Jason McIntyre· Aug 28, 2026
Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre gave five bold NFL predictions: Joe Burrow wins MVP with an 11-win Bengals team, the Titans post a winning record at 9-8, the Browns finish with the league's worst record, and the Texans win the AFC. He also picked the Lions to win their division.
“Houston Texans win the AFC.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 2 season win totals, 1 award pick, 1 conference champion, 1 division winner, 1 team draft slot call and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Cincinnati Bengals · 2026 season · wins8 calls from 5 pundits between 9 wins and 12 wins. Jason McIntyre said 11 wins. the room's median is 10 wins. 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.
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Who this take is about
7 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.
- Team Draft Slot CallsCleveland BrownsAug 28, 2026
Cleveland Browns to pick “worst record in the league”
“number four on the bold predictions list, Cleveland Browns, worst record in the league... I think they have the worst record in the NFL.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJoe BurrowCincinnati BengalsAug 28, 2026
Joe Burrow to win MVP
“Right off the top, I'm going MVP, and I'm going with Joe Burrow.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 28, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“Love the Lions. I think they win the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsCincinnati BengalsAug 28, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to finish with 11 wins
“I do believe Burrow is in the mix to win that division. I think this is an 11-win team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsAug 28, 2026
“we're going to pop my top six quarterbacks in college football on the screen for this season... I had Arch Manning at one... the reason I had Levitt at six”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsTennessee TitansAug 28, 2026
Tennessee Titans to finish with 9 wins
“The Titans will have a winning record... I think this is a nine and 18.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsHouston TexansAug 28, 2026
Houston Texans to reach the Super Bowl
“Getting to the Super Bowl will be the Houston Texans... Houston Texans win the AFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.
- 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.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren 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.
- 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.
- Eric CohenGame Outcome Picks · Tennessee TitansMiss · 0Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league.
- John BreechGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
More season win totals
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Brockman's overreaction slate: Breece Hall leaves the Jets and plays in the playoffs next season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in the league, three quarterbacks (Mendoza first overall, plus Ty Simpson and Carson Beck) go in the first round, and the Patriots crater to a 7-10 season.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- JP AcostaSeason Win Totals · New York GiantsClose · 40Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.
- Rich EisenSeason Win Totals · New Orleans SaintsClose · 40Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New Orleans SaintsClose · 40Brockman floated the 49ers as the team to beat in the NFC after their Sunday night win, predicted James Cook would lead the league in rushing, and said Tyler Shough will win Rookie of the Year with the Saints finishing above .500 next season.
- Rich EisenSeason Win Totals · Chicago BearsHit · 80Rich Eisen gave his Week 15 top-10 power rankings, installing the Rams at No. 1 as the best team in football, adding the Jaguars and keeping the Bears despite their loss, while dropping the Cowboys and Eagles off the list. He also projected 10-win seasons for both Chicago and Jacksonville and said the Jaguars would handle the Jets at home.