Mark “Magic Mark” Willard· Aug 31, 2026
Willard predicts zero repeat division champions in 2026, naming a new winner in all eight divisions (with the AFC West left as either the Chargers or Chiefs, but not the Broncos). He also picks the Lions to go worst-to-first in the NFC North, gives the Saints a chance to win the NFC South, and calls the Bills the class of the AFC East while predicting Patriots regression.
“I'm going to predict that there are, this year, zero... Repeat division champs.”
said on air or in an interview · Fox Sports Radio (podcast) · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 1 depth chart call and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Michael Penix Jr. · 2026 season13 calls from 13 pundits between 1 and 1. Mark “Magic Mark” Willard said 1. the room's median is 1. 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
10 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 CallsDetroit LionsAug 31, 2026
Detroit Lions to beat expectations
“I think that they are going to win that division. I think that they are going to go, quote-unquote, worst to first.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 31, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“The North went to the Bears. Give me the Lions this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensAug 31, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“Last year, the Steelers won the North. I'll take the Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“So, I mean, Michael Penix is still on the team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysAug 31, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“The East in the NFC went to the Eagles. I'll take the Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsAug 31, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The South went to the Panthers. I don't even know why that division still exists, but I'll take the Saints.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansAug 31, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“Last year, the Jags won the South. I'll take the Texans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“Last year, the Patriots won the East. I'll take the bills.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsAug 31, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“And last year, the West went to the Seahawks. I'll take the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“To me, the Buffalo Bills are easily the class of the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- 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.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- 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.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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 · Chicago BearsHit · 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed.