Danny Parkins· Sep 4, 2026
Filling in for Colin Cowherd, Parkins laid out his full NFC playoff field — Giants, Bears, Buccaneers and Seahawks as division winners with the Rams, Cowboys and Lions as wild cards — and predicted top-five offenses in Chicago and Dallas, plus a Max Crosby trade to Dallas before the deadline.
“So the division winners, the Giants, the Bears, the Bucks, and the Seahawks, wildcard teams out of the NFC, the Rams, the Cowboys, and the Lions.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 7 playoff picks, 4 division winners, 2 position group rankings and 1 trade and signing call — 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
14 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 WinnersSeattle SeahawksSep 4, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“I think they come out of the NFC West... So the division winners, the Giants, the Bears, the Bucks, and the Seahawks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 4, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“But in a tightly contested division, the top wildcard team is the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysSep 4, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“I have Dallas making the playoffs in the NFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 4, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“I think they come out of the NFC West.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsSep 4, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“The Detroit Lions, one of the easiest schedules in all of football... wildcard teams out of the NFC, the Rams, the Cowboys, and the Lions”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew York GiantsSep 4, 2026
New York Giants to win the division
“We begin in the NFC East with, yes, my spiciest pick. But I like the Giants.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maxx Crosby to move to Dallas Cowboys
“I anticipate that Max Crosby is going to be a Cowboy before the trade deadline, which is week 10.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Group RankingsSep 4, 2026
“I do think we're looking at a top-five offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Group RankingsSep 4, 2026
“I think they get back to being a top five or six offense in the NFL.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 4, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division
“NFC South, I still think it's Tampa's division... I think they're the best team in the NFC South.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksTampa Bay BuccaneersSep 4, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs
“So the division winners, the Giants, the Bears, the Bucks, and the Seahawks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersChicago BearsSep 4, 2026
Chicago Bears to win the division
“I have the Bears coming out and winning the NFC North.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 4, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“NFC North, the Chicago Bears, they have the best coach, the best quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsSep 4, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“So the division winners, the Giants, the Bears, the Bucks, and the Seahawks”
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.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- 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.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
- 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.
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.
- Craig StoutPlayoff Picks · Kansas City ChiefsMiss · 0Craig believes better execution from a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team will be enough to return them to the playoffs in the coming season, and he expects Tyler Algeier to land with Denver as a complement to RJ Harvey.
- 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.
- Dwaine BoardPlayoff Picks · San Francisco 49ersHit · 100Board 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.
- 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.