Colin Cowherd· Sep 5, 2025
Cowherd delivered his Week 1 "blazing five": Giants keeping it close but losing to Washington 27-23, Jets beating the Steelers outright 24-20, Seahawks over the Niners 24-23, Packers over the Lions 28-24, and the under in Texans-Rams. He also picked Minnesota over Chicago on Monday night and the Chargers over the Chiefs in Brazil, while saying Kansas City makes the playoffs but won't win the tough AFC West.
“I like green Bay to win outright twenty eight to twenty four.”
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.
8 checkable claims — 4 score predictions, 2 game outcome picks, 1 playoff pick and 1 pro bowl and all-pro call — 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.
All 8 have settled, averaging 54.8 out of 100, against 54.5 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
- Score PredictionsWashington CommandersSep 5, 2025
Washington Commanders 27 — Giants 23
“I'll take Washington to win, but six and a half. I'm taking it with the Giants twenty seven to twenty three. Commanders close”
Close · 74Scored 73.81a naive guess scored 69.11+9.39 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 6-21
- skill:
- 9.39
- they picked:
- WAS
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 73.81
- baseline:
- 69.11
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 15
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 2.03
- predicted margin:
- 4
- Score PredictionsSeattle SeahawksSep 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks 24 — 49ers 23
“I liked the Seahawks and the points to win straight out twenty four to twenty three.”
Close · 43Scored 42.86a naive guess scored 45.3-4.9 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 17-13
- skill:
- -4.9
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 42.86
- baseline:
- 45.3
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 2.03
- predicted margin:
- 1
- Score PredictionsGreen Bay PackersSep 5, 2025
Green Bay Packers 28 — Lions 24
“I like green Bay to win outright twenty eight to twenty four.”
Close · 76Scored 76.19a naive guess scored 71.5+9.39 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 13-27
- skill:
- 9.39
- they picked:
- GB
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 76.19
- baseline:
- 71.5
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 14
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 2.03
- predicted margin:
- 4
- Game Outcome PicksMinnesota VikingsSep 5, 2025
Minnesota Vikings to beat Bears
“At home Monday night play. I like Minnesota in the game close.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- MIN
- score:
- 27-24
- skill:
- 200
- they picked:
- MIN
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- CHI
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 5, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers to beat Kansas City
“You like Kansas City tonight. I like the Chargers.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- LAC
- score:
- 21-27
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
C.J. Stroud to make Pro Bowl
“C J Stroud is a pro Bowl level”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- made:
- no
- naive:
- he did not make it the year before, so the naive pick said no
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- C.J. Stroud
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- selection:
- pro_bowl
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Score PredictionsNew York JetsSep 5, 2025
New York Jets 24 — Steelers 20
“I like the Jets here to win straight out twenty four to twenty”
Close · 45Scored 45.24a naive guess scored 49.93-9.39 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 34-32
- skill:
- -9.39
- they picked:
- NYJ
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 45.24
- baseline:
- 49.93
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 2.03
- predicted margin:
- 4
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 5, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“So I think they're gonna be very good. I think they'll make the playoffs, but I think the division, Jay...”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- KC
- skill:
- 0
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive guess said:
- yes
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- made the playoffs:
- no
- weeks left when called:
- 18
What others said about the same people
- Trevor RipleyRoster Spot Calls · Dillon BellMiss · 0Ripley expects Max Brosmer to return to the Vikings on the practice squad after being waived, and thinks Dillon Bell may draw waiver interest but is also a practice squad candidate for Minnesota.
- Jared KochRoster Spot Calls · Lewis BondHit · 100Koch argues Kayshon Boutte is a winner in the trade to Houston, likely to see many more snaps and potentially post a career season, while Xavier Hutchinson's path to a breakout gets harder. He also sees Kamari Ramsey stepping up as the primary backup safety behind a top three of Bullock, Pitre and Blankenship, and views Jared Wayne as a fringe roster player squeezed by receivers he calls virtual locks.
- Lance ZierleinRoster Spot Calls · Lewis BondHit · 100Zierlein expects Texans QB C.J. Stroud to play roughly 10-12 plays in Thursday's preseason game, with Davis Mills going to halftime and newly signed Brett Rypien playing the entire second half. He also said if Tank Dell isn't ready, Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall would both likely make the roster, and predicted Keelan Rutledge will be the starting center with Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith starting.
- Lance ZierleinRoster Spot Calls · Lewis BondHit · 100Zierlein expects Trevor Goosby, Texas' starting left tackle, to be a first-round NFL draft pick, and thinks Quinn Ewers may struggle to stay on the Dolphins' roster beyond this year. He also predicts the Texans' preseason quarterback usage: C.J. Stroud around 10-12 plays, Davis Mills through the first half, and Brett Rypien for the second half. If Tank Dell isn't ready, he thinks Lewis Bond and Jaden Hall could both make the roster.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
- Garrett PodellTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100A CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels.
More score predictions
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 86Sullivan picks the Bills 31-27 over the Lions and the Eagles to beat the Titans 27-17.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 90Dajani picks the Bills 36-30 over the Lions and the Texans to beat the Bengals 27-23 in Houston.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 83Dubin picks the Bills to win a shootout over the Lions 35-32 and takes the Patriots to beat the Steelers 21-13.
- John BreechScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 93Breech picks the Bills to beat the Lions 38-31 on Thursday night, floats the game as a Super Bowl preview, and takes the Cardinals to upset the Seahawks 20-17 in Week 2.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 90Prisco picks the Bills 36-30 over the Lions and has the Jaguars upsetting the Broncos 23-20 in Denver.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Buffalo BillsHit · 86Unsigned CBS Sports preview of Bills-Lions picks Buffalo to win a high-scoring Thursday night game 35-31, and expects Larry Borom to step in as Detroit's starting right tackle for the injured Blake Miller.