Prisco’s Week 12 picks, plus latest NFL playoff projections and Aaron Rodgers fallout after Jets fire GM |Max Sporty|

Happy midweek, everyone! John Breech is out doing his best to encourage Bengals kicker Evan McPherson after a rough Week 11, so today’s Pick Six newsletter is brought to you by Cody Benjamin, with information on the latest from the NFL.

Be sure to subscribe here to make sure you never miss a daily dose of NFL updates. And keep reading for everything from big New York Jets updates to Pete Prisco’s Week 12 predictions:

1. Jets fire GM Joe Douglas: What’s next in New York

Disorder is the name of the game in East Rutherford, where the New York Jets said goodbye to general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, six weeks after suddenly firing coach Robert Saleh. Douglas was set to have his contract expire after the 2024 season, but team owner Woody Johnson pulled the plug early. The big move sets the stage for more questions about the Jets’ future. Such as, what’s next for Aaron Rodgers? It’s increasingly difficult to predict that the quarterback will stick around in 2025.

2. Aaron Rodgers legacy: Top 2025 landing spots

Speaking of the Jets’ embattled quarterback, the 40-year-old signal-caller is likely bound for pastures new in 2025. Unless, of course, Woody Johnson reverses course. his sudden demolition project and aims to build a new regime around the aging, ailing former MVP, who is only 25 in our. latest edition of QB Power Rankings. But where, exactly, could Rodgers end up if it’s not back in New York?

We have identified a few possible landing points:

• Las Vegas Raiders: There may not be a team more desperate for something — anything — at quarterback, and while the 2025 NFL Draft figures to be their number one priority to address the position, who’s to say they couldn’t double down? With more than a whopping $100 million in projected cap space, they also have the money to make big investments up front and out.
• Minnesota Vikings: Aside from the storybook parallels to Brett Favre, who also went from Packers legend to Jets and Vikings rental to close out his career, this one registers as sneakily believable. The Vikings would certainly prefer to re-sign current starter Sam Darnold, who has done quite well under Kevin O’Connell, but what if Darnold opts for a higher-paying gig in 2025 free agency, confidence restored, ready to leave the looming shadow of first-round pick JJ McCarthy?
• Tennessee Titans: With veteran skill weapons, including Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley, a solid defense, a highly winnable division, over $65 million in projected salary cap space and an offensively geared head coach in Brian Callahan, they could be one of the few teams with an apparent quarterback need and enough proven talent to lure Rodgers at that stage of his career.

3. Prisco’s Week 12 picks: Packers down 49ers

Pete Prisco went 11-3 making straight predictions in Week 11. Now he’s back with picks for every single Week 12 matchup. Here are some of his most notable projections:

• Packers 27, 49ers 20: The 49ers are reeling now. … The Packers still haven’t looked great on offense this season, but the 49ers haven’t been the same team period.
• Rams 28, Eagles 21: The Eagles righted their affairs from earlier in the year to take the NFC East. But this is a long trip against a good team that really can’t afford any more losses.
• Chargers 31, Ravens 26: The Ravens are playing back-to-back road games after losing a tough physical battle against the Steelers last week. …The Chargers beat the Bengals behind the play of the offense and I think that will carry over as they win the battle of the Harbaugh brothers.

4. Cowboys are buzzing: No Lance, but Deion coming soon?

Dallas is 3-7 on the season, dropping two straight without starting quarterback Dak Prescott. However, team owner Jerry Jones is not giving up on Cooper Rush, insisting to reporters this week that Rush gives the cowboys a better chance to win than fellow backup Trey Lance. Meanwhile, former Cowboys star Michael Irvin believes there is one scenario where fellow Dallas great Deion Sanders would “100%” leave Colorado for to coach the Cowboys in 2025: If the team drafts Sanders’ son, Shedeur, to play quarterback.

5. Playoff projections: Broncos, Packers on the rise

Every week, John Breech collects the latest simulation data from SportsLine to preview the entire 14-team playoff bracketidentifying the clubs most likely to make — or miss — the postseason. Here’s a look at some of the current wildcard contenders on their way to punching a ticket to the dance:

• Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens’ loss to Pittsburgh in Week 12 did some serious damage to their chances of winning the AFC North. Baltimore (7-4) might have to settle for being a wild-card team, and right now, if that happens, the computer projects it would have to travel to Pittsburgh for the opening round of the playoffs. Ravens vs. Steelers again?
  
• Denver Broncos: With their win over the Falcons in Week 11, the Broncos (6-5) took a huge step toward earning a wild card in the eyes of the computer. According to our projection, the Broncos have a 53.5% chance of winning the AFC’s final wild card slot, which is well ahead of any team behind them, including the Colts, Bengals and Dolphins.
• Green Bay Packers: The Packers have an 81.7% chance of making the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they’re locked in just yet. The 49ers are the first team out in our projection, but that could change dramatically on Sunday due to the fact that San Francisco and Green Bay play each other. If the 49ers win, the Packers will go from having a firm grip on seventh place to barely hanging on.

6. Ranking coaching jobs: Bears to be top spot?

Some NFL coaching jobs are already open, guaranteed to have a full offseason search. Others are only expected to open in the coming weeks and months. Regardless, Jordan Dajani has ordered the most likely vacancies by order of appeal, and he has a specific NFC North assignment above his ranking:

1. Chicago Bears: Entering 2024, many argued that no overall pick at quarterback had ever entered a more favorable situation than the one Chicago presented. The front office worked hard to build the defense, and then added a lot of weaponry on offense with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and D’Andre Swift. It’s clear that Caleb Williams has potential. Imagine being the offensive leader to bring this franchise back to prominence.
2. Dallas Cowboys: Whether they play well or perform poorly, being the coach of the Dallas Cowboys is arguably the best job in the NFL. From the facilities to the global attention you get, there is no other franchise that really compares. Plus, you have your QB1 and WR1 already in place, and Micah Parsons is likely the next paid one.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have their young quarterback under contract, which is a plus. But Trevor Lawrence clearly didn’t live up to that massive extension, and his last two seasons were derailed by injuries. Jacksonville has roughly double the cap space as the New York Jets head into next year, and could have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.