Rich Eisen · Jul 31, 2026
Eisen says he'll again pick both the Bears and the Jaguars to win their divisions, and lays out a top-five sleeper-team list (teams that missed the playoffs but will make them): 5) Browns, 4) Saints, 3) Titans, 2) Giants, 1) Bengals, with Cincinnati winning the AFC North and potentially the AFC and Super Bowl. He also adds the Vikings with JJ McCarthy as a sleeper that reaches the playoffs.
“By the way, I'm gonna pick both those teams to win their divisions again.”
said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) · read the original →
16 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.
- Division WinnersChicago BearsJul 31, 2026
Chicago Bears to win the division
“Although, I'm not sitting here saying the Bears are regressing. I am also not talking about Jacksonville as much. ... By the way, I'm gonna pick both those teams to win their divisions again.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsJul 31, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“By the way, I'm gonna pick both those teams to win their divisions again.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsJul 31, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“I'm buying into some of the bandwagon talk on the Saints. ... So I'm putting the Saints here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsJul 31, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“these are teams that I think that didn't make the playoffs, that are gonna make the playoffs ... So I'm putting the Saints here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksTennessee TitansJul 31, 2026
Tennessee Titans to make the playoffs
“these are teams that I think that didn't make the playoffs, that are gonna make the playoffs ... Number three on this list ... Tennessee”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsCleveland BrownsJul 31, 2026
Cleveland Browns to beat expectations
“Number five. I'm going with the Cleveland Browns here. ... I think the Browns can be better than you think.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksCleveland BrownsJul 31, 2026
Cleveland Browns to make the playoffs
“So these are teams that didn't make the playoffs, and these are teams that I think that didn't make the playoffs, that are gonna make the playoffs. ... Number five. I'm going with the Cleveland Browns here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsTennessee TitansJul 31, 2026
Tennessee Titans to beat expectations
“Number three on this list. They are bald and they are beautiful ahead of the Tennessee time. ... What if Cam Ward gets this coaching From Daybell.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsNew York GiantsJul 31, 2026
New York Giants to beat expectations
“Okay. Number two on the list. I'm buying into this hype too. I'm doing it. The Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsJul 31, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“I think the Bengals are the number one sleeper team, and what that means is win the division, go deep in the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Super Bowl PicksCincinnati BengalsJul 31, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the Super Bowl
“The Cincinnati Bengals, I think, can win the AFC and win the whole damn shooting match.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsMinnesota VikingsJul 31, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to beat expectations
“I'm going to I'm gonna go next level. The Vikings are a sleeper team. With JJ McCarthy? Bingo.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsJul 31, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“these are teams that I think that didn't make the playoffs, that are gonna make the playoffs ... Number two on the list ... The Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Surprise Team CallsCincinnati BengalsJul 31, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to beat expectations
“And then number one, my sleeper team of the year ... The Cincinnati Bengals, I think, can win the AFC and win the whole damn shooting match.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Conference ChampionsCincinnati BengalsJul 31, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl
“The Cincinnati Bengals, I think, can win the AFC ... make it back here to so fine.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsJul 31, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“The kid gets time, and then the kid starts showing up, and the kid gets them to the playoffs ... Minnesota Vikings with JJ McCarthy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.