# Matty Lane: Lane picked Cowboys, Bears, Saints, Rams, Bills, Steelers, Texans and Broncos as division winners with the Rams as the NFL's No. 1 seed, had the Chiefs losing to Houston in the divisional round, and picked a Rams win over the Bills in the Super Bowl, plus Dak Prescott for MVP and Ben Johnson for Coach of the Year. **Claimed:** Sep 8, 2026 **Pundit:** Matty Lane — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matty-lane **Outlet:** KC Sports Network (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/kc-sports-network-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://pdrl.fm/8d7cde/mgln.ai/e/256/pscrb.fm/rss/p/clrtpod.com/m/bluewire.simplecastaudio.com/8bf45406-115f-47da-8dc8-dcc5713f4a83/episodes/a7200306-89a1-47c8-8543-622fcc99cbe4/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8bf45406-115f-47da-8dc8-dcc5713f4a83&awEpisodeId=a7200306-89a1-47c8-8543-622fcc99cbe4&feed=BJf5DYgc 32 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 7 seeding, byes and home field, 6 playoff picks, 5 award picks, 2 conference champions, 1 coach award pick, 1 game outcome pick, 1 season win total and 1 super bowl pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 5 and below it on 2. > We got Rams Bills in the Super Bowl, and it goes much like last year did. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Houston Texans to finish with 13 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Cowboys to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Baltimore Ravens to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ben Johnson to win Coach of the Year** - Kind: Coach Award Picks - Verdict: not settled yet - **New Orleans Saints to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **New England Patriots to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Buffalo Bills to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cyrus Allen to win Offensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Cyrus Allen - Verdict: not settled yet - **Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl** - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **R Mason Thomas to win Defensive Rookie of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: R Mason Thomas - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **New England Patriots to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to beat Chiefs** - Kind: Game Outcome Picks · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chicago Bears to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to win the Super Bowl** - Kind: Super Bowl Picks · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Pittsburgh Steelers to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chicago Bears to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dak Prescott to win MVP** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kansas City Chiefs to take the top seed** - Kind: Seeding, Byes and Home Field · About: Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Detroit Lions to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denver Broncos to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs** - Kind: Playoff Picks · About: Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Houston Texans to win the division** - Kind: Division Winners · About: Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Jahmyr Gibbs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bills - Will Anderson Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-anderson-jr - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - Cyrus Allen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cyrus-allen - R Mason Thomas — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/r-mason-thomas - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bears - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Dak Prescott — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott ## 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) - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - 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) - Gilberto Manzano on Josh Downs: Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67d5af78-94ea-4ee2-a277-5e68347022de (scored 100) - Joshua Poniatowski on Josh Downs: Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1752582-a799-48b9-984b-39bf7cb8b709 (scored 100) ## More division winners The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Daniel DiBerardinis on Atlanta Falcons: Danny D predicts Sonny Styles goes in the top ten (maybe top five), doesn't think Ty Simpson goes before late first round, says Kenyon Sadiq lands with the Rams at 13, and picks the Falcons to win the NFC South while naming the Bengals an AFC bounce-back team. They also give a Final Four of Michigan, Florida, Purdue and Arizona with Michigan winning. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8a8e0b7c-9f1c-4c13-8138-1332d73b9b02 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on New York Giants: Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. They also expect Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and they float the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd243624-9451-4824-a8a4-7b468d681c8f (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Los Angeles Chargers: Cowherd unveiled their top 10 NFL teams entering next season, with Seattle first, the Rams second and the Chiefs tenth, and separately picked the Chargers to win the AFC West. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/78de302a-c2f9-41b4-8897-87943ca44caa (scored 0) - Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: Eisen 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. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/34345186-876a-4c4b-9567-9c289a6cbace (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Jacksonville Jaguars: 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.co/opinions/15192136-24b9-4127-ac9d-69dc69aab3d5 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Philadelphia Eagles: Brockman called the Broncos-Packers game the best of the day, said Denver looks poised to lock up the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach the AFC Championship Game, predicted the Bears win the NFC North and the Eagles win their division (though they think they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e86c9e4d-7802-432a-a26c-4edefb3b6aee (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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