# Colin Cowherd: Cowherd's "Blazing 5" picks: Vikings over Steelers 27-20, over in Panthers-Patriots with New England winning 26-23, Rams over Colts 34-24, Raiders over Bears 27-23, and Broncos over Bengals 30-20. He also predicts Jeanty has a breakout game, Luka Doncic averages over 30 points, and calls Denver the best team that hasn't looked good yet. **Claimed:** Sep 26, 2025 **Pundit:** Colin Cowherd — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd **Outlet:** The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview **Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/the-herd-hour-2-blazin-5-picks-dave-wannstedt-usc-is-quietly-resurgent-and-strong 6 checkable claims — 5 score predictions and 1 game outcome pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record. All 6 have settled, averaging 65.1 out of 100, against 72.2 for a naive guess at the same calls. > But I think Minnesota twenty seven to twenty covers here, better staff, better offense, better defense. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Atlanta Falcons to beat Washington** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 28, 2025): Falcons by 2.5 · favorite pick, Falcons 56%. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Denver Broncos 30 — Bengals 20** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: scored 64.29 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 29, 2025): Broncos by 7.5, total 44.5 · this 30–20 calls a bigger Broncos win (by 10) and more points (50). Graded on the margin called, not on the spread. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Las Vegas Raiders 27 — Bears 23** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 42.86 out of 100, against 47.55 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 28, 2025): Raiders by 1.5, total 47.5 · this 27–23 calls a bigger Raiders win (by 4) and more points (50). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Minnesota Vikings 27 — Steelers 20** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 40.48 out of 100, against 97.69 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 28, 2025): Vikings by 2.5, total 41.5 · this 27–20 calls a bigger Vikings win (by 7) and more points (47). Graded on the margin called, not on the spread. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **New England Patriots 26 — Panthers 23** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: scored 50 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 28, 2025): Patriots by 5.5, total 42.5 · this 26–23 calls a closer game (Patriots by 3) and more points (49). Graded on the margin called, not on the spread. Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. - **Los Angeles Rams 34 — Colts 24** - Kind: Score Predictions · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: scored 92.86 out of 100, against 88.16 for a naive guess - Line: Closing line (Sep 28, 2025): Rams by 3.5, total 49.5 · this 34–24 calls a bigger Rams win (by 10) and more points (58). Source: nflverse; context only, never part of the grade. ## Who this take is about - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) ## More score predictions The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jordan Dajani on Washington Commanders: Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/46f7646f-2c64-4827-a522-67975af79fb6 (scored 95.24) - Tyler Sullivan on Washington Commanders: Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1bb32676-c3b3-4b8e-8a03-b58396cf98bf (scored 100) - Pete Prisco on New York Giants: Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e142b910-0967-4de9-9429-c342bc079205 (scored 35.71) - John Breech on Washington Commanders: Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9fddc8e1-3823-4252-bdd7-f81ef11b1da3 (scored 90.48) - Jared Dubin on New York Giants: Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/04562aeb-eccf-4266-be8e-32a3aacfd6fc (scored 42.86) - Jared Dubin on New York Giants: Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6c19276-74df-4775-8a6e-f67c6d94b773 (scored 42.86) --- 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.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.co/corrections?pundit=colin-cowherd