# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd's five bold predictions for 2026: Jalen Hurts thrives without A.J. Brown, Justin Herbert wins at least two playoff games with the Chargers, the Packers finish last in the NFC North, the Broncos narrowly miss the playoffs, and Caleb Williams wins MVP. **Claimed:** Aug 14, 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/2026-nfl-bold-predictions-why-caleb-williams-will-win-mvp-more-picks 4 checkable claims — 1 award pick, 1 conference champion, 1 playoff 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. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Jalen Hurts will flourish despite losing a great number one receiver. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Caleb Williams to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cowherd predicted a shift in standings, projecting the Green Bay Packers to finish in fourth place in a competitive division... "They finish last."** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Caleb Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/caleb-williams - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers ## What others said about the same people - 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) - Chris Roling on Los Angeles Chargers: Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d4c64a5c-84bf-4ed6-9779-882e9a8fb212 (scored 30.95) - Eric Cohen on Chicago Bears: Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/37c0b874-cb1b-43c8-b78e-96a7b287ae62 (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on Los Angeles Chargers: Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973 (scored 0) - Shanna McCarriston on Los Angeles Chargers: The unsigned CBS Sports preview picks the Chargers to beat the Cardinals 27-17 in Week 1, and expects rookie Jake Slaughter to step in at center for Los Angeles after Tyler Biadasz's injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/77fd63b2-8b02-46a8-a1f9-dc052aa896c6 (scored 45.24) ## More conference champions The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on Seattle Seahawks: Brockman argues the Seahawks are at the start of a dynasty, predicting they will win multiple Super Bowls over the next five years, and that they are set up to return to the Super Bowl the following season in Los Angeles. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7755a3be-efa7-417e-aefe-47d37d5fb067 (scored 100) - Damonza Byrd on Seattle Seahawks: The co-host picks the Seahawks to beat the Rams in the NFC Championship game, and says he believes New England will win in Denver even though he is taking the Broncos with the points. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c59694cc-b2ff-401f-ae64-3313b822cd5a (scored 100) - Nick Wright on New England Patriots: The host picks the Rams to beat the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game and believes the winner of that game wins the Super Bowl, i.e. that this is the Rams' year; he also picks New England to win in Denver despite taking the Broncos with the points, and says Stafford is winning MVP. He calls Sean McVay the second-best coach in the NFL. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5d16f975-ba4e-46f4-8717-8962b81c5bdf (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Denver Broncos: Wright picked the Broncos to beat the Patriots in a low-scoring AFC Championship game (17-16), said Sean Payton would coach Denver to the Super Bowl, picked the Rams to win outright in Seattle 31-20, believes the winner of the NFC game wins the Super Bowl with the Rams the better team, and expects Matt Stafford to be named league MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/afd8c9a0-6068-4bfc-8dac-3bcc196f1231 (scored 50) - AJ Hawk on Los Angeles Rams: Hawk picked the Patriots to win in Denver despite liking Stidham and the Broncos defense, and in the NFC he stuck with the Rams, saying Stafford gets to the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70ca2972-53a1-4559-bd03-94c5fede2f4e (scored 50) - Derek Murphy on Seattle Seahawks: Bone said after watching film that Seattle will handle the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and that the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a5f623b2-e1e6-4687-b345-df2d9f35641f (scored 100) --- 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