Joe Piel Archives - ScoreBoredSports

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 16

Published on : December 24, 2015

Sweet week 16. I’m still in 3rd place with a shot to overtake Antoine. A bunch of jerks behind me. Unless Ryan is unable to get to a computer then the prize is his. Unrelated, would anyone be interested in stealing a computer for me? I’ll pay. The winner of this year’s Staff Picks will receive a pretty dope trophy. Trust me, you want it. This trophy will rotate year to year with the champion. Who knows, maybe even YOU can hoist it. Write us something, join the staff and win next year!

I had a solid week with a 13-3 record. Only Roger and Joe (both 14-2) did better. Overall we killed it. It’s almost like we are getting better at this as the year goes on. Wild. I’m going with a few road dogs hoping to keep last week’s trend rolling. I think Washington has a solid shot at Philly. I’ll take Pats, Panthers, Texans, Bears and Steelers. All on the road. I have the Cards at home over the Packers. If AZ can run the ball like the did last Sunday then they should cruise but this is the time of year Rodgers likes to go off. So keep an eye on this one. GB wins big here and they march into the playoffs with some real energy. I’d hate that.

Can the Panthers stay undefeated? I’m not betting against them. Even in a divisional game. I see Cam Newton dancing (dabbing?) into more end zones but is coach Ron Rivera going to sit him at some point? To preserve him for the postseason. I mean, he is a running QB. One good hit and that team is in serious trouble. Winning the Super Bowl is more important than going 16-0. But they have the first round bye locked up. And if he sits too long then that may ruin the offensive rhythm. So I don’t even know what the right call is. Either way, they beat Atlanta.

I hope to god I don’t finish in 3rd so people stop calling me “Bronze Medal Bitch Bruno.” Here are your picks—

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 15

Written by : Alex Jag

Published on : December 17, 2015

Here we sit on the precipice of week 15. The ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks are almost done for the season and what a fun ride it has been. At least for Ryan and Antoine, who are the only ones who have had a legit shot at the title since the beginning of the year. With 3 weeks of picks left, it’s not likely that Ryan is going to be unseated from the top spot. I suppose he could have a couple of bad weeks and I could miraculously catch up, but this guy just seems to know how to pick winners. He’s a madman who can’t be stopped, and he should probably start gambling on sports.

But we can talk about Ryan’s future gambling addiction some other time, right now let’s look at this exciting slate of games. Actually the only game that really looks exciting to me is Panthers at Giants. Mostly because these last fews Panthers games are going to be really suspenseful as they try to go undefeated, but also because it seems like the Giants are finally starting to put it together. Some of that bad luck has turned into late season good luck with that win over the Dolphins last week and they sit in a 3-way tie for the top spot in the abysmal NFC East.

There’s also a bunch of garbage matchups, either between good teams who will crush their bad opponents ( Titans @ Patriots, Browns @ Seahawks), or between two bad teams ( Dolphins @ Chargers, Lions @ Saints.) Either way, those will all be hard games to watch, but we’ll watch ’em anyways, because it’s football. And we love football!

On to the picks…..

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 14

Written by : Sandy Danto

Published on : December 10, 2015

Hi, I’m Sandy, but no, I’m not a female. However, I am the staff writer that follows the NFL the least avidly despite working at NFL Red Zone last season (HINT: there’s a reason they wouldn’t have me back this year….).

So, it’s Week 14 and I couldn’t be happier that it’s almost the postseason for a litany of reasons. What makes me the happiest about entering the third trimester of the 2015-16 NFL season’s pregnancy is that SportsCenter will soon reach that sweet spot of the year in February where they’re basically only showing NBA highlights, and in my world NBA reigns supreme. The next best reason to be happy the regular season is almost over: Super Bowl parties. I do kind of love football, but my favorite part of football is easily the eating that goes along with it. Plus, playoff games are way better in general, but also because my team, the Detroit Lions, won’t be able to break my heart and open my mind to the possibility of NFL conspiracy theories against The D. Their season will simply be over. Football in the snow is cool too.

Granted I’m the least knowledgable writer for SBS regarding football, I’ve done pretty well predicting winners this season. As for this week, I predict the NFL to beat the film Concussion on account of Will Smith trying out a weird accent. When Will Smith is kicking ass in action movies, we all win. The Lions might lose the rest of their games, or least the ones they should win, but the NFL will always be undefeated against concussions, but will the Panthers?

Here are the ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks for Week 14:

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 13

Written by : Roger Pretzel

Published on : December 3, 2015

As we head back to the grind after a holiday weekend, the clearing smoke shows that Bryce had a massive week and that Ryan and Antoine remain monsters. I managed to have my best week yet, inching up ever so slightly above last place.

This week I’m going to focus on my favorite topic: Me. Why am I so bad at this? I’d say I follow the NFL much closer than your average bear, and I’d like to think I’m reasonably intelligent, somewhat articulate, bearable to be around, and potentially attractive to the opposite sex in very low-light situations. I think for me it comes down to historical biases, as opposed to emotional ones. Even without Romo, the Cowboys gotta win one or two, right? Wrong. These second year quarterbacks are on a jag that’s gonna last forever, right? Wrong. The Seahawks are damn near a dynasty by now, right? Wrong.

Much like fashion, a chameleon’s ass, and your favorite String Cheese Incident poster after you’ve dropped acid, the individual wins and short term trends of any season are ever changing and fluctuating, even if we tend to focus on the established records of perennially winning teams when it’s over. I for one, am going to try and read those tea leaves with a closer focus on the immediate now as opposed to the macro picture, and may very well allow myself one emotional bias. The Lions are at least gonna be a contender in the NFC North, right? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Here are your staff picks for week 13:

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 12

Written by : Michael Avalos

Published on : November 25, 2015

Thursday is Thanksgiving, the holiday that football owns the same way that Bill Murray owns Groundhog Day. It’s inescapable. If you’re not watching it on TV or playing it in the front yard, then you’re probably hiding in the kitchen filling up on hors d’oeuvres and making small talk with your boring cousin. Good luck with that. I’ll see you at halftime.

Meanwhile, these ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks remains a tight race. Ryan and Antoine still lead the pack. I find myself squarely in the middle — ten points away from both highest and lowest record. Oh, and Alex and Mike both have the same stats (95-65). Not bad? Not good enough. All it takes it one good/bad week to change everything.

I’m not much for trash talk, so I’m going the opposite route this week — passive aggressive kindness. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, SBS staffers, and good luck with this week’s picks. Don’t choke.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 11

Written by : Alex Jag

Published on : November 19, 2015

Hello out there everyone,

It’s been since week 1 that I’ve written the intro to these ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks, and what a rollercoaster of a ride it has been. I spent the first few weeks in the basement of the standings but since then, I’ve really turned things around. I’ve had a 1st or 2nd place record for the past 4 weeks and I’m clawing my way back to relevance. Sure, I’m still 11 correct picks behind Antoine and Ryan but if they have just a couple more stinkers like last week then I’ll be right in the thick of it. I think I can, I think I can…

There are a few interesting trends in the way the SBS Staff picked this week’s slate of games. For instance, the Jaguars are the consensus winner over the Titans, as if the Jags are some sort of standard of excellence nowadays (or maybe the Titans are just THAT bad). Also, the Lions seems to have restored faith amongst quite a few of us here and as a lifelong Lions fan, that is the perfect time for them to let everyone down. Besides that, everyone is picking the Patriots and Panthers to win their respective games and remain the last two undefeated teams. How great would it be for both of them to lose? Anyways let’s get to the picks.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 10

Written by : Patrick Harrell

Published on : November 12, 2015

Looking at my record, one could ask “Why is this guy qualified to even talk football?” My record with the staff picks is over .500 and if I had not been loyal to the Detroit Lions for several weeks, I could easily add 7 wins to my total. So please blame my unwavering loyalty to the worst team in football for my current standing.

THE GREAT NEWS is that we have half a season yet to play. I anticipate scoring an easy 8 wins by picking against the Detroit Lions. Such a move will leapfrog me over a few of my avid Lion fan staff mates. We need Ryan to have a personal bye for 6 weeks for any of us to truly catch up. In the meantime, I’ll play it week by week. As Ricky Bobby’s dad ‘Reece’ said in the movie Talledega Nights “if you ain’t first, you’re last.” Then after getting kicked out of Applebees, he reminded us that you can indeed be second, third, heck you can even be fourth. I just want a chance at second place. That’s not too much to ask, right?

I hope you all are ready for this PERFECT week I’m about to lay down. Here are the staff picks for week 10 and I’ll see you all at the finish line.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 9

Written by : Bruno Tysh

Published on : November 4, 2015

Half the year is in the books. We have some clear frontrunners but there is still lots of time for folks to catch up.

Yours truly is solidly in third place, like I’ve been for weeks. I just can’t seem to catch either Antoine or Ryan. And to make matters worse, I got Sandy and Michael nipping at my heels. I guess the old rhythm is true:

“first is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the hairy chest.”

I do have a hairy chest, I just wish I was the best (at something other than being hairy). And to all my Detroit brothers on the staff: stop picking the Lions to win! I love them but they stink. Picks are supposed to be teams you THINK will win, not HOPE will win. I stopped going with my heart after their second loss. I suggest you all do the same. The Lions are on bye this week so that means brunch with my lady and a Sunday free of crying in front of the TV. That’s a win in my book.

In other news, I will not be running for President because I am not old enough and I’m still hoping my NFL career takes off. Also, invest in Bitcoins and be sure to brine your turkey for at least six hours before you put it in the oven. Here are your NFL Staff Picks for week 9:

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 8

Written by : Treasure Gutierrez

Published on : October 28, 2015

I may be the only football illiterate person on the staff. My wisdom for the weekly NFL Staff Picks is based on which place I’d rather live in, and random tidbits I pick up by listening to announcers.

Recently, I heard football spectators commenting on the Seahawks. They argued that they are not offensively ready to go on a winning streak following the royal beating they gave to the 49ers last week. My pick for the Seahawks was justified by Pete Carroll’s trajectory in USC football’s glory years. Trojans stick by each other, which is why I was rooting for him, not the team.

Anyway, I was struck by a comment in an email from Alex; “football is stupid.” While making my choices for the week 8 picks, certain thoughts came to mind: I barely watch NFL games, but my picks are doing alright; average at worst and better than I expected. Considering my success in making picks for the first time ever, I’ll wait to till the end of the season to confirm or deny if football is stupid.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 7

Written by : Bryce Richardson

Published on : October 21, 2015

We’re almost to the halfway point of the season. My Vikes so far have a winning record and I’m hoping we’re going to keep it that way, much to the dismay of most of the rest of the ScoreBored writers who are all dirty, dirty Lions fans.

So here are our staff picks for this week. A couple of interesting notes: Bills/Jags is on at 6:30AM Pacific because it is being held in London, so that’s weird, I guess I just get to start day-drinking REALLY early on Sunday. Also my adoptive city’s Raiders are coming off a bye into a game against their Cali rivals the Chargers who came so damn close to beating the Packers, so that’ll probably be an interesting matchup, too.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 5

Written by : Nick Skardarasy

Published on : October 7, 2015

Well guys, week 4 has come and gone and we find ourselves staring week 5 picks in the eyes. Who will win? Who will lose? Who will be absolutely cheated out of a potential victory by the refs, once again, forgetting to make the right call at the right time? Sorry, that last one got away from me. I’m a Lions fan. I pick them every week. And even though I knew that I would probably have another loss in the column, last night was a tough one to take.

But no more of my sadness! Let’s celebrate the top selections this week! Special shout outs to Ryan, Patrick, and Treasure. At this point, Ryan looks completely in the driver’s seat and it will take a miracle to unseat him. You know, like a miracle final drive at the end of a game when your offense finally comes alive only to have it taken away after your star WR fumbles the ball less than a foot away from pay dirt? Wow, sorry. I can’t believe that happened again. See you guys next week! I’ll pick the Lions again. Count on it.

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 3

Written by : Bruno Tysh

Published on : September 23, 2015

Well that was one hell of a week. I did awful (5-11). The worst on the staff. That isn’t saying too much because only Treasure had a winning record (9-7). Let’s move on and not talk about it. Antoine pulled ahead and has solo control of first place. ***golf clap*** But screw him. I hope his crown is so heavy that his neck cramps.

Looking at the picks for week 3 we see some fun trends. Seems like we all think the Patriots and the Seahawks are going to win. But I put that too and apparently I suck at this, so we may all be wrong. Who knows? Don’t bet the farm. Wait, who owns a farm. Can I come by? See how the sausage is made? My big takeaway from week 2 is the Jets look legit. They owned a Colts team many had in or winning the Super Bowl. Also what are the Cowboys going to look like without Romo or Dez? So many questions? So much football. Hold tight, here comes the business!

Here are your staff picks for week 3:

Week 1

Week 2

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 2

Written by : Michael Avalos

Published on : September 17, 2015

Making picks for week one of the football season was really tough. It reminded me a lot of the first day of high school as a sophomore: sure, everybody remembers what happened last year, but that’s okay because this year’s first impression is all that really matters… as long as you don’t cry during a lecture, puke at your desk or get those weird sneezing fits again. But enough about me…

The SBS team did pretty well last week. Shout out to my fellow writers Antoine and Bryce for both getting first place with a 12-4 record. And a big Pie In The Face to Alex, from all us “clowns” who are going to have worse records than you this year. Help me out, what’s 5-11? Oh that’s right… last place.

Here are your ScoreBoredSports NFL staff picks for week 2:

Week 1

ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks: Week 1

Written by : Alex Jag

Published on : September 7, 2015

Welcome to week 1 of the ScoreBoredSports NFL Staff Picks, the game where we try to figure out who is going to win each matchup. We thought this would be a fun way to spend the NFL season and prove our individual knowledge of the game. Obviously, I’ll have the best record at the end of the season, but I figured I would let these other clowns in on the fun too. Some of us are less knowledgable when it comes to the NFL (Treasure) and some of us think we have it all figured out (Mike), but either way we’ll probably all find out that we don’t really know shit about football.

There are some picks that seem to be a general consensus among the writers here at SBS, including the Packers over the Bears on the road in Chicago. Not a single person picked the lowly Bears, and I think the feeling around the office is that they could be one of the worst teams in football this year. Some other locks to win this week are the Bengals, the Dolphins and the Colts. I tend to agree with these picks as well, but as we know anything can happen out there on the field.

So check out these picks, comment to let us know if you agree or disagree and be sure to check back every week this season to see our picks.

-Alex