Rich Eisen · Oct 6, 2025

Rich Eisen reaffirmed his pick of the Lions to win the NFC while insisting the Eagles remain the team to beat, predicted the Colts beat the Cardinals on a last-second field goal, said the Chargers will not miss the playoffs, and expects Jake Browning to keep starting in Cincinnati and JJ McCarthy to return as Minnesota's starter. He also praised Jonathan Taylor as the best running back and OPOY-caliber, called Emeka Abuka the offensive rookie of the year, agreed Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the year front-runner, and said the Jets will pick in the top five.

“The lines, I chose to win the NFC.”

said on air, transcribed by us · Overreaction Monday (podcast) · read the original →

10 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.

Playoff Picks Los Angeles ChargersOct 6, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“They're not gonna miss the playoffs... I'm not going to sit here and saying the Charging is back and the bolts from this playoffs.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
team:
LAC
skill:
0
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
naive said:
true
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
made playoffs:
true
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls J.J. McCarthy Minnesota VikingsOct 6, 2025
J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart
“And we'll see how JJ McCarthy looks when he comes back from this bye week. That's gonna be McCarthy's first start, we think... They've gotta get started with JJ McCarthy.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+14.83 skill
How this was scored
club:
MIN
skill:
14.83
player:
J.J. McCarthy
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
1.78
measured by:
passing yards
naive basis:
no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Award Picks Emeka Egbuka Tampa Bay BuccaneersOct 6, 2025
Emeka Egbuka to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“And Emeka Abuka ... Appears to be the offensive rookie of the year unless somebody goes nuts and he somehow falls off the planet.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
offensive_rookie_of_the_year
naive:
the naive pick was Jayden Daniels, who won it the year before
skill:
0
player:
Emeka Egbuka
season:
2025
winner:
Tetairoa McMillan
correct:
false
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Depth Chart Calls Jake Browning Cincinnati BengalsOct 6, 2025
Jake Browning to be 1st on the depth chart
“So, you know, Browning's gonna get that start.”
Hit · 83Scored 83.33a naive guess scored 91.67-14.83 skill
How this was scored
club:
CIN
skill:
-14.83
player:
Jake Browning
season:
2025
accuracy:
83.33
baseline:
91.67
position:
QB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
3
difficulty:
1.78
measured by:
passing yards
naive basis:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Team Draft Slot Calls New York JetsOct 6, 2025
New York Jets to pick “top five” (picks 1–5)
“Well, the Jets are definitely gonna pick at the top five next April.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.7+14.77 skill
How this was scored
team:
NYJ
draft:
2026
naive:
they picked 7 the year before
skill:
14.77
season:
2025
zero at:
32
accuracy:
100
baseline:
91.7
actual pick:
2
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
predicted pick:
top five (picks 1–5)
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Positional Finishes Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis ColtsOct 6, 2025
Jonathan Taylor to finish top 1 at his position, by rushing yards
“Jonathan Taylor looks like offensive player of the year, best running back in the league.”
Hit · 83Scored 83.33a naive guess scored 91.67-14.83 skill
How this was scored
skill:
-14.83
player:
Jonathan Taylor
season:
2025
zero at:
12
accuracy:
83.33
baseline:
91.67
position:
RB
ranked by:
rushing yards
difficulty:
1.78
naive basis:
where he finished last season
weeks in the season:
18
naive finish:
4
actual finish:
3
weeks left when called:
14
predicted finish:
1
Think this is wrong?
Coach Award PicksOct 6, 2025
Kyle Shanahan to win Coach of the Year
“Kyle Shanahan is coach of the year front runner right now. Oh, I agree with you right there.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
coach_of_the_year
coach:
Kyle Shanahan
naive:
the naive pick was Kevin O'Connell, who won it the year before
skill:
0
season:
2025
winner:
Mike Vrabel
correct:
false
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Award Picks Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis ColtsOct 6, 2025
Jonathan Taylor to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Jonathan Taylor looks like offensive player of the year, best running back in the league.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
How this was scored
award:
offensive_player_of_the_year
naive:
the naive pick was Saquon Barkley, who won it the year before
skill:
0
player:
Jonathan Taylor
season:
2025
winner:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
correct:
false
accuracy:
0
baseline:
0
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Game Outcome Picks Indianapolis ColtsOct 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts to win
“And the Indianapolis Colts next have the Arizona Cardinals, which means the Colts will win, on a field goal with no time left.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
How this was scored
won:
IND
score:
27-31
skill:
0
they picked:
IND
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
naive pick:
IND
difficulty:
1.78
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
14
Think this is wrong?
Conference Champions Detroit LionsOct 6, 2025
Detroit Lions to reach the Super Bowl
“The lines, I chose to win the NFC. That was great right now... And I kinda feel real feel really good about that.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Think this is wrong?