Matty Lane· Sep 8, 2026
Lane picked Cowboys, Bears, Saints, Rams, Bills, Steelers, Texans and Broncos as division winners with the Rams as the NFL's No. 1 seed, had the Chiefs losing to Houston in the divisional round, and picked a Rams win over the Bills in the Super Bowl, plus Dak Prescott for MVP and Ben Johnson for Coach of the Year.
“We got Rams Bills in the Super Bowl, and it goes much like last year did.”
said on air, transcribed by us · KC Sports Network (podcast) · read the original →
33 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 7 seeding, byes and home field, 6 playoff picks, 5 award picks, 2 conference champions, 1 coach award pick, 1 game outcome pick, 1 season win total, 1 sleeper call and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 4 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Houston Texans · 2026 season · wins6 calls from 3 pundits between 10 wins and 13 wins. Matty Lane said 13 wins. the room's median is 11 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans
- New England Patriots
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Detroit Lions
- Jameson Williams
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Dak Prescott
- Dallas Cowboys
- Baltimore Ravens
- Will Anderson Jr.
- R Mason Thomas
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Cyrus Allen
33 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 WinnersPittsburgh SteelersSep 8, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to win the division
“Give me the Pittsburgh Steelers going back to back in the AFC North”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“Easily, my choice here, I have them as the two seed.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to take the top seed
“I have them as the two seed. I almost put them as the one seed.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New England Patriots to take the top seed
“I have the New England Patriots as my sixth seed”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to win
“Then they go into the divisional round, and they just don't quite have the juice. They end up losing to the Texans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsBuffalo BillsSep 8, 2026
Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl
“And then the Bills finally make their way to the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersChicago BearsSep 8, 2026
Chicago Bears to win the division
“so, yeah, I'm taking the bears as my two seed in winning the NFC”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldChicago BearsSep 8, 2026
Chicago Bears to take the top seed
“This is my two seed.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“Saints, because it's more fun if Tyler Shuck and Kellen Moore can, like, I guess, upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksGreen Bay PackersSep 8, 2026
Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs
“Packers next.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsSep 8, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“no, I'm going to short lines for my final wildcard spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJameson WilliamsDetroit LionsSep 8, 2026
Jameson Williams to outplay his draft cost
“I think Jameson Williams has a huge year... I think we've been knocking on the door of a Jameson Williams breakout.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to finish with 13 wins
“that defense is gonna do more than enough for them to win 13 games”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDenver BroncosSep 8, 2026
Denver Broncos to take the top seed
“So they're my third seed... they are my big pretty comfortable third seed”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksSep 8, 2026
Ben Johnson to win Coach of the Year
“Ben Johnson. I said earlier. I I think he's kinda got the right stuff.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsLos Angeles RamsSep 8, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl
“I got the Rams making it in the NFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 8, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“They're still my top wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsSep 8, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“I feel very comfortable taking the Rams over the Seahawks to win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldLos Angeles RamsSep 8, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to take the top seed
“That's the one seed in the NFC, the one seed in the entire NFL.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 8, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl
“We got Rams Bills in the Super Bowl, and it goes much like last year did. Rams and the Super Bowl in an in embarrassing fashion.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 8, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I have the Chiefs as my top wildcard spot. The five seed”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to take the top seed
“The five seed, they actually lose the AFC West on a tie breaker, to the Denver Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksDak PrescottDallas CowboysSep 8, 2026
Dak Prescott to win MVP
“Give me Dak Prescott... I just think Dak's statistical year is gonna be one of those that you just can't really argue against”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 8, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I got the Buffalo Bills winning the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysSep 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“I also have the cowboys winning. The NFC east”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDenver BroncosSep 8, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I'm also picking the Broncos to win the AFC West.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsSep 8, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“I have the New England Patriots as my sixth seed, the second wildcard spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldBaltimore RavensSep 8, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to take the top seed
“the final wildcard spot, the seven spots”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksWill Anderson Jr.Houston TexansSep 8, 2026
Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Will Anderson because Miles Garrett's gonna be playing next to Aaron Donald... Best defense, best player on the best defense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksR Mason ThomasSep 8, 2026
R Mason Thomas to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Oh, me? R Mason Thomas, stacking up stacks left and right.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 8, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Jameer Gibbs... he's gonna get all those touchdowns... give me Drew or Gibbs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksCyrus AllenSep 8, 2026
Cyrus Allen to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Okay. I mean, it's easy. The gold jacket himself. Cyrus Allen.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensSep 8, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“I have the Baltimore Ravens coming in with the final wildcard spot, the seven spots”
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.
- 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.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis 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.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After 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.
- 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.
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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though he thinks they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026.