Warren Sharp· Aug 30, 2026
Sharp's schedule-rest analysis cites projected win totals for the Bills' toughest AFC opponents and names teams expected to reach the playoffs in 2026, arguing the 2026 schedule is the least equitable in NFL history with the Bears most helped and the Chargers most hurt.
“The 2026 NFL schedule is the least equitable in NFL history across most key metrics.”
published in writing · Sharp Football Analysis · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 6 playoff picks and 5 season win totals — 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 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
New England Patriots · 2026 season · wins11 calls from 6 pundits between 9 wins and 14 wins. Warren Sharp said 9.7 wins. the room's median is 10 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.
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 PicksJacksonville JaguarsAug 30, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsNew England PatriotsAug 30, 2026
New England Patriots to finish with 9.7 wins
“9.7-win Patriots: the Bills' first game sees no rest edge, but the second game sees the Bills with a +3 day rest edge after Thanksgiving”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsAug 30, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersAug 30, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsDenver BroncosAug 30, 2026
Denver Broncos to finish with 9.7 wins
“9.7-win Broncos: the Bills have a +1 day rest advantage for the Christmas game”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsKansas City ChiefsAug 30, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to finish with 10.4 wins
“10.4-win Chiefs: rest is identical, but this is a short-week home game on Thursday”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksAug 30, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsBaltimore RavensAug 30, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to finish with 11.2 wins
“11.2-win Ravens: Buffalo has +7 days of rest out of their bye”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersAug 30, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsAug 30, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“Denver plays six straight games against teams expected to make the playoffs this year: the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles ChargersAug 30, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to finish with 10.3 wins
“10.3-win Chargers: Buffalo is +3 days of rest off a mini-bye”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jalen McLeodMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Jason La CanforaRoster Spot Calls · Gerad LichtenhanMiss · 0La Canfora predicts the Ravens will keep several young players on their practice squad — DL Kaimon Rucker, LB Dominic DeLuca, LB Ethan Burke, CB Amani Oruwariye, OT Gerad Lichtenhan and QB Joe Fagnano — and expects the team to make at least one trade from its surplus of cornerbacks.
- Steven RuizTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Ruiz expects the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown once the June 1 dead-cap threshold passes, most likely to New England, and thinks Baker Mayfield will get a Buccaneers extension making him the league's highest-paid quarterback within a month or two. He also argues the Lions may have to let one or two of their 2023 draft class leave, and that Houston should extend C.J. Stroud.
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
- Jeremy WhiteTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Jeremy White expects the Patriots to acquire AJ Brown, calling the trade likely inevitable within about a month.
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.