Simon Hunter· Aug 20, 2026
Simon Hunter breaks down the NFC East: he thinks Dallas is the value play to win the division and could reach a one seed, expects the Cowboys' floor is seven wins with ten or eleven possible, likes Caleb Downs as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, ranks the Giants fourth in the division and Washington third, and thinks the Eagles' defense is the division's best unit.
“I don't see the Cowboys floor being lower than seven wins.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 2 season win totals, 1 award pick, 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner, 1 position group ranking, 1 power ranking and 1 seeding, byes and home field — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 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 above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Dallas Cowboys · 2026 season · wins27 calls from 19 pundits between 3 wins and 14 wins. Simon Hunter said 10 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
8 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.
- Power RankingsAug 20, 2026
“So I actually have them still fourth in this division... they're fourth on the script here, but you think they're third in the division.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsWashington CommandersAug 20, 2026
Washington Commanders to finish with 9 wins
“Can he play a minimum of sixteen games? If he stays healthy for that many, they can get to nine to eight, eight and nine.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksCaleb DownsDallas CowboysAug 20, 2026
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Player of the Year
“I never give out safeties to win Defensive Player of the Year. He's in Dallas, they got primetime games. He could be a sexy name of throw a bet on.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Group RankingsAug 20, 2026
“the best unit in this entire division is the Eagles defense, and it's not close”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDallas CowboysAug 20, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to take the top seed
“this feels like a pretty safe bet to either be, you know, the seventh seed or when this division be a one or two seed”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysAug 20, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“once again, Cowboys plus two ten. They should be just like Eagles... So yeah to me the value right now, sitting on that Cowboy side.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“they went out got him a legit number two, a guy that you could say is just as good as mclauren”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsDallas CowboysAug 20, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to finish with 10 wins
“this could easily be a team that wins ten eleven games... I don't see the Cowboys floor being lower than seven wins.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
- Garrett PodellTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels.
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100In a quarterback rapid-fire segment and later discussion, Brooks named starters for several clubs (Kyler Murray over JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, Tua in Atlanta, Jeremiah Love as Arizona's starting running back), called Chris Olave a No. 1 receiver, backed Stefon Diggs landing with the Commanders and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams, argued Baker Mayfield belongs among the top 15-17 quarterbacks, and published a top-five defensive tackle list topped by Jeffrey Simmons.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100Ocho predicted the free-agent receiver would sign with either Baltimore or Washington, and separately claimed the Dallas Cowboys would be the class of the NFC this season.
- Shannon SharpeTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100Sharpe ("Unc"/"Donk") said the veteran receiver they were discussing would be signed by a team, though he named no destination.
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.