Josh Edwards· Sep 8, 2026
Edwards bets the Patriots, Bengals, Jaguars, Broncos, Cowboys, Vikings and Seahawks (plus the Saints in the NFC South) to win their divisions.
“If the defense takes even a small step forward this season, the odds are good that they will overtake Philadelphia in that division.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 8 division winners — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
8 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 WinnersDenver BroncosSep 8, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the division
“Denver may have the best defense in the NFL and Jaylen Waddle was the missing piece on offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsSep 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“The amount of optimism that I have in Cincinnati is beginning to alarm me. ... As it stands, they offer better value.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsSep 8, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“The margins are wider with the Jaguars, who are entering Year 2 of a union between head coach Liam Coen and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysSep 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“If the defense takes even a small step forward this season, the odds are good that they will overtake Philadelphia in that division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew England PatriotsSep 8, 2026
New England Patriots to win the division
“Although Buffalo would be my pick to win the division, the gap between them and the Patriots ... is not so large that the value should be ignored.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersSeattle SeahawksSep 8, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“so I will hit it down the middle with the defending Super Bowl champions ... Seattle has the experience and will not be threatened by Los Angeles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“New Orleans has some promising young players on both sides of the ball, and there is no overwhelming favorite in the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersMinnesota VikingsSep 8, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to win the division
“If Kyler Murray can help Minnesota return to a functional offense, then it is easy to envision a scenario in which that team capitalizes on others within the division already dealing with injuries.”
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.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback and to be one of the better quarterback values in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he likewise likes Tyler Shough as New Orleans' entrenched starter with an easy schedule.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · New York GiantsMiss · 0Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Cowherd unveiled his top 10 NFL teams entering next season, with Seattle first, the Rams second and the Chiefs tenth, and separately picked the Chargers to win the AFC West.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Cowherd likes Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh (with DK Metcalf back) in the wild-card round, ranks the league's head coaches with McVay first and Ben Johnson seventh, and predicts Lamar Jackson has about two strong years left. He also names the Rams as a possible team to draft a receiver and floats next year's draft having seven first-round quarterbacks.
- Danny ParkinsDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Parkins lays the points with the Eagles and Cowboys, takes Baltimore to beat Pittsburgh and win the AFC North, picks Carolina over Tampa Bay and Seattle over San Francisco, and says he'd probably pick the Rams to come out of the NFC.
- Cynthia FrelundDivision Winners · Houston TexansMiss · 0Freeland's model has the Chargers winning straight up in Dallas, the Texans winning big over the Raiders and going on to win the AFC South, the Lions beating the Steelers by six, the Saints beating the Jets, and the Packers beating the Bears; she also sees the AFC's Super Bowl representative being either Denver or Houston.