Jordan Dajani· Sep 10, 2026
Dajani picks the Rams over the 49ers, Texans over Bills, Ravens over Colts, Bengals over Buccaneers, Vikings over Packers, Cowboys over Giants and Broncos over Chiefs in Week 1, with exact scores. He also predicts the Bills win the AFC East, the Cowboys win their division, and Caleb Downs wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“Caleb Downs is going to win Defensive Rookie of the Year”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 7 score predictions, 2 division winners and 1 award pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
7 of 10 have settled so far, averaging 47.6 out of 100, against 45.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The games in this take
- 49ers at Rams 37 calls
- Ravens at Colts 24 calls
- Buccaneers at Bengals 31 calls
- Bills at Texans 46 calls
- Packers at Vikings 41 calls
- Cowboys at Giants 42 calls
- Broncos at Chiefs 45 calls
10 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.
- Score PredictionsDenver BroncosSep 10, 2026
Denver Broncos 17 — Chiefs 14
“Prediction: Broncos 17, Chiefs 14”
Miss · 7Scored 7.14a naive guess scored 51.93-89.58 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 10-31
- skill:
- -89.58
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 7.14
- baseline:
- 51.93
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 21
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 0.81
- predicted margin:
- 3
- Score PredictionsCincinnati BengalsSep 10, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals 21 — Buccaneers 20
“Prediction: Bengals 21, Buccaneers 20”
Hit · 88Scored 88.1a naive guess scored 84.44+7.3 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 27-33
- skill:
- 7.3
- they picked:
- CIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 88.1
- baseline:
- 84.44
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 6
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 1
- Score PredictionsHouston TexansSep 10, 2026
Houston Texans 23 — Bills 21
“Prediction: Texans 23, Bills 21”
Close · 43Scored 42.86a naive guess scored 36.83+12.06 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 36-31
- skill:
- 12.06
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 42.86
- baseline:
- 36.83
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 5
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 2
- Score PredictionsMinnesota VikingsSep 10, 2026
Minnesota Vikings 22 — Packers 16
“Prediction: Vikings 22, Packers 16”
Close · 74Scored 73.81a naive guess scored 58.25+31.11 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 22-39
- skill:
- 31.11
- they picked:
- MIN
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 73.81
- baseline:
- 58.25
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 17
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 6
- Score PredictionsDallas CowboysSep 10, 2026
Dallas Cowboys 28 — Giants 23
“Prediction: Cowboys 28, Giants 23”
Close · 43Scored 42.86a naive guess scored 79.68-73.65 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 20-28
- skill:
- -73.65
- they picked:
- DAL
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 42.86
- baseline:
- 79.68
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 5
- Score PredictionsBaltimore RavensSep 10, 2026
Baltimore Ravens 27 — Colts 23
“Prediction : Ravens 27, Colts 23”
Close · 67Scored 66.67a naive guess scored 5.87+121.59 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 41-23
- skill:
- 121.59
- they picked:
- BAL
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 66.67
- baseline:
- 5.87
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 4
- Score PredictionsLos Angeles RamsSep 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams 24 — 49ers 20
“Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 20”
Miss · 12Scored 11.9a naive guess scored 0+23.81 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 27-7
- skill:
- 23.81
- they picked:
- LAR
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 11.9
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 20
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -8.5
- predicted margin:
- 4
- Award PicksCaleb DownsDallas CowboysSep 10, 2026
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Caleb Downs is going to win Defensive Rookie of the Year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 10, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I love the Buffalo Bills and believe they will win the AFC East this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysSep 10, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“I even have them winning the division!”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback and to be one of the better quarterback values in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he likewise likes Tyler Shough as New Orleans' entrenched starter with an easy schedule.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
- Mike FanelliDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane.
More score predictions
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57An unsigned CBS Sports Week 1 picks column predicts final scores for all 16 games, including a Seahawks rout of the Patriots in the Super Bowl rematch and a late Chiefs win over Denver in Patrick Mahomes' return.
- David HarrisonScore Predictions · Washington CommandersClose · 48Harrison predicts the Commanders will upset the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 1 by a score of 27-24, driven by Jayden Daniels and timely defensive pressure. He also projects the active interior offensive line group and expects a good defensive day would hold Saquon Barkley to around 85-90 grinding yards.
- Chris RolingScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 31Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey.
- Jacob WestendorfScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 24Westendorf picks the Packers to win the opener 27-21, with Tucker Kraft leading the team in catches, Christian Watson in yards, Jayden Reed in touchdowns and Josh Jacobs in rushing. He tabs Bo Nix as MVP, the Broncos as the AFC's top team and Super Bowl winner over the Rams, the Lions to win the NFC North, and the Packers to finish 8-9.