John Middlekauff· May 28, 2026
Middlekauff sees the Patriots as a nine-or-ten win team and the 49ers finishing 10-7; he'd hammer the under on New England's 9.5 and Minnesota's 8.5, projecting the Vikings last in the NFC North behind Bears, Lions and Packers. He likes the Bengals to win the AFC North and floats the Saints, Cowboys and Colts as new playoff teams.
“So I feel pretty comfortable saying they'll be ten and seven.”
said on air or in an interview · The Colin Cowherd Podcast (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.
10 checkable claims — 4 playoff picks, 3 season win totals, 1 division winner, 1 power ranking and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
New England Patriots · 2026 season · wins16 calls from 8 pundits between 9 wins and 14 wins. John Middlekauff said 9 wins. the room's median is 10 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.
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Who this take is about
10 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.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsMay 28, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“The Saints a little bit more of a flyer just because Kellen Moore year two, but they're they're a team under the radar a little bit”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsMay 28, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“I throw the Saints in there”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsMay 28, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“They're to me the pick to win that division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsNew England PatriotsMay 28, 2026
New England Patriots to finish with 9 wins
“I would take the New England Patriots as sitting here right now, like a nine or ten win season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsMinnesota VikingsMay 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to finish with 6 wins
“I think to me they got five six, seven wins written all over there. To me, the last place team in that division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksIndianapolis ColtsMay 28, 2026
Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs
“Yours would be Colts, Saints, Dallas.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsMay 28, 2026
“So to me, Bears Lions, then I have the Green Bay, then I have Minnesota.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsSan Francisco 49ersMay 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to finish with 10 wins
“So I feel pretty comfortable saying they'll be ten and seven.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsMay 28, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“I think the Bears are going to be playoff team again”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysMay 28, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“I'd probably go Cowboys right down instead of the Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback and to be one of the better quarterback values in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he likewise likes Tyler Shough as New Orleans' entrenched starter with an easy schedule.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 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.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.