Tyler Sullivan#27 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 8, 2026
Sullivan takes the Patriots, Bengals, Texans, Broncos, Eagles, Lions, Saints and Seahawks, and tags New Orleans as a potential surprise team.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Tyler Sullivan said
It'll be neck-and-neck with Buffalo, but the value is on the Patriots repeating as division champs.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- CBS Sports predicts every NFL division winner: Experts high on Cowboys, fading Chiefs, and split on NFC North
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Surprise Team Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 8 division winners and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Division Winners8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Detroit Lions to win the division
“Detroit has the easiest schedule in the NFL entering 2026 ... that should help them stack up wins in what should be a wildly competitive NFC North.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Seattle Seahawks to win the division
“I'll take the value and quiet confidence of Seattle to win the NFC West.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“With one of the easiest paths in the league, New Orleans can be one of the surprise teams of 2026.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New England Patriots to win the division
“It'll be neck-and-neck with Buffalo, but the value is on the Patriots repeating as division champs.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“I thought long and hard about the Giants in an upset, but I just couldn't get all the way there. The Eagles have one of the best secondaries in the NFL”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“Injury concerns will always hover over this team, but I like the moves they made this offseason addressing the defense.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denver Broncos to win the division
“This is by far the best value on the board among all division futures.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to win the division
“Sort of surprised to see the oddsmakers list Houston as the favorite over Jacksonville, but it's due to their lethal defense.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Surprise Team Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“New Orleans can be one of the surprise teams of 2026.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
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.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
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.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.
More division winners
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Daniel DiBerardinis · Division Winners · Atlanta Falcons · Miss 0
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.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · New York Giants · Miss 0
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.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
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.Colin Cowherd · Division Winners · Baltimore Ravens · Miss 0
Cowherd likes Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh (with DK Metcalf back) in the wild-card round, ranks the league's head coaches with McVay first and Ben Johnson seventh, and predicts Lamar Jackson has about two strong years left. They also name the Rams as a possible team to draft a receiver and floats next year's draft having seven first-round quarterbacks.Rich Eisen · Division Winners · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
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.