# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd gave his full divisional and playoff predictions for the NFL season, picking Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers as AFC division winners with Patriots, Bengals, Broncos as wild cards, and Eagles, Lions, Saints, Rams as NFC division winners with Seahawks, Bears, Giants as wild cards. He also has the Bills reaching the Super Bowl, worries a first-time OC could derail Seattle, and expects the Patriots to be a better team with a worse record.

**Claimed:** Sep 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/colin-cowherd
**Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/1508ddb2-0c9a-42f6-aafe-ae3300346aa9/1efecaa6-fd57-4d43-9cc1-b4c001416261/audio.mp3?in_playlist=bf391792-153e-41b3-9d3d-ae3300346ad8

24 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 6 playoff picks, 6 power rankings, 1 conference champion, 1 depth chart call, 1 position group ranking and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 16 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 below the rest of the room on every one.

> So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **I know the Texans defense will be the best in the league.**
  - Kind: Position Group Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Los Angeles Chargers to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Denver Broncos to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Chicago Bears to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Chicago Bears
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **New York Giants to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New York Giants
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **There's my AFC East, Buffalo, New England, Jets, Dolphins.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **NFC South, Saints, Panthers, Bucs, Falcons.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **but I'll still take their playoff momentum, their third Vikings fourth.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Detroit Lions to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **New Orleans Saints to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Los Angeles Rams to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **New England Patriots to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **AFC West, I made a change. Denver second, Kansas City third... The Raiders will be a very fun fourth place team.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Seattle Seahawks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Feel pretty strongly about Cleveland last and Pittsburgh third here.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Washington, old, lost their left tackle... They'll finish fourth.**
  - Kind: Power Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Buffalo Bills to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl**
  - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Buffalo Bills
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Baltimore Ravens to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Houston Texans to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs**
  - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Philadelphia Eagles to win the division**
  - Kind: Division Winners · About: Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Courtland Sutton to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Arizona Cardinals to pick at number 1**
  - Kind: Team Draft Slot Calls · About: Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos
- Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears
- New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions
- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams
- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots
- Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks
- Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills
- Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens
- Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans
- Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Courtland Sutton — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/courtland-sutton
- Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals

## What others said about the same people

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (scored 0)
- Mike Moraitis on Ozzy Trapilo: Moraitis 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cdfe5f0f-6783-4730-b9bb-d942e28b037a (scored 0)
- Pete Martuneac on Ozzy Trapilo: After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d42f10ad-a71c-4ea9-95e8-2b53fde77971 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Michael Carter: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/922a9343-f96d-419d-8091-49b64dd471d9 (scored 0)
- Henry McKenna on Carson Beck: McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9025c533-03e6-4e1f-8773-b8ef2f1d46ea (scored 0)

## More division winners

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Daniel DiBerardinis on Atlanta Falcons: Danny 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a8e0b7c-9f1c-4c13-8138-1332d73b9b02 (scored 0)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/15192136-24b9-4127-ac9d-69dc69aab3d5 (scored 100)
- Nick Shook on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shook picks the Rams to win the Super Bowl and to beat the Lions, agrees the Buccaneers still hold the edge in the NFC South, and drops Patrick Mahomes to 12th in his QB Index behind Brock Purdy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cd498dba-6f44-461d-9beb-f748424098a3 (scored 0)
- Gregg Rosenthal on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rosenthal reads out the show's 32-to-1 NFL power rankings, with the Rams first and the Raiders last, and separately picks the Buccaneers to hold on in the NFC South and the Texans to finish at least 11-6. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/35365f6c-a2b9-4e5c-9fea-267cf46d467a (scored 0)
- Chris Brockman on Carolina Panthers: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c06d1a3a-78d8-4aec-8574-159821b42aab (scored 100)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
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