# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd laid out his full AFC predictions: division orders for all four divisions, division winners (Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers), wild cards (Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs), plus win-total calls on the AFC West and expectations for the Patriots to double their win total. He also predicted the Chiefs decline and named the Patriots and Titans as surprise teams. **Claimed:** Mar 14, 2025 **Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/colin-cowherd **Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/hour-2-afc-playoff-predictions 22 checkable claims — 7 playoff picks, 4 division winners, 4 power rankings, 3 season win totals, 2 depth chart calls and 2 surprise team calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 20 of 22 have settled so far, averaging 45.3 out of 100, against 45.6 for a naive guess at the same calls. > So my division winners, I'm gonna do it like last year, with one exception, Bill's Ravens, Texans, Chargers wild card teams are the Patriots, Bengals, and Chiefs. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Los Angeles Chargers to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Buffalo Bills to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Baltimore Ravens to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Houston Texans to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **I think this is an easy one. Bill's Patriots, Dolphins, Jets** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: scored 90 out of 100, against 40 for a naive guess - **AFC North, Great Division. I'm gonna go Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Brown** - Kind: Power Rankings · About: Cleveland Browns - Verdict: scored 25 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess - **I'm gonna take the Texans, Titans, Colts, and Jags** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: scored 30 out of 100, against 70 for a naive guess - **I'm gonna go Chargers win the AFC West. Kansas City's the wild card team, Broncos third, Raiders fourth** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: scored 70 out of 100, against 60 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to finish with 8 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Los Angeles Chargers to finish with 12 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 80 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess - **Kansas City Chiefs to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: scored 20 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Drake Maye to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 91.67 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess - **New England Patriots to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tennessee Titans to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-maye - J.J. McCarthy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/j-j-mccarthy - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/titans ## What others said about the same people - Jay Morrison on Tanner Hudson: Morrison expects the Bengals to promote tight end Tanner Hudson from the practice squad to the active roster to fill the spot opened by Andrei Iosivas going on Injured Reserve. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/78d078e2-2ac8-4182-97c5-3ef063239f31 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Devon Platana on Johnny Hekker: With punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring injury, Platana suggests the Vikings have a decent chance of bringing back veteran free-agent punter Johnny Hekker as a familiar fill-in. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/eafcb668-aa60-42b1-8d77-ebdd33d0c2af (scored 100) - Bradley Locker on Will Levis: Locker lists 10 players on the roster bubble entering 2026, suggesting Tyrone Tracy may not make the Giants' 53, Broderick Jones could be traded or cut by Pittsburgh, Dillon Gabriel may lose the Browns' QB3 job, Evan Neal's Giants tenure may end, and Will Levis will likely be traded or cut by Tennessee. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/538fc657-f762-4d98-84e1-b03c4bc14469 (scored 100) - Dharya Sharma on Will Levis: Previewing the Titans' preseason opener, Sharma identifies five receivers as roster locks, expects Bryce Oliver to make the 53 on special teams value, and predicts Will Levis will not be on Tennessee's roster by September, likely being moved for a late-round pick. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f60a6ef5-4d69-4548-ad17-906bf8bfb384 (scored 100) - Jonathan Jones on Will Levis: Jones expects Anthony Richardson to be traded, likely for roughly a fifth-round pick, and to serve as a backup rather than a starter in 2026. He also lays out a series of quarterback-market predictions: Aaron Rodgers back with the Steelers, Tua off the Dolphins roster, Daniel Jones ultimately staying as the Colts' starter, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders competing for Cleveland's QB1 job, Will Levis most likely of the veteran backups to be traded, and Kirk Cousins possibly landing in Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5d2883c2-4e98-45b0-8745-8bc2d87f8eb6 (scored 100) ## More playoff picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Dan "Buzz" Wilson on Philadelphia Eagles: Wilson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/afce079c-b986-476b-a872-09905017fc6f (scored 100) - Ross Jackson on New Orleans Saints: Jackson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4dc05898-73fd-4fcb-92c4-a940d7e395ba (scored 0) - Dwaine Board on San Francisco 49ers: Board 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/07beb6d4-aadc-4b2d-b131-b889c85204a3 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Carolina Panthers: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Pittsburgh Steelers: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7792215a-c787-44bd-b294-5ff028851d30 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Green Bay Packers: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1f7633c5-427b-4993-8849-3f53865241bd (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=colin-cowherd