Carter Bahns· Sep 1, 2026
A CBS Sports tier list of 2026 Super Bowl contenders places the Rams and Seahawks in the top tier (expecting a possible third playoff meeting), says the nine B-tier teams should all make the playoffs, sees Caleb Williams as a potential All-Pro, and pegs the Dolphins and Cardinals as No. 1 pick contenders.
“Los Angeles has the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl, and it is not close.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 8 playoff picks, 2 team draft slot calls and 1 pro bowl and all-pro call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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
11 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 PicksBaltimore RavensSep 1, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... The AFC North battle between the Ravens and Bengals is especially compelling.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... A step forward for Chicago would come in the form of Caleb Williams emerging as a superstar.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksKansas City ChiefsSep 1, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... the Chiefs must rely on Patrick Mahomes recovering fully from his torn ACL”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsArizona CardinalsSep 1, 2026
Arizona Cardinals to pick “No. 1 pick contenders”
“F Tier: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals ... F: No. 1 pick contenders ... There is nothing to play for here except the No. 1 pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles ChargersSep 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... The Chargers should be better now that their offensive line is not entirely decimated”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksLos Angeles RamsSep 1, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“it would be no surprise if, like last year, they met for a third time in the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to make All-Pro
“With the way he performed in Year 1 under coach Ben Johnson's tutelage, it is no stretch to imagine him climbing into the All-Pro category.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksSep 1, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“That the Rams and Seahawks will square off twice in the regular season is a treat, and it would be no surprise if, like last year, they met for a third time in the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersSep 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... the 49ers will be in the thick of the NFC West race”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsMiami DolphinsSep 1, 2026
Miami Dolphins to pick “a top-two pick” (picks 1–2)
“allowing the Dolphins to use what should be a top-two pick on something other than quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsSep 1, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“B Tier ... They should all expect to make the playoffs ... Cincinnati is also better defensively, at least on paper.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
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 · Minnesota VikingsMiss · 0Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.
- 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.
- Chris BrockmanPlayoff Picks · Pittsburgh SteelersHit · 100Brockman argued the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Foxborough, meaning the Patriots will finish as the No. 1 seed, and called his shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. He also declared the Bears a team of destiny who will win the NFC, said the Steelers will end their playoff win drought, and that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.
- 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.