Colin Cowherd· Jan 22, 2026
Cowherd ranked the ten best players in the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Broncos, with Patrick Surtain first, and argued New England's quarterback edge (Drake Maye over Jarrett Stidham) will decide the game. He also said he'd bet the Rams plus points against Seattle and predicted the Rams will pick near the bottom of the first round for the next decade.
“Number one. Patrick's artan I think is you can make the argument he's the best corner.”
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.
3 checkable claims — 1 game outcome pick, 1 positional finishe and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 27.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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Who this take is about
3 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.
- Game Outcome PicksNew England PatriotsJan 22, 2026
New England Patriots to beat Broncos
“bought New England at the most important position, has a sizeable advantage. Drake May over Jarrett Stidham, and I think that's the difference in the game.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+100 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- NE
- score:
- 10-7
- skill:
- 100
- they picked:
- NE
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- DEN
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Team Draft Slot CallsLos Angeles RamsJan 22, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to pick “at the bottom of the first round for the next ten Years” (picks 1–32)
“they're going to be at the bottom of the first round for the next ten Years”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 54.53+45.47 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- LAR
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- they picked 46 the year before
- skill:
- 45.47
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 54.53
- actual pick:
- 13
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted pick:
- at the bottom of the first round for the next ten Years (picks 1–32)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
Mike Onwenu to finish top 5 at his position, by an unstated measure
“One of the top four to five best guards in the NFL”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
What others said about the same people
- Steven RuizTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Ruiz expects the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown once the June 1 dead-cap threshold passes, most likely to New England, and thinks Baker Mayfield will get a Buccaneers extension making him the league's highest-paid quarterback within a month or two. He also argues the Lions may have to let one or two of their 2023 draft class leave, and that Houston should extend C.J. Stroud.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
- Jeremy WhiteTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Jeremy White expects the Patriots to acquire AJ Brown, calling the trade likely inevitable within about a month.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Brockman predicted only Stafford and Josh Allen of last year's MVP vote-getters get votes again, Fernando Mendoza starts and wins Rookie of the Year, the Colts win the AFC South, AJ Brown is traded to New England leaving DeVonta Smith as Philadelphia's clear No. 1 and a breakout star, five running backs top 1,600 yards, George Pickens breaks a Cowboys receiving record, and Justin Fields starts for Kansas City in September.
- Shannon SharpeTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Sharpe predicted that A.J. Brown will be playing for New England once June 1 arrives.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Ochocinco predicted George Pickens will be traded away from Dallas now that he has signed the franchise tag, naming the Browns, Raiders and possibly Buffalo as his three landing spots. He also called both No. 2 pick David Bailey and No. 3 pick Jeremiah Love immediate Day 1 starters, and said he has been saying for months that A.J. Brown will end up in New England.
More game outcome picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Nick Wright expects the Bills to beat the Lions comfortably in the Thursday night home opener, with Josh Allen shredding a depleted Detroit secondary, and he also picks a workmanlike Chiefs win over the Colts on Sunday night. He further predicts Tyreek Hill will end up on the Chiefs by around Halloween.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsMiss · 0A CBS Sports column flags five Week 2 favorites on upset alert, effectively backing the underdogs — Lions at Bills, Bengals at Texans, Jets over Packers, Jaguars at Broncos and Saints at Ravens — to pull off wins.
- Richard ShermanGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Sherman ran through the entire Week 2 slate with winners and several exact final scores, picking Seattle, San Francisco, Buffalo, Houston, Chicago, New England, Jacksonville, Dallas, Kansas City, the Rams, Green Bay, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Las Vegas and Carolina. He also called Fred Warner the league's best middle linebacker and floated Parker Washington as a top-five receiver.
- Joe MarinoGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Marino predicts the Bills beat the Lions in the Thursday night home opener to go 2-0, and expects a shootout with Goff and Allen combining for over 600 passing yards (each with a good chance at 300+).
- Walter CherepinskyGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100In the Week 2 Thursday night game, he predicts the Bills beat the Lions 31-24, expecting Detroit's offense to bounce back but Buffalo to prevail, with Josh Allen thriving and James Cook struggling again.
- Richard ShermanGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Sherman previewed the AFC, picking the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens and Texans as division winners with Denver, New England and Jacksonville as wild cards, called several individual early-season games, and predicted a big year for Travis Hunter at cornerback.