Colin Cowherd· Aug 26, 2026
On The Herd, Cowherd predicted all four NFC division races: Eagles, Lions, Saints and Seahawks as division winners, with the Giants, Lions and Saints as three new playoff teams, and he ranked the Seahawks and Rams as the NFL's two best teams (Seattle 12 wins, Rams 11).
“I've got three new playoff teams in the NFC: the Lions, the Saints, and the Giants.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 5 power rankings, 4 division winners, 3 playoff picks and 2 season win totals — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Los Angeles Rams · 2026 season · wins12 calls from 7 pundits between 3 wins and 17 wins. Colin Cowherd said 11 wins. the room's median is 13 wins. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
14 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.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“If Jackson Dart can stay out of the blue tent, I think it's a playoff team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 26, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“Cowherd went with the Detroit Lions to win the division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“NFC South: 1. New Orleans Saints 2. Carolina Panthers 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4. Atlanta Falcons”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsAug 26, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“"I've got three new playoff teams in the NFC: the Lions, the Saints, and the Giants," Cowherd said.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsAug 26, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“"I've got three new playoff teams in the NFC: the Lions, the Saints, and the Giants," Cowherd said.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“NFC West: 1. Seattle Seahawks 2. Los Angeles Rams 3. San Francisco 49ers 4. Arizona Cardinals”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to finish with 12 wins
“I think Seattle could win 12.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles RamsAug 26, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to finish with 11 wins
“They're going to be a really really good team and win 11 games.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsAug 26, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The NFC South featured a surprise pick from Cowherd, with the New Orleans Saints taking first place”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“NFC North: 1. Detroit Lions 2. Chicago Bears 3. Green Bay Packers 4. Minnesota Vikings”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“I think these two teams, in my opinion, are the best two teams in the NFL: Seahawks, Rams, one and two in my book”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“Cowherd selected the Seattle Seahawks to claim the division title over the Los Angeles Rams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesAug 26, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“Cowherd picked the Philadelphia Eagles to retain the division crown”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“NFC East: 1. Philadelphia Eagles 2. New York Giants 3. Dallas Cowboys 4. Washington Commanders”
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.
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
More power rankings
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 85Eisen power ranked the 10 teams with new head coaches by their chances of a Mike Vrabel-style turnaround, with Baltimore first and Arizona last. He also predicted Kirk Cousins would be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, expected Deshaun Watson to start in Cleveland, and named the Titans as a team he likes.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 73Eisen delivered his final NFL power rankings of the season, a top 10 with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks first, the Rams second and the Patriots third, ahead of the Bears, Broncos, 49ers, Bills, Packers, Texans and Jaguars.
- Anthony GarganoPower RankingsClose · 75Gargano also took Indiana over Miami as a mismatch, but split from Schwartz on wild card weekend by picking the Bears over the Packers and the Bills over the Jaguars, while liking the Patriots and Texans and ranking the Rams, Eagles and Bills as the top remaining contenders.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 93Rich Eisen delivered his final traditional power rankings of the season, counting down the top 10 teams in reverse order and putting the Seahawks first, with the rest of the top four ordered by playoff seeding.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsHit · 83Rich Eisen delivered his Week 16 NFL power rankings, keeping the Rams at No. 1 with the Broncos second and the Bears holding at 10, and also predicted James Cook wins the rushing title while expecting the Bears and Rams to win their upcoming home games.
- Rich EisenPower RankingsClose · 76Rich Eisen gave his Week 15 top-10 power rankings, installing the Rams at No. 1 as the best team in football, adding the Jaguars and keeping the Bears despite their loss, while dropping the Cowboys and Eagles off the list. He also projected 10-win seasons for both Chicago and Jacksonville and said the Jaguars would handle the Jets at home.