Jordan Dajani· Sep 8, 2026
Dajani picks the Bills, Bengals, Texans, Broncos, Cowboys, Lions, Saints and Seahawks as his best division bets, expects a deep playoff run from Cincinnati, and calls Caleb Downs a future Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“I'm taking the Bengals to not only win the AFC North, but make a very deep playoff run as well.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 2 surprise team calls, 1 award pick and 1 playoff pick — 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 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 CallsHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to beat expectations
“If C.J. Stroud starts looking like the quarterback he was as a rookie, the Texans are a legitimate Super Bowl sleeper.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“When it comes to the New Orleans Saints, I think they could be a sleeper in the NFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersSeattle SeahawksSep 8, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“There's much more value in taking the reigning Super Bowl champion at +215 or the San Francisco 49ers at +305 and rooting for the downfall of this newly constructed super team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsSep 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“I'm taking the Bengals to not only win the AFC North, but make a very deep playoff run as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I'm taking the Bengals to not only win the AFC North, but make a very deep playoff run as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansSep 8, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“AFC South — Houston Texans (+105) Dajani: "I liked the Houston Texans defense better than the Seattle Seahawks defense last year!"”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksCaleb DownsDallas CowboysSep 8, 2026
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“That defense should be improved this year with the additions of future Defensive Rookie of the Year Caleb Downs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 8, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“The Minnesota Vikings are definitely an interesting flier at +450, but I'll take the Lions at +175.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 8, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The Saints have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this year and play in the worst division, so +255 feels like pretty good value.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 8, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“The Buffalo Bills will take their spot atop the AFC East once again with help from offseason addition D.J. Moore.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDenver BroncosSep 8, 2026
Denver Broncos to win the division
“I think the price here at +210 warrants some backing. I feel like people constantly look down on the Broncos for some reason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysSep 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“I'm high on the Dallas Cowboys this year and low on everyone else in the East.”
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Michael HanichDepth Chart Calls · Bud ClarkMiss · 0Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out.
- Pat FitzmauriceTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonMiss · 0Fitzmorris made picks 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 in the 2026 mock, ranked the top three receiver prospects Tate-Lemon-Tyson, said Caleb Downs won't fall to Day 2, and predicted Trey Hendrickson won't be back in Cincinnati.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Daniel DiBerardinisDivision Winners · Atlanta FalconsMiss · 0Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. He also gives a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning.
- 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.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Cowherd likes Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh (with DK Metcalf back) in the wild-card round, ranks the league's head coaches with McVay first and Ben Johnson seventh, and predicts Lamar Jackson has about two strong years left. He also names the Rams as a possible team to draft a receiver and floats next year's draft having seven first-round quarterbacks.
- Danny ParkinsDivision Winners · Baltimore RavensMiss · 0Parkins lays the points with the Eagles and Cowboys, takes Baltimore to beat Pittsburgh and win the AFC North, picks Carolina over Tampa Bay and Seattle over San Francisco, and says he'd probably pick the Rams to come out of the NFC.
- 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.