# Simon Hunter: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 20, 2026 **Pundit:** Simon Hunter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/simon-hunter **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-ae210140c5b1/291fe8ed-f80d-4107-9ee1-b34c015266d0/39fdca75-b757-45d2-a02c-b4aa013f54dc/audio.mp3?in_playlist=bf391792-153e-41b3-9d3d-ae3300346ad8 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. > I don't see the Cowboys floor being lower than seven wins. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **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.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Washington Commanders to finish with 9 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **the best unit in this entire division is the Eagles defense, and it's not close** - Kind: Position Group Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Cowboys to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Cowboys to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Stefon Diggs to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Cowboys to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Stefon Diggs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/stefon-diggs ## What others said about the same people - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Seth Walder on Kayshon Boutte: Walder 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0263bd78-6c5c-41c5-8615-0467d8ef521a (scored 0) - Garrett Podell on Stefon Diggs: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bc79861b-dbde-474e-9d55-bf50f7b766d2 (scored 100) - Bucky Brooks on Stefon Diggs: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9538b827-fc12-4c2e-8e32-eaa69edc6c2d (scored 100) - Chad Ochocinco Johnson on Stefon Diggs: Ocho 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7ea7ec88-8e00-40c9-96d4-e028012959d8 (scored 100) - Shannon Sharpe on Stefon Diggs: Sharpe ("Unc"/"Donk") said the veteran receiver they were discussing would be signed by a team, though he named no destination. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/547c2b7d-e77e-4982-9c11-5e64da38bfe0 (scored 100) ## More season win totals The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Brockman on New England Patriots: Brockman'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/855631ac-f41e-4f40-9368-ae99994bb8c3 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on New England Patriots: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c47d130c-5598-4cd0-b546-1121046b9166 (scored 0) - JP Acosta on New York Giants: Acosta 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/17ab1ec5-a2f1-41c6-a6df-a0e6d949351b (scored 40) - Rich Eisen on New Orleans Saints: Eisen 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/15192136-24b9-4127-ac9d-69dc69aab3d5 (scored 40) - Chris Brockman on New Orleans Saints: Brockman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e393bfed-202c-4c67-9054-793f6bdad096 (scored 40) - Rich Eisen on Chicago Bears: Rich 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3c3755f-fe00-4096-a948-18cb17e42e14 (scored 80) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=simon-hunter