# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd laid out his full AFC and NFC division-by-division predictions, naming division winners, wild cards, new playoff teams, and order of finish in each division. **Claimed:** Aug 29, 2026 **Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/colin-cowherd **Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/1508ddb2-0c9a-42f6-aafe-ae3300346aa9/2be5dcf6-91f3-4be7-a4ff-b4b40101721f/audio.mp3?in_playlist=bf391792-153e-41b3-9d3d-ae3300346ad8 37 checkable claims — 10 playoff picks, 9 power rankings, 8 division winners, 5 depth chart calls, 4 season win totals and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 21 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 7. > So I have the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers winning their division. Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs as wildcard. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **New York Giants to beat expectations** - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'm going to go with the Giants over the Cowboys... I have the Cowboys better, but not a playoff team third. And Washington just doesn't have enough talent.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **New York Jets to finish with 5 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'm going to go Colts over the Jags... And the Titans for fourth** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Baltimore Ravens to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'll take. Them to win the division. New England's schedule is much tougher... The Jets in third... Dolphins are rebuilding... I'll pick them easily for fourth.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **I think Carolina will vie for the division title and a playoff spot. I like the top two teams. Tampa Bay... I'm going to pick Atlanta. For fourth place.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **I have them winning the division... Kansas City gets a slight edge to me. Raiders could be the best fourth plays team in football** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'm going to go Chicago second... I'm going to choose Green Bay over Minnesota... so I have them fourth** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **New York Giants to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Blake Miller, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **I think these two teams, in my opinion, are the best two teams in the NFL, Seahawks-Rams, one and two in my book.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Detroit Lions to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to finish with 11 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Philadelphia Eagles to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'll take Seattle to win over the Rams... San Francisco, I worry about it... And then Arizona, bit of a mess... Arizona at fourth place.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Seattle Seahawks to finish with 12 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **I'm going to go with Baltimore... Cincinnati, I have as a new playoff team... Steelers... Cleveland, I don't hate them.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Chargers to finish with 11 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Seattle Seahawks to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Buffalo Bills to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **New England Patriots to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Bailey to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: David Bailey, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Shedeur Sanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/shedeur-sanders - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Blake Miller — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/blake-miller - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - David Bailey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-bailey ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) - Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (scored 0) - Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Michael Carter: Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/922a9343-f96d-419d-8091-49b64dd471d9 (scored 0) - Michael Hanich on Bud Clark: Hanich 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c15b8321-a10e-421f-8076-039ca96a05a8 (scored 0) ## More playoff picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Rich Eisen on Minnesota Vikings: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/29ea2738-79a2-4be9-aa45-e794cd3848fb (scored 0) - Dwaine Board on San Francisco 49ers: Board 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/07beb6d4-aadc-4b2d-b131-b889c85204a3 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Carolina Panthers: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Pittsburgh Steelers: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7792215a-c787-44bd-b294-5ff028851d30 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Green Bay Packers: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1f7633c5-427b-4993-8849-3f53865241bd (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on San Francisco 49ers: Eisen agreed the NFC West will send three teams to the playoffs (Seahawks, 49ers and Rams), endorsed the Bears finishing no worse than the No. 2 seed, and said Chicago would beat Green Bay at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ea0d0a73-4f8b-4c92-8cd3-bcf957dc2115 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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