Mark “Magic Mark” Willard· Aug 31, 2026
Willard predicts zero repeat division champions in 2026, naming a new winner in all eight divisions (with the AFC West left as either the Chargers or Chiefs, but not the Broncos). He also picks the Lions to go worst-to-first in the NFC North, gives the Saints a chance to win the NFC South, and calls the Bills the class of the AFC East while predicting Patriots regression.
“I'm going to predict that there are, this year, zero... Repeat division champs.”
said on air or in an interview · Fox Sports Radio (podcast) · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 8 division winners, 1 depth chart call and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Michael Penix Jr. · 2026 season17 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 1. Mark “Magic Mark” Willard said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
10 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.
- Surprise Team CallsDetroit LionsAug 31, 2026
Detroit Lions to beat expectations
“I think that they are going to win that division. I think that they are going to go, quote-unquote, worst to first.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsAug 31, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“The North went to the Bears. Give me the Lions this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“So, I mean, Michael Penix is still on the team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBaltimore RavensAug 31, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“Last year, the Steelers won the North. I'll take the Ravens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsAug 31, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“The South went to the Panthers. I don't even know why that division still exists, but I'll take the Saints.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersHouston TexansAug 31, 2026
Houston Texans to win the division
“Last year, the Jags won the South. I'll take the Texans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsAug 31, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“And last year, the West went to the Seahawks. I'll take the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“To me, the Buffalo Bills are easily the class of the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersBuffalo BillsAug 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“Last year, the Patriots won the East. I'll take the bills.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDallas CowboysAug 31, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to win the division
“The East in the NFC went to the Eagles. I'll take the Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensHit · 98Simms 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 · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers 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 · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Previewing 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.
- 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.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · New York GiantsMiss · 0Cowherd 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. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.
- Colin CowherdDivision Winners · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Cowherd unveiled his 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.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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 EisenDivision Winners · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Eisen 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.
- Chris BrockmanDivision Winners · Chicago BearsHit · 100Brockman 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 he thinks they lose to a five seed from the NFC West), and said Philip Rivers will be in the NFL in 2026.
- Rich EisenDivision Winners · New England PatriotsHit · 100Eisen said the Patriots are still likely to win the AFC East and won't be one-and-done, that the Chargers will end Dallas' season next week, that TreVeyon Henderson should out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, that the NFC East race is over in Philadelphia's favor, and that the winner of the NFC West will be the NFC's No. 1 seed.