Nick Wright· Sep 4, 2026
Nick picked Chiefs rookie corner Mansoor Delaine as Defensive Rookie of the Year, Patrick Mahomes as MVP, and locked in a playoff field headlined by a Ravens-Chiefs AFC title game and a Seahawks-Eagles NFC title game, with Kansas City winning the Super Bowl over Philadelphia.
“The Chiefs get back to their rightful place in the Super Bowl representing the AFC.”
said on air, transcribed by us · First Things First (podcast) · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 8 playoff picks, 2 award picks, 2 conference champions, 1 division winner, 1 super bowl pick and 1 surprise team call — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
15 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.
- Surprise Team CallsAtlanta FalconsSep 4, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to beat expectations
“Do we have a deep sleeper? Yeah. Yes. The Atlanta Falcons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPatrick MahomesKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Patrick Mahomes to win MVP
“Let's get right to it. Patrick Mahomes... So I'm gonna go with Patrick Mahomes.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“the Chiefs and the Ravens didn't make it last year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsPhiladelphia EaglesSep 4, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to reach the Super Bowl
“I feel like the city of Philadelphia is gonna do a lot of winning this year... Even though he's picking us to lose the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsSep 4, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“The Lions, the Bucs, and the Falcons didn't make it, so that's two per conference.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 4, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs
“The Lions, the Bucs, and the Falcons didn't make it”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 4, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“Do we have a worst to first? Sure do. Detroit Lions winning that division from worst place.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl
“The Chiefs get back to their rightful place in the Super Bowl representing the AFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 4, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“In the NFC, I have the Seahawks hosting the Eagles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl
“And if there's gonna be a team of the decade, who's it gotta be? The Kansas City Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksAtlanta FalconsSep 4, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to make the playoffs
“Do we have a deep sleeper? Yeah. Yes. The Atlanta Falcons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 4, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“In the NFC, I have the Seahawks hosting the Eagles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensSep 4, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“the Chiefs and the Ravens didn't make it last year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksMansoor DelaneKansas City ChiefsSep 4, 2026
Mansoor Delane to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Mansoor Delaine is my answer to this... And Mansoor Delaine is going to be outstanding”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsSep 4, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“do I think there are seven teams in the AFC that are gonna have a better season than them? And my answer to that is unequivocally no.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- 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.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. He also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.