Frey's NFL Picks of the Week: Week 16

Under normal circumstances, I might be tempted to spend this week's blog intro celebrating Dallas' continued misfortune.

Perhaps I would then meander into the always interesting topic of my extreme competence when it involves prognostication.

Undoubtedly, I would finish up by complaining bitterly about the Broncos' Offensive Coaching staff and their inability to make any sort of meaningful adjustments either at half-time or as the game progresses.

Instead, I will speak about this Darkest of Days for one Peyton Manning.

As you may have heard, Al Jazeera is reporting that Manning is one of several athletes that took HGH in 2011 to overcome injuries.

The impeccable source (n pharmacy intern who may or may not have even worked at the institute in question) has since recanted his story publicly, claiming he was messing with the Al Jazeera "Undercover Reporter" who looked like he was simply trying to steal industry information and had no idea what he was talking about.

Bollocks I say.

If a single un-vetted source who isn't even a pharmacist and wasn't involved in anything whatsoever is good enough for a stand-up organization like Al Jazeera then it's good enough for me.

Al Jazeera's marketing team must consist entirely of baboons

Obviously a cover-up is in play here.

Now allow me to wind this up as I am engaged in other masterpieces of reporting by Al Jazeera such as "Holocaust Schmolocaust," "Why 13 Year Old Girls Love ISIS," and "Marijuana Linked to Sitting Around and Getting High."



Jacksonville Jaguars (+3 ½)  @ New Orleans Saints

I watched a QB with a torn planter fasciitis play for the first 8 weeks of the season.  I ain't picking another one to win a game and cover a spread even if his opponent is Jacksonville.

One team is sinking and the other rising.  The question is have they finally passed each other heading in the opposite direction?

Jags left.  Saints right.

Yes.  The answer is Yes.

New England Patriots (-1½)  @ New York Jets

This was very nearly my trap game of the week.

The Jets are not a bad squad by any means but do not pose the match-up problem for New England that they do for other teams.

I suspect that, as usual, Revis will shut down whichever receiver he is tasked with covering.

Whoopitdy-Do.

There is only one dude you need to shutdown who catches balls for the Patriots and his name ain't "LaFell" or "Amendola".

New England will not yet know if they have clinched home field for the playoffs given that Cincinnati and Denver don't play until Monday so they will probably just win this one and then rest their guys.

Cincinnati Bengals  @ Denver Broncos (-3)

It may be too early to say this, but I believe that both the starting QB and the O.C. are playing/coaching for a big contract and position on the staff respectively.

You cannot go 3 games without scoring in the second half of games and you cannot stare down your first read and then take a sack every time they are covered.

I think this is a major gut-check for Denver and from what I have seen from these guys this year, I believe they will come through.

That and they are playing a backup QB at home.

Take the Broncos here.

Houston Texans (-2½) @ Tennessee Titans

Tennessee, when healthy, is slightly better than rubbish.

When Zach Mettenberger gets the start for an injured Marcus Mariota, the Philadelphia 76ers and the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers can be heard stifling a chuckle.

Houston is playing for their playoff lives.

I like the Texans to win 5-0 or something like that.

This game is so trappy I am almost feel guilty writing about it.

Week 15 Record:  3-1

Season Record: 36-23-1

Trap Game Record: 8-7