Colin Cowherd· Sep 9, 2026
Cowherd lays out his final season predictions: he flips the NFC West to the Rams over Seattle (fearing first-time OC Brian Fleury), picks Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Eagles, Lions, Saints and Rams as division winners with the Bills reaching the Super Bowl, and makes picks on opening night (Seahawks 23-20 over New England) and the Jaguars over the Browns.
“I went Seattle second, Rams first.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
36 checkable claims — 14 playoff picks, 8 division winners, 7 power rankings, 2 depth chart calls, 2 game outcome picks, 1 conference champion, 1 score prediction and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 36 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 2. Colin Cowherd 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Seattle Seahawks
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New Orleans Saints
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- New York Giants
- Baltimore Ravens
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- Courtland Sutton
- Denver Broncos
- Arizona Cardinals
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
The games in this take
- Patriots at Seahawks 33 calls
- Browns at Jaguars 26 calls
36 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.
- Game Outcome PicksJacksonville JaguarsSep 9, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win
“How about this will not shock you. The Jags are beating the Browns. / That's happening, right? Lock that up.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- JAX
- score:
- 10-34
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- JAX
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- JAX
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Score PredictionsSeattle SeahawksSep 9, 2026
Seattle Seahawks 23 — Patriots 20
“I think it looks 23-20-ish. I'll take Seattle very, very close and very low-scoring.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 10-13
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 3
- predicted margin:
- 3
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 9, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesSep 9, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“the playoff teams in the NFC look like this. Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 9, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“I'll take the Saints to win it... Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsSep 9, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 9, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“Seahawks, Bears are great wildcard teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew York GiantsSep 9, 2026
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“The Giants are a good wildcard team... Giants are a new playoff team, obviously.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“I do like the Ravens... Pittsburgh has a very high floor and a lower ceiling. They're third... Feel pretty strongly about Cleveland last and Pittsburgh third here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“NFC South, Saints, Panthers, Bucs, Falcons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“And in the NFC West, I flipped it. I went Seattle second, Rams first.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensSep 9, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansSep 9, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 9, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 9, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 9, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“the playoff teams in the NFC look like this. Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division. Seahawks, Bears are great wildcard teams. The Giants are a good wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew Orleans SaintsSep 9, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“Saints are a new playoff team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 9, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 9, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“Seahawks, Bears are great wildcard teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsSep 9, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“I do see them as a wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“NFC North, best division in football. I'm going to take Detroit... Take the Bears second... but I'll still take their playoff momentum, their third Vikings fourth.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Courtland Sutton to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Cortland Sutton will be one of the best number two receivers in the league.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsArizona CardinalsSep 9, 2026
Arizona Cardinals to pick at number 1
“And Arizona is in an absolute rebuild, potentially drafting number one next year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsSep 9, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“I went Seattle second, Rams first... Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 9, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win
“I like the Rams. I do think tonight is low scoring.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“AFC West, I made a change. Denver second, Kansas City third... The Raiders will be a very fun fourth place team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“NFC East. Listen, Philadelphia's roster, I'm going to take them... I'm very high on the Giants... Cowboys will be much better defensively, but we've pumped the brakes here... Washington... They'll finish fourth.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 9, 2026
“There's my AFC East, Buffalo, New England, Jets, Dolphins.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Raiders will be a very fun fourth place team. Even more fun when Fernando Mendoza starts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosSep 9, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensSep 9, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“I do like the Ravens, but it's a new coach in Jesse Minter... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansSep 9, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“I love the Texans. I think CJ Stroud bounces back... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersSep 9, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“I think it's a pretty magical year for the Chargers... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsBuffalo BillsSep 9, 2026
Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl
“I have the Bills getting to the Super Bowl.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsSep 9, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“And Lions are a new playoff team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 9, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“the easiest one is... is the AFC East. I'm going Bills, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins.”
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.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 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.
- 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.
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.