Colin Cowherd· Aug 26, 2026
Cowherd laid out his NFC division order one through four: Eagles over Giants, Cowboys and Commanders in the East; Lions over Bears, Packers and Vikings in the North; Saints over Panthers, Buccaneers and Falcons in the South; and Seahawks over Rams, 49ers and Cardinals in the West. He named the Lions, Saints and Giants as new NFC playoff teams (plus Bengals, Ravens and Chiefs in the AFC), pegged Seattle for about 12 wins and the Rams for 11, and called Seattle and the Rams the two best teams in football.
“I'll take Seattle to win over the Rams.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 6 playoff picks, 4 division winners, 2 season win totals, 1 depth chart call, 1 power ranking and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 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
Los Angeles Rams · 2026 season · wins12 calls from 7 pundits between 3 wins and 17 wins. Colin Cowherd said 11 wins. the room's median is 13 wins. 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.
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Who this take is about
15 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.
- Surprise Team CallsNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
New York Giants to beat expectations
“But I've said the Giants are also my pick for my double the win total team. I think their talent is much better than people understand.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit LionsAug 26, 2026
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“They draft kid out of Clemson. He'll start it right. Tackle Blake Miller.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“Finally, the NFC West, a little surprise. I'll take Seattle to win over the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 26, 2026
“I think these two teams, in my opinion, are the best two teams in the NFL, Seahawks-Rams, one and two in my book.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“I think if Jackson Dart can stay out of the blue tent, I think it's a playoff team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensAug 26, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“The Bengals, the Ravens and the Chiefs are new playoff teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsAug 26, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“NFC South the second easiest schedule in football is the Saints ... I think they found their guy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 26, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“NFC North. I think the Lions have a combination of the best roster in division and the easiest schedule in the entire league this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsAug 26, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“I've got three new playoff teams in the NFC, the Lions, the Saints and the Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsAug 26, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“The Bengals, the Ravens and the Chiefs are new playoff teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsAug 26, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“The Bengals, the Ravens and the Chiefs are new playoff teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesAug 26, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“I'm still going with Philadelphia, winning the NFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsSeattle SeahawksAug 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to finish with 12 wins
“I think Seattle could win 12.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsAug 26, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“I've got three new playoff teams in the NFC, the Lions, the Saints and the Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles RamsAug 26, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to finish with 11 wins
“They're going to be a really, really good team and win 11 games.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In 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.
- 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.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr 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.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
- 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.
- 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.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Green Bay PackersHit · 100Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Brockman argued the Texans will reach the AFC Championship Game, declared the Chiefs dynasty over, said the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field, that Josh Allen is still the most dangerous QB and the Bills will win a playoff game (with the AFC East runner-up as the 5 seed winning in Pittsburgh or Baltimore), that Carolina will win the NFC South, that Baltimore finishes under .500 with Lamar no longer a top-five QB, that the Colts should trade for Mac Jones, and that Marcus Freeman will be in the NFL next year.