Colin Cowherd#54 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 9, 2026
Cowherd lays out their final season predictions: they flip the NFC West to the Rams over Seattle (fearing first-time OC Brian Fleury), picks Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Eagles, Lions, Saints and Rams as division winners with the Bills reaching the Super Bowl, and makes picks on opening night (Seahawks 23-20 over New England) and the Jaguars over the Browns.
Said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)Hear the original
What Colin Cowherd said
I went Seattle second, Rams first.
- Where it was said
- The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast)
- The episode
- THE HERD – HOUR 1 – Seahawks Major Flaw | Patriots Regression | Final NFL Predictions
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 9
- PlayedSep 9–13
- GradedSep 11–15
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Outcome Picks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Score Predictions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Team Draft Slot Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Division Winners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Conference Champions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
How each call scored
35 checkable claims — 14 playoff picks, 8 division winners, 7 power rankings, 2 depth chart calls, 1 conference champion, 1 game outcome pick, 1 score prediction and 1 team draft slot call — 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.
2 of 35 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season21 calls from 20 pundits between 1 and 1. Colin Cowherd 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.
Game Outcome Picks1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
Jacksonville Jaguars to beat Browns
“How about this will not shock you. The Jags are beating the Browns. / That's happening, right? Lock that up.”
Jaguars 34–10Browns at Jaguars100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Sep 13): Jaguars by 8.5 · favorite pick, Jaguars about 4 in 5 (79%).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- won:
- JAX
- score:
- 10-34
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- JAX
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- JAX
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Score Predictions1 hitShow ▸Hide ▾
Seattle Seahawks 23 — Patriots 20
“I think it looks 23-20-ish. I'll take Seattle very, very close and very low-scoring.”
Seahawks 13–10called Seahawks by 3 · won by 3100Hit100 − 100 naive = 0 × 2 difficulty = 0 skill
Closing line (Sep 9): Seahawks by 3, total 44.5 · this 23–20 calls the line’s margin (Seahawks by 3) and fewer points (43).
Think this is wrong?How this was scored
- score:
- 10-13
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- SEA
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- 3
- predicted margin:
- 3
Power Rankings7 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“And in the NFC West, I flipped it. I went Seattle second, Rams first.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“NFC South, Saints, Panthers, Bucs, Falcons.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“There's my AFC East, Buffalo, New England, Jets, Dolphins.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“NFC North, best division in football. I'm going to take Detroit... Take the Bears second... but I'll still take their playoff momentum, their third Vikings fourth.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“AFC West, I made a change. Denver second, Kansas City third... The Raiders will be a very fun fourth place team.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“I do like the Ravens... Pittsburgh has a very high floor and a lower ceiling. They're third... Feel pretty strongly about Cleveland last and Pittsburgh third here.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“NFC East. Listen, Philadelphia's roster, I'm going to take them... I'm very high on the Giants... Cowboys will be much better defensively, but we've pumped the brakes here... Washington... They'll finish fourth.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Team Draft Slot Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Arizona Cardinals to pick at number 1
“And Arizona is in an absolute rebuild, potentially drafting number one next year.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Division Winners8 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“I think it's a pretty magical year for the Chargers... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to win the division
“I do like the Ravens, but it's a new coach in Jesse Minter... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“the playoff teams in the NFC look like this. Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Houston Texans to win the division
“I love the Texans. I think CJ Stroud bounces back... So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“I'll take the Saints to win it... Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to win the division
“the easiest one is... is the AFC East. I'm going Bills, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“I went Seattle second, Rams first... Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Playoff Picks14 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
New York Giants to make the playoffs
“The Giants are a good wildcard team... Giants are a new playoff team, obviously.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“So my playoff picture, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs
“the playoff teams in the NFC look like this. Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division. Seahawks, Bears are great wildcard teams. The Giants are a good wildcard team.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“the Ravens and the Bengals are both going to make the playoffs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs
“Eagles, Lions, Saints, and Rams win the division.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Raiders will be a very fun fourth place team. Even more fun when Fernando Mendoza starts.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Courtland Sutton to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Cortland Sutton will be one of the best number two receivers in the league.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Conference Champions1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Courtland Sutton, Los Angeles Rams
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.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
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.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Minnesota Vikings · Miss 0
Eisen 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 Eisen · Playoff Picks · Carolina Panthers · 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.Chris Brockman · Playoff Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Brockman 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 their shot that the Chargers beat Denver in Week 18. They 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 Eisen · Playoff Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Eisen 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.