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Colin Cowherd· Nov 19, 2025

Cowherd ran a hypothetical playoff bracket based on the current standings, picking Denver as the AFC's No. 1 seed and predicting a Rams win over Denver in the Super Bowl. He also picked winners in every hypothetical playoff game.

“Rams over Denver again. I get the veteran quarterback, two great defenses.”

said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →

The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.

15 checkable claims — 10 game outcome picks, 2 conference champions, 1 playoff pick, 1 seeding, byes and home field and 1 super bowl 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.

14 of 15 have settled so far, averaging 54.8 out of 100, against 19.2 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

15 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.

  • New England Patriots to beat Jags

    “I would take the Patriots at home to beat the Jags in the wild card round”

    Close · 67Scored 66.67a naive guess scored 22.92+60.81 skill
    How this was scored
    note:
    these two never played, so the pick is graded on the parts of it that happened
    skill:
    60.81
    they picked:
    NE
    season:
    2025
    ceiling:
    66.67
    accuracy:
    66.67
    baseline:
    22.92
    opponent:
    JAX
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    14 of 32 clubs reached the postseason, 8 won a game there
    weeks in the season:
    18
    right opponent:
    no
    weeks left when called:
    7
    picked won aplayoff game:
    yes
    picked reached the playoffs:
    yes
    opponent reached the playoffs:
    yes

    Think this is wrong?

  • Denver Broncos to take the top seed

    “Denver get to buy as a number one seed. I think that will be the case.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+139 skill
    How this was scored
    skill:
    139
    they picked:
    DEN
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    0
    checked as:
    the number one seed is the bye, which the bracket names exactly
    actual tier:
    bye
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    where they finished last season (visitor)
    weeks in the season:
    18
    claimed seed:
    1
    claimed tier:
    bye
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Philadelphia Eagles to beat Seattle

    “I would take the Eagles off of by beating Seattle.”

    Miss · 33Scored 33.33a naive guess scored 22.92+14.47 skill
    How this was scored
    note:
    these two never played, so the pick is graded on the parts of it that happened
    skill:
    14.47
    they picked:
    PHI
    season:
    2025
    ceiling:
    66.67
    accuracy:
    33.33
    baseline:
    22.92
    opponent:
    SEA
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    14 of 32 clubs reached the postseason, 8 won a game there
    weeks in the season:
    18
    right opponent:
    no
    weeks left when called:
    7
    picked won aplayoff game:
    no
    picked reached the playoffs:
    yes
    opponent reached the playoffs:
    yes

    Think this is wrong?

  • Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl

    “Now Patriots Broncos. I'm taking Denver... Denver to the super Bowl.”

    Close · 50Scored 50a naive guess scored 0+69.5 skill
    How this was scored
    skill:
    69.5
    they picked:
    DEN
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    50
    baseline:
    0
    champions:
    NE,SEA
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    last season's conference champions
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7
    reached the Super Bowl:
    no
    lost the conference final:
    yes

    Think this is wrong?

  • Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl

    “Rams Philly game of the year in the playoffs. I would take the Rams.”

    Close · 50Scored 50a naive guess scored 0+69.5 skill
    How this was scored
    skill:
    69.5
    they picked:
    LAR
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    50
    baseline:
    0
    champions:
    NE,SEA
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    last season's conference champions
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7
    reached the Super Bowl:
    no
    lost the conference final:
    yes

    Think this is wrong?

  • New England Patriots to beat Colts

    “Colts Patriots, Daniel Jones, regression, cold Weather. I'm going to take New England.”

    Close · 67Scored 66.67a naive guess scored 22.92+60.81 skill
    How this was scored
    note:
    these two never played, so the pick is graded on the parts of it that happened
    skill:
    60.81
    they picked:
    NE
    season:
    2025
    ceiling:
    66.67
    accuracy:
    66.67
    baseline:
    22.92
    opponent:
    IND
    difficulty:
    1.39
    the naive guess:
    14 of 32 clubs reached the postseason, 8 won a game there
    weeks in the season:
    18
    right opponent:
    no
    weeks left when called:
    7
    picked won aplayoff game:
    yes
    picked reached the playoffs:
    yes
    opponent reached the playoffs:
    no

    Think this is wrong?

  • Chicago Bears to beat Green Bay

    “I would take the Bears in an ugly, windy, cold, low scoring game.”

    Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-139 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    GB
    score:
    21-28
    skill:
    -139
    they picked:
    CHI
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    0
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    GB
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Indianapolis Colts to beat Chargers

    “I would take the Colts at home over the charge, a dependable run game and O line”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+139 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    IND
    score:
    38-24
    skill:
    139
    they picked:
    IND
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    0
    the naive pick:
    LAC
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl

    “We get to the Super Bowl. Rams over Denver again.”

    Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
    How this was scored
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    LAR
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    0
    baseline:
    0
    champion:
    SEA
    runner up:
    NE
    the naive pick:
    PHI
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs

    “I think Baltimore is going to make their way in.”

    Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
    How this was scored
    team:
    BAL
    skill:
    0
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    0
    baseline:
    0
    the naive guess said:
    yes
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    made the playoffs:
    no
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Buffalo Bills to beat Pittsburgh

    “I would take in the wild card round Buffalo to beat Pittsburgh, even though it's at Pittsburgh”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+139 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    BUF
    score:
    26-7
    skill:
    139
    they picked:
    BUF
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    0
    the naive pick:
    PIT
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Seattle Seahawks to beat Tampa

    “Let's go wildcard Seattle Tampa, with the Eagles getting the buy. I take Seattle.”

    Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    TB
    score:
    38-35
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    SEA
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    0
    baseline:
    0
    the naive pick:
    SEA
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Los Angeles Rams to beat Bears

    “Take the Rams to win convincingly.”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+139 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    LAR
    score:
    20-17
    skill:
    139
    they picked:
    LAR
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    0
    the naive pick:
    CHI
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Denver Broncos to beat Buffalo

    “we go to the divisional round, I would take Denver over Buffalo”

    Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skill
    How this was scored
    won:
    DEN
    score:
    30-33
    skill:
    0
    they picked:
    DEN
    season:
    2025
    accuracy:
    100
    baseline:
    100
    the naive pick:
    DEN
    difficulty:
    1.39
    weeks in the season:
    18
    weeks left when called:
    7

    Think this is wrong?

  • Los Angeles Rams to beat Niners

    “Niners at the Rams... I think it's a Rams have a better overall roster.”

    Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

    Think this is wrong?

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