# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd's Herd Hierarchy top 10 before Week 1 of the 2026 season ranks the Seahawks first and the Rams second, leaving out the Patriots, Chiefs and Ravens. He also predicts the Bengals will have a top-20 defense, the Lions will contend for the Super Bowl, and the Eagles will be big Week 1 favorites over Washington. **Claimed:** Sep 8, 2026 **Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/colin-cowherd **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/rams-seahawks-bengals-nfls-best-teams-heading-week-1 4 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner, 1 game outcome pick and 1 power ranking — 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. 1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > The Rams are the most talented team in football. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Philadelphia Eagles to win** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **D.J. Moore to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **here is Cowherd's actual top 10 before Week 1 kicks off ... 10. Bengals ... 1. Seahawks** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Buffalo Bills to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - D.J. Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/d-j-moore - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills ## What others said about the same people - 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) - Tyler Sullivan on Philadelphia Eagles: Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ac678dcb-56cb-48c5-912c-3e8c8522e681 (scored 100) - Gregg Rosenthal on Philadelphia Eagles: Rosenthal picked the Texans to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles to win the NFC East and to beat Washington in Week 1, and the Dolphins to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/506d4078-f2ff-4a40-bff4-b764e136a7e7 (scored 100) - Vani Hanamirian on Philadelphia Eagles: The show's producer takes the optimistic side at 12-5 for the Eagles and predicts a low-scoring 17-10 week one win over Washington. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9ee237b2-cac6-4c0d-88fc-72e1f79b35f1 (scored 88.1) - Dave Uram on Philadelphia Eagles: The station's Bulldog reporter leans to 10 wins rather than 12 for the Eagles, expects them to start 2-0 by beating Washington and Tennessee, and predicts a 21-20 Eagles win in the opener. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/00b30674-12cb-41b5-9369-6b1cddbf3bad (scored 97.62) - Dan "Buzz" Wilson on Philadelphia Eagles: The host (called Dan by his guest) predicts the Eagles go 12-5, make the playoffs with a likely divisional-round exit, and beat Washington 24-17 in the week one opener; he also guesses Andy Dalton is the backup QB. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f09a6ee8-a884-4d80-bfcd-58b70d9235d8 (scored 88.1) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - 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) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) --- 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: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=colin-cowherd