# Zachary Pereles: An unsigned CBS Sports piece names five quiet-offseason teams that could outperform expectations in the coming season — the Seahawks, Packers, Broncos, Jaguars and Saints — arguing Seattle remains a legitimate contender, Denver is a lock for the playoffs, and Green Bay's Matthew Golden is a breakout candidate. **Claimed:** Aug 10, 2026 **Pundit:** Zachary Pereles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/zachary-pereles **Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/cbs-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/five-nfl-teams-seahawks-under-the-radar/ 8 checkable claims — 5 surprise team calls, 1 playoff pick, 1 positional finishe and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Here are five teams that haven't made a ton of noise this offseason but could make plenty when the results actually matter. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Green Bay Packers to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Seattle Seahawks to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Devon Witherspoon to finish top 5 at his position, by interceptions** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: too vague to check - **Jacksonville Jaguars to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/packers - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Matthew Golden — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matthew-golden - Devon Witherspoon — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/devon-witherspoon - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - John Shipley on Jack Kiser: Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 0) - Jared Dubin on Daniel Faalele: Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/aae46267-fc6d-44c1-a96c-7355b3db857b (scored 0) - John Shipley on Patrick Mekari: Shipley projects second-year cornerback Jabbar Muhammad to make the Jaguars' 53-man roster and describes him as the team's clear No. 5 cornerback, a role that would earn him a game-day jersey. He also identifies Patrick Mekari, Walker Little and Ezra Cleveland as projected Week 1 offensive line starters. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/dd093e7d-3a57-4ecb-ae09-af7eadfb15b0 (scored 0) - Michael Hanich on Bud Clark: Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c15b8321-a10e-421f-8076-039ca96a05a8 (scored 0) - Jared Dubin on Denver Broncos: Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4339e96-6ced-44c2-88e9-b490d027df7b (scored 2.38) ## More surprise team calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Pete Prisco on Arizona Cardinals: An unsigned Week 2 NFL power rankings column places the Seahawks first and the Dolphins last, with the 49ers rising six spots after beating the Rams and the Cowboys falling 12 after losing to the Giants. It also suggests the Cardinals and Jets could be better than expected. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c5b3ea52-abec-4709-9830-c2d0c3016f61 (not settled) - Steve Hartman on Cincinnati Bengals: Hartman picked the Rams and Bills to meet in the Super Bowl with the Rams winning, named the Bengals as his surprise team with Joe Burrow winning MVP and Cincinnati winning its division and reaching the AFC Championship Game against Buffalo. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/419294f8-3232-424c-8913-448c91b6a31f (not settled) - Bill Cowher on Pittsburgh Steelers: Cowher said the Steelers are flying under the radar entering the season and will have a better identity, framing them as a team that beats expectations. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9d5aa196-bf81-47c2-aacf-4ee04d5eb84f (not settled) - Mike Tirico on Dallas Cowboys: Tirico named the Cowboys as his under-the-radar team for the season, noting the absence of drama and a defense that could push them to a strong year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c7445907-617f-473b-92b0-8d9be95aeaea (not settled) - Matt Hasselbeck on Pittsburgh Steelers: Hasselbeck pushed back on Cowherd's picks, backing the Steelers, Cowboys and Broncos, and saying he might put the Packers in the playoffs instead of one of Cowherd's NFC teams. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/52d14757-6fc0-4d0c-b960-4a08ad6cb7d7 (not settled) - Bucky Brooks on Dallas Cowboys: Brooks previews five Week 1 storylines for the 2026 season: A.J. Brown will serve as New England's true No. 1 receiver, Kyler Murray takes over as Minnesota's starting quarterback, and the Cowboys are quietly emerging as title contenders who could surprise opponents. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1686dced-0866-439a-a16c-314577aa487b (not settled) --- 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=zachary-pereles