John Breech· Oct 28, 2026
Presenting a full-season simulation, he projects the Bills as the AFC's No. 1 seed and eventual Super Bowl LXI champions over the top-seeded Vikings, with full playoff fields, seedings and scores for every postseason game.
“In the end, Josh Allen leads the Bills to their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
41 checkable claims — 14 playoff picks, 13 score predictions, 8 division winners, 2 conference champions, 2 seeding, byes and home field, 1 season win total and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 15 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.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
41 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.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysOct 28, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“4. Cowboys (3-4)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsDetroit LionsOct 28, 2026
Detroit Lions 33 — Cowboys 30
“(5) Lions 33-30 over (4) Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Super Bowl PicksBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl
“In the end, Josh Allen leads the Bills to their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsKansas City ChiefsOct 28, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs 26 — Ravens 20
“(2) Chiefs 26-20 over (7) Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsCleveland BrownsOct 28, 2026
Cleveland Browns to finish with 8 wins
“Our projection has them finishing 8-9 and out of the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills to take the top seed
“Thanks to the Chiefs' loss in Week 7, the Bills are now projected to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksJacksonville JaguarsOct 28, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
“3. Jaguars (4-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsDenver BroncosOct 28, 2026
Denver Broncos 24 — Bengals 23
“(5) Broncos 24-23 over (4) Bengals.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl
“the Bills Mafia goes crazy as they celebrate the team's first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings 20 — Seahawks 17
“(1) Vikings 20-17 over (6) Seahawks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersOct 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“2. 49ers (6-1)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsOct 28, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“2. Chiefs (5-1)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsOct 28, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“4. Bengals (4-2) -- AFC North champion; the other notable change here is that the Bengals are now projected to win the AFC North”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDetroit LionsOct 28, 2026
Detroit Lions to make the playoffs
“5. Lions (4-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsOct 28, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“3. Jaguars (4-2) -- AFC South champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensOct 28, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“7. Ravens (4-3)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to take the top seed
“after San Francisco's loss, that honor now belongs to the Vikings”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosOct 28, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“5. Broncos (4-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksOct 28, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“6. Seahawks (4-3); we have the Seahawks getting in”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“Here's the projected AFC playoff field: 1. Bills (5-1)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysOct 28, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“4. Cowboys (3-4) -- NFC East champion; the Cowboys are now projected to win the NFC East”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsSan Francisco 49ersOct 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers 29 — Lions 28
“(2) 49ers 29-28 over (5) Lions.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersKansas City ChiefsOct 28, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to win the division
“2. Chiefs (5-1) -- AFC West champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“Here's the projected NFC playoff field: 1. Vikings (6-0)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersAtlanta FalconsOct 28, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to win the division
“3. Falcons (3-4) -- NFC South champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsSeattle SeahawksOct 28, 2026
Seattle Seahawks 24 — Falcons 21
“(6) Seahawks 24-21 over (3) Falcons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersSan Francisco 49ersOct 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to win the division
“2. 49ers (6-1) -- NFC West champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsJacksonville JaguarsOct 28, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars 25 — Steelers 20
“(3) Jaguars 25-20 over (6) Steelers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksPittsburgh SteelersOct 28, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs
“6. Steelers (5-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to win the division
“1. Vikings (6-0) -- NFC North champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsOct 28, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“4. Bengals (4-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills 28 — Chiefs 23
“AFC Championship (1) Bills 28-23 over (2) Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksAtlanta FalconsOct 28, 2026
Atlanta Falcons to make the playoffs
“3. Falcons (3-4)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsKansas City ChiefsOct 28, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs 23 — Jaguars 21
“(2) Chiefs 23-21 over (3) Jaguars.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings 23 — 49ers 20
“NFC Championship (1) Vikings 23-20 over (2) 49ers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsMinnesota VikingsOct 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to reach the Super Bowl
“(1) Vikings 23-20 over (2) 49ers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills 26 — Broncos 20
“(1) Bills 26-20 over (5) Broncos.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills 26 — Vikings 21
“Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium (1) Bills 26-21 over (1) Vikings.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsOct 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“1. Bills (5-1) -- AFC East champion”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsOct 28, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“7. Bears (5-2)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Score PredictionsSan Francisco 49ersOct 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers 27 — Bears 24
“(2) 49ers 27-24 over (7) Bears.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- John MiddlekauffDraft Bust Calls · Caleb WilliamsMiss · 0Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. He is pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying he'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. He also sees Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.
- Parker HurleyTrade and Signing Calls · Jessie BatesMiss · 0Hurley argues a Jessie Bates trade to San Francisco is unrealistic because Atlanta remains in the weak NFC South race and likely won't sell, and he expects 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown to depart in free agency after this season.
- Jeremy BrenerScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
- Albert BreerGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.
- Dave RichardGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonPlayoff Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wilson argued the Eagles' offseason approach of prioritizing 2026 and beyond doesn't mean a bad 2025 — he expects them to remain among the NFC's best teams and to make a deep playoff run rather than fall off to eight or nine wins.
- Ross JacksonPlayoff Picks · New Orleans SaintsMiss · 0Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Rich EisenPlayoff Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen gave his Week 13 power rankings, with the Rams first, Patriots second and the Cowboys entering at No. 10, and also named New England and Philadelphia as the first teams to clinch playoff spots, picked Seattle to beat Minnesota, and tabbed Drake Maye as an MVP finalist and Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year.