Colin Cowherd· Aug 11, 2026
Cowherd laid out the top two teams in every NFL division, naming the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Eagles, Lions and Saints as division winners, with the Rams/Seahawks order undecided, plus wild-card calls on the Bengals, Chiefs and Giants. He also touted the Saints as the league's most underrated/improved team, said Detroit could win the Super Bowl, and predicted Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori becomes a Pro Bowler.
“So here we go AFC Bill's Patriots in the East, one and two Ravens Bengals in the North, one and two Texans Colts in the South, Chargers and the Chiefs.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 7 division winners, 3 playoff picks, 1 pro bowl and all-pro call, 1 super bowl pick and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 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
13 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.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansAug 11, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“AFC South. The winner's easy. The Texans... Texans win it, Colts number two”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nick Emmanwori to make Pro Bowl
“That kid maybe an eight year pro bowler. I mean that kid could be an all Pro guy for most of the next decade.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersAug 11, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“Finally, AFC West, I'm gonna go with the Chargers... I think they win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksDetroit LionsAug 11, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl
“I think Detroit could win the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsAug 11, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I have them finishing second and a wild card team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsAug 11, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“Early I have the Giants as a wild card team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 11, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“Buffalo wins it. Patriot second place”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 11, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“I'm going to take him to win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesAug 11, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“the Eagles have won the division three of the last four years... We go Eagles and Giants in the NFC East”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsAug 11, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“Saints win the division, Carolina second”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensAug 11, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“So my take is they just win ten to eleven games every year... So my guess is they win... Ravens won Bengals two in the AFC North”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsAug 11, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“I'm taking the Saints as one of the most improved teams in the league... Most underrated team in the league, the Saints.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsAug 11, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I think with that schedule and those offensive players, they probably are a playoff team.”
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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich 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.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Pat FitzmauriceTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonMiss · 0Fitzmorris made picks 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 in the 2026 mock, ranked the top three receiver prospects Tate-Lemon-Tyson, said Caleb Downs won't fall to Day 2, and predicted Trey Hendrickson won't be back in Cincinnati.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Chicago BearsHit · 100Brockman 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen previewed week 15 games, predicting Joe Burrow would play well in his first home start back against Baltimore, and speculated on a possible Colts-Steelers wild card matchup. He also asserted the Chiefs will not win their division for a tenth straight year, keeping the Patriots' record of 11 straight division titles safe.