Frey's NFL Picks Week 16: Throwing in the Towel

Good morning my friends!

For reasons outside my control I was unable to get my picks posted last week before kickoff.  Be assured that I was going to go 4-0 but since I cannot prove it we’ll just move on.

Picking games at the end of the year is less about numbers and matchups than it is about situation and heart.

Half of the teams in the league no longer have anything for which to play, which makes it a bit tougher to determine the nature of the outcome.

 When making picks involving teams whose players are already planning trips to Vegas or island golf courses, it becomes less a matter of talent and more a matter of will.

3 of the 4 games this week involve teams that look to have totally packed it in.  

I’m picking against all of them.

This is what happens when teams quit.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns (-6 ½)

I believe we can finally bid adieu to the Marvin Lewis regime after 16 years and no playoff wins.

Only 5 franchises have a playoff victory draught as long as Lewis has been coaching the Bengals.

This doesn't help either.....

This isn’t the NBA or MLB where such ineptitude is commonplace and expected.  If a team goes more than 10 years without a playoff victory it is a sign of almost criminal ineptitude.

Lame duck coach.  Road game against a motivated division foe.  Inept franchise.

This is the trifecta of despair.

I cannot believe I’m saying this, but take the Browns and feel good about it.

Houston Texans @ Philadelphia Eagles (-½)

Both teams sorely need this game but only one of them doesn’t get their quarterback slaughtered on a weekly basis.

The Texans have surrender 55 sacks this year and it looks like this beating is finally starting to take its toll on their collective psyche.

If Deshaun Watson leaves this game under his own power, it will be a huge victory for Houston but it is the only victory they are likely to enjoy this day.

Expect to see this happen 6 times today

Take the champs at home.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins (-3)

I’m going to put as much effort into this pick as the Jaguars do each week.

Minnesota Vikings (-5 ½) @ Detroit Lions

It seems strange to me that a team in desperate need of win, who is accustomed to playing in a dome, and whose opponent seems to harbor immense dislike for their head coach (keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts) is only a 5 ½ point favorite.

An old favorite but never more true than this year.

I’m taking the Norsemen here.

Week 14:  2-2

2018 Record: 29-26-1

Trap Game Record: 8-6

Trap Game Record: 8-6