Danny Parkins· Sep 3, 2026
Filling in for Colin Cowherd, Parkins gave his full AFC playoff field: Bills, Bengals, Colts and Chargers as division winners, with the Patriots, Ravens and Broncos as wild cards, and explicitly had the Chiefs missing the playoffs. He also predicted DJ Moore puts up monstrous numbers in Buffalo and that Drake Maye wins an MVP at some point in his career.
“So I like the Bills to win the AFC East.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 7 playoff picks, 4 division winners, 1 award pick and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season20 calls from 15 pundits between 1 and 2. Danny Parkins 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.
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
13 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 PicksIndianapolis ColtsSep 3, 2026
Indianapolis Colts to make the playoffs
“In the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsSep 3, 2026
New England Patriots to make the playoffs
“The wildcard teams... Patriots are the most obvious better team, worse record team than I've ever seen... I think they just fall a little short of Buffalo in that spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensSep 3, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“still enough for the Ravens to make the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Raiders have named a starter. They've made it to be Kirk Cousins. Frankly, I think they're making a huge mistake. I'd start Fernando Mendoza week one against the Dolphins.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 3, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I think the Bills are going to take the AFC East... So I like the Bills to win the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 3, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“I think the Chargers take the AFC West.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosSep 3, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“I still think the Broncos are enough to make it to the AFC playoffs, albeit as a wildcard team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksDrake MayeNew England PatriotsSep 3, 2026
Drake Maye to win MVP
“And Drake May, I think, is going to win an MVP before his career is done.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 3, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I like the Bengals to just barely edge the Ravens and take the AFC North.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersSep 3, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“I think the Chargers take the AFC West.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsSep 3, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“I like the Bengals to just barely edge the Ravens and take the AFC North.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersIndianapolis ColtsSep 3, 2026
Indianapolis Colts to win the division
“In the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts, I'm anticipating not a lot of people picking them”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsSep 3, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“I think the Bills are going to take the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Carney 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.
- 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.
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.