Carter Bahns· Sep 1, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports tier list of 2026 Super Bowl contenders places the Rams and Seahawks in the top tier (expecting a possible third playoff meeting), says the nine B-tier teams should all make the playoffs, sees Caleb Williams as a potential All-Pro, and pegs the Dolphins and Cardinals as No. 1 pick contenders.
“Los Angeles has the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl, and it is not close.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 8 playoff picks, 2 team draft slot calls and 1 pro bowl and all-pro call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
11 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.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 1, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“That the Rams and Seahawks will square off twice in the regular season is a treat, and it would be no surprise if, like last year, they met for a third time in the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensSep 1, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... The AFC North battle between the Ravens and Bengals is especially compelling.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... A step forward for Chicago would come in the form of Caleb Williams emerging as a superstar.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 1, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... the Chiefs must rely on Patrick Mahomes recovering fully from his torn ACL”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsArizona CardinalsSep 1, 2026
Arizona Cardinals to pick “No. 1 pick contenders”
“F Tier: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals ... F: No. 1 pick contenders ... There is nothing to play for here except the No. 1 pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 1, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“it would be no surprise if, like last year, they met for a third time in the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to make All-Pro
“With the way he performed in Year 1 under coach Ben Johnson's tutelage, it is no stretch to imagine him climbing into the All-Pro category.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... The Chargers should be better now that their offensive line is not entirely decimated”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsMiami DolphinsSep 1, 2026
Miami Dolphins to pick “a top-two pick” (picks 1–2)
“allowing the Dolphins to use what should be a top-two pick on something other than quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersSep 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... the 49ers will be in the thick of the NFC West race”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 1, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... Cincinnati is also better defensively, at least on paper.”
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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- 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.
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
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.
- 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.