Think this is wrong?
Game Outcome Picks Denver BroncosJan 13, 2026
Denver Broncos to win
“I am gonna stick with the Broncos here. I'm gonna go with Denver at home.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
won:
DEN
score:
30-33
skill:
0
they picked:
DEN
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
naive pick:
DEN
difficulty:
1
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
0
Think this is wrong?
Positional Finishes Colston Loveland Chicago BearsJan 13, 2026
Colston Loveland to finish top 3 at his position, by fantasy points
“Outside of Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, I don't know if there's anyone else I'm putting above Colson Loveland for next season... you wanna rank him as t three next year? Be my guest.”
Close · 50Scored 50a naive guess scored 75-25 skill
How this was scored
skill:
-25
player:
Colston Loveland
season:
2025
zero at:
12
accuracy:
50
baseline:
75
position:
TE
ranked by:
fantasy points
difficulty:
1
naive basis:
no prior season — the startable tier at TE
weeks in the season:
18
naive finish:
12
actual finish:
9
weeks left when called:
0
predicted finish:
3
Think this is wrong?
Game Outcome Picks Seattle SeahawksJan 13, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win
“So we will see how that one plays out, but I certainly have Seattle as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Tennessee TitansJan 13, 2026
Kevin Stefanski to move to Tennessee Titans
“So I am going with Kevin Stefanski to the Titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Atlanta FalconsJan 13, 2026
Clint Kubiak to move to Atlanta Falcons
“I've got the Falcons winning the Kubiak sweepstakes. I think I think Clint Kubiak goes to Atlanta.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Baltimore RavensJan 13, 2026
Robert Saleh to move to Baltimore Ravens
“I went Robert Saleh for the Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Las Vegas RaidersJan 13, 2026
Brian Flores to move to Las Vegas Raiders
“I went with Brian Flores here... Yeah. I'm going with Brian Flores.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Miami DolphinsJan 13, 2026
Chris Shula to move to Miami Dolphins
“I believe Brandon and I agree on this in Chris Shula, the Rams defensive coordinator... So, yeah. I like Chris Schula there in Miami.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Conference Champions Los Angeles RamsJan 13, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“I'm gonna go with the Rams though and, you know, continue on their road to the Super Bowl”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls New York GiantsJan 13, 2026
John Harbaugh to move to New York Giants
“Say the line, John Harbaugh goes to the New York Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls A.J. Brown Philadelphia EaglesJan 13, 2026
A.J. Brown to move to Philadelphia Eagles
“I think there is a strong chance that AJ Brown has played his last snap as a Philadelphia Eagle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Rico Dowdle Carolina PanthersJan 13, 2026
Rico Dowdle to move to Carolina Panthers
“So, yeah. He's probably out of Carolina.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Cleveland BrownsJan 13, 2026
Jim Schwartz to move to Cleveland Browns
“I also said Jim Schwartz for the Cleveland Browns.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Green Bay PackersJan 13, 2026
Tucker Graff to be 1st on the depth chart
“Obviously, Tucker Graff's side Yes. He is the Packers wide receiver right now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?
Trade and Signing Calls Arizona CardinalsJan 13, 2026
Michael Flor to move to Arizona Cardinals
“I ended up, weirdly enough, with Michael Flor as the Cardinals head coach.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?