# Manti Te'o: Manti picked his 14 playoff teams: AFC division winners Bills, Ravens, Texans and Broncos with wild cards Chiefs, Chargers and Steelers (seventh seed); NFC division winners Eagles, Buccaneers, Rams and Vikings with wild cards Commanders, Lions and 49ers (seventh seed).

**Claimed:** Sep 2, 2025
**Pundit:** Manti Te'o — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/manti-te-o
**Outlet:** Move the Sticks (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/move-the-sticks-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-good-morning-football/gmfb-tuesday-hour-1-afc-quarterbacks-playoff-predictions

14 checkable claims — 8 division winners and 6 playoff picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 14 have settled, averaging 35.7 out of 100, against 21.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> Bo Nix will lead the Denver Broncos and that nasty defense to the AFC West Championship the first time in ten years.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Philadelphia Eagles to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Minnesota Vikings to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Minnesota Vikings
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Buffalo Bills to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Houston Texans to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Baltimore Ravens to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Denver Broncos to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Los Angeles Rams to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Washington Commanders to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: San Francisco 49ers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings
- Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills
- Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions
- San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs

## What others said about the same people

- Trevor Ripley on Dillon Bell: Ripley expects Max Brosmer to return to the Vikings on the practice squad after being waived, and thinks Dillon Bell may draw waiver interest but is also a practice squad candidate for Minnesota. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/529718b4-3310-4bc4-949a-09c9600f3c48 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Maximus Pulley: Kerr ranks the Eagles' eight undrafted free agents by their chances of making the initial 53-man roster, with Kapena Gushiken the most likely and predicts at least one UDFA makes the 53. He also forecasts practice squad spots for Zion Wilson, Deontae Lawson and Maximus Pulley, and a release for long snapper Rocco Underwood. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6ec1d507-c7b6-4873-a0a2-76817706e297 (scored 0)
- Jared Koch on Lewis Bond: Koch argues Kayshon Boutte is a winner in the trade to Houston, likely to see many more snaps and potentially post a career season, while Xavier Hutchinson's path to a breakout gets harder. He also sees Kamari Ramsey stepping up as the primary backup safety behind a top three of Bullock, Pitre and Blankenship, and views Jared Wayne as a fringe roster player squeezed by receivers he calls virtual locks. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/14048ef2-7210-46fd-825a-b9849c144a9f (scored 100)
- Jason La Canfora on Gerad Lichtenhan: La Canfora predicts the Ravens will keep several young players on their practice squad — DL Kaimon Rucker, LB Dominic DeLuca, LB Ethan Burke, CB Amani Oruwariye, OT Gerad Lichtenhan and QB Joe Fagnano — and expects the team to make at least one trade from its surplus of cornerbacks. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6d42cee5-8b2d-4c78-a41b-ed2daab90019 (scored 0)
- Lance Zierlein on Lewis Bond: Zierlein expects Texans QB C.J. Stroud to play roughly 10-12 plays in Thursday's preseason game, with Davis Mills going to halftime and newly signed Brett Rypien playing the entire second half. He also said if Tank Dell isn't ready, Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall would both likely make the roster, and predicted Keelan Rutledge will be the starting center with Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith starting. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/20e6ff7b-1de6-4de6-9567-3997edaea6b8 (scored 100)
- Lance Zierlein on Lewis Bond: Zierlein expects Trevor Goosby, Texas' starting left tackle, to be a first-round NFL draft pick, and thinks Quinn Ewers may struggle to stay on the Dolphins' roster beyond this year. He also predicts the Texans' preseason quarterback usage: C.J. Stroud around 10-12 plays, Davis Mills through the first half, and Brett Rypien for the second half. If Tank Dell isn't ready, he thinks Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall could both make the roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/684f97b2-1578-404d-9e71-4026eea8db4d (scored 100)

## More division winners

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Daniel DiBerardinis on Atlanta Falcons: Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a8e0b7c-9f1c-4c13-8138-1332d73b9b02 (scored 0)
- Colin Cowherd on New York Giants: Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cd243624-9451-4824-a8a4-7b468d681c8f (scored 0)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/15192136-24b9-4127-ac9d-69dc69aab3d5 (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman on Chicago Bears: Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though he thinks they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e86c9e4d-7802-432a-a26c-4edefb3b6aee (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on New England Patriots: Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ae722f6b-44e2-42bb-a847-4435f539db5b (scored 100)

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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=manti-te-o
