Colin Cowherd· Aug 25, 2026
Cowherd laid out his AFC playoff field: Bills, Ravens, Texans and Chargers as division winners, with Patriots, Bengals and Chiefs as wild cards. He also picked the Lions to win their division, said the Chargers would be a 12-win team, called the Giants his 'double the win total' team, and predicted Fernando Mendoza would start at quarterback for the Raiders before Thanksgiving.
“So I have the Bills Ravens Texans Chargers winning their division, Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs as wildcard.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
17 checkable claims — 7 playoff picks, 5 division winners, 3 season win totals and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season9 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 2. Colin Cowherd said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
17 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.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansAug 25, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“So I have the Bills Ravens Texans Chargers winning their division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 25, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I'll take them to win the division... So I have the Bills Ravens Texans Chargers winning their division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsDetroit LionsAug 25, 2026
Detroit Lions to finish with ? wins
“I think the Lions probably win 11 or 12 games. / So do I.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsAug 25, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“Cincinnati, I have as a new playoff team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDavid BaileyNew York JetsAug 25, 2026
David Bailey to be 1st on the depth chart
“David Bailey on the edge is going to start.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“I really like Fernando Mendoza. My guess is he starts somewhere, somewhere before Thanksgiving.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersAug 25, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“I have them winning the division... I think LA is going to be a 12-win team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensAug 25, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“The AFC North, I don't think this one's difficult. I'm going to go with Baltimore just because a lot of changes, but they have the deepest roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsAug 25, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs as wildcard.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsNew York GiantsAug 25, 2026
New York Giants to finish with ? wins
“Doesn't my just said they're my double the win total? ... to say this crappy team is going to double their win total takes courage”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 25, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“I think we both think they're going to win the division, right?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsAug 25, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I'll give Kansas City credit, I think they get back to the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansAug 25, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“So I have the Bills Ravens Texans Chargers winning their division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersAug 25, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“I have them winning the division. I think they're more talented than Kansas City”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsAug 25, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“So I have the Bills Ravens Texans Chargers winning their division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles ChargersAug 25, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to finish with 12 wins
“I think LA is going to be a 12-win team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensAug 25, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“Baltimore, by the way, is going to be a new playoff team, too.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky 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.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Carney 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonMiss · 0Fitzmorris made picks 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 in the 2026 mock, ranked the top three receiver prospects Tate-Lemon-Tyson, said Caleb Downs won't fall to Day 2, and predicted Trey Hendrickson won't be back in Cincinnati.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensClose · 58In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board argues the 49ers can still make the playoffs even if Trent Williams leaves, expects Williams to be brought back, and favors drafting a wide receiver at No. 27 over an offensive tackle.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Carolina PanthersHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.