Gather ’round, boys and girls, as we prepare to welcome in another week of football — and not just any old week of football, but Thanksgiving football! John Breech is busy getting a head start with the turkey prep, so you’ve got me, Cody Benjamin, here to take you through all the latest from around the NFL. But first, let me wish you and yours a warm and happy holiday. Cherish what friends and family you have by your side this season, and enjoy that dinner!
Now, on to business … This is the Pick Six Newsletter. Let’s get to it. (And please, do yourself a favor and make sure you’re signed up to receive this newsletter every day! You don’t want to miss our daily offerings of everything you need to know around the NFL.)
We’ve got Week 12 predictions, 2022 draft forecasts, playoff projections and much more:
- Today’s show: Scouting the top 2022 draft prospects
Brady Quinn joined Ryan Wilson on Wednesday’s “Pick Six NFL Podcast” to give an early assessment of top 2022 draft prospects. Their discussion included prospect evaluations for almost every position, but some of the juiciest nuggets involved the QBs:
- Brady likes Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett more than any QB in the class, comparing his style to a young Ben Roethlisberger
- North Carolina’s Sam Howell “doesn’t do it” for Ryan, who thinks the Tar Heels product needs to clean up his footwork
- Both guys think Liberty’s Malik Willis has intriguing physical tools but will need to sit and learn like Trey Lance
- Brady thinks Ole Miss’s Matt Corral is probably the No. 2 QB prospect behind Pickett
Catch the entire discussion (and subscribe for all kinds of daily NFL talk) right here.
2. Prisco’s picks: Packers edge Rams, Giants stun Eagles
Papa Prisco is back with predictions for every single Week 12 game. Here are some of his most notable calls:
- Giants 23, Eagles 20: The Eagles are riding high, while the Giants are playing on a short week after a terrible showing against the Bucs Monday night. So why do I like the Giants? I just think they will respond after a poor performance to play better on both sides of the ball. They will limit the Eagles’ run game, which has keyed them playing better.
- Bengals 28, Steelers 21: This is an enormous division game for these two. The Steelers have some defensive injuries, which will be in play here. The Bengals impressed coming off their bye last week and I think the momentum will carry over. The Bengals will win it as Joe Burrow has a big game.
- Packers 31, Rams 24: This is the game of the week, featuring two of the best teams in the league. The Rams are coming off a bye and they get the Packers at a good time as they deal with a bunch of impactful injuries. But I think being back home after losing at Minnesota will be a big boost for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers wins it.
3. Insider notes: Brady vs. Belichick Super Bowl could happen
CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora doesn’t just respect the Buccaneers and Patriots climbing the standings. He also envisions a scenario where the two teams meet down the road … in Super Bowl LVI.
With the way these teams are playing, and how they’re constructed, and with there being no apparent super teams in 2021, is this really that far-fetched of a notion? They are balanced between offense and defense, have championship-pedigree coaching staffs, strong offensive lines. Yeah, both have some warts as well – a rookie QB in the playoffs; issues with the Bucs’ age and secondary – and injuries could obviously throw things asunder, but the Bucs righted some things Monday night against the Giants and the Patriots are playing the best ball in the AFC right now, one could argue.
Can you even begin to consider what the night before this game would be like for Tom Brady or Bill Belichick? Knowing that you could lose the chalice to the other guy, still so soon after the divorce became final, would have to drive these two maniacally competitive gentleman absolutely batty. Having to watch the other one hoist the very trophy they have dedicated their adult lives to chasing?
It’s too delicious. Too surreal.
4. Playoff picture: Projected postseason chances for all 32 teams
Lots of teams are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, but which ones will actually finish with a ticket to the postseason? John Breech turned to SportsLine number-cruncher Stephen Oh to simulate the rest of the 2021 season and forecast the bracket. Here’s how current simulations have the standings playing out:
AFC:
Top teams out: Bengals, Steelers, Browns
NFC:
Top teams out: Eagles, Saints, Panthers
5. QB Power Rankings: Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert on the rise
Every week, we rank all 32 starting QBs from first to worst. This week saw some big risers — Hurts, Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa among them — and some who slid considerably, from Josh Allen to Matt Ryan. Here’s our latest top 10:
- Tom Brady
- Aaron Rodgers
- Patrick Mahomes
- Lamar Jackson (+1)
- Justin Herbert (+5)
- Kyler Murray (-2)
- Dak Prescott (-1)
- Russell Wilson (-1)
- Matthew Stafford
- Josh Allen (-2)
6. Rapid-fire roundup: Top Thanksgiving moments, Super Bowl odds
Hungry for more NFL headlines? Feast on these:
- Giants fire Jason Garrett: New York swaps offensive coordinators just a day after falling to 3-7
- Top 10 NFL Thanksgiving Day moments: Resident historian Bryan DeArdo reflects on great Turkey Day action
- Buccaneers are clear Super Bowl favorites: The Chiefs, Bills and Rams are right behind them
- Lions likely to start Jared Goff on Thanksgiving: The QB is coming off an oblique injury
- Andy Dalton will start vs. Lions: Justin Fields is out for Thanksgiving with an injury
- Zach Wilson will return for Jets in Week 12: This comes after a four-game absence
