Colin Cowherd· Sep 12, 2026
Cowherd unveiled his final preseason 'herd hierarchy' top 10 (plus the Chiefs 11th and Ravens 12th), made full division-by-division picks with all 14 playoff teams, took the Bills to reach the Super Bowl, and added several team and player calls (Texans having the league's best defense, Arizona potentially picking No. 1, DJ Moore as Buffalo's true No. 1 receiver, Courtland Sutton as a top No. 2 receiver).
“So the playoff teams in the NFC look like this. Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
28 checkable claims — 14 playoff picks, 8 division winners, 2 depth chart calls, 1 conference champion, 1 position group ranking, 1 power ranking and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 17 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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 do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
28 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.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsSep 12, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“I'm going Bills, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Group RankingsSep 12, 2026
“I know the Texans defense will be the best in the league.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansSep 12, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“AFC South... I love the Texans... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansSep 12, 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 PicksDenver BroncosSep 12, 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.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 12, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“Seahawks, Bears are great wildcard teams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 12, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“All right, NFC North, best division in football. I'm going to take Detroit.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCourtland SuttonDenver BroncosSep 12, 2026
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 12, 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.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 12, 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 PicksBaltimore RavensSep 12, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“Listen, the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 12, 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 PicksNew York GiantsSep 12, 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.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersSep 12, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“AFC West, I made a change. Denver second, Kansas City third... I think it's a pretty magical year for the Chargers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 12, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“Listen, the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensSep 12, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesSep 12, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“NFC East. Listen, Philadelphia's roster, I'm going to take them... but I'll take them to win it.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsSep 12, 2026
“Here's my herd hierarchy. We'll start at number 10 on the eve of the NFL season... Number one... the Seahawks... Where are the Chiefs? I have them in 11th. Where are the Ravens? I have them at 12.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsBuffalo BillsSep 12, 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 PicksNew Orleans SaintsSep 12, 2026
New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs
“Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksNew England PatriotsSep 12, 2026
New England Patriots 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 12, 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 PicksPhiladelphia EaglesSep 12, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“So 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.
- Depth Chart CallsDJ MooreBuffalo BillsSep 12, 2026
DJ Moore to be 1st on the depth chart
“I love the DJ Moore, a real serious number one receiver.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsSep 12, 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.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsSep 12, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“I'll take the Saints to win it.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsSep 12, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsSep 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr 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.
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
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.