PickSix 12.11.08

Ode to America's Trainwreck
by Vince Darcangelo

Dear Cowboys,

Hope you are enjoying your annual holiday tradition of imploding when the season is on the line. It was a real treat watching the T.O. show on the sidelines, berating no less than coach Ray Sherman -- perhaps the worst offensive coordinator in Steelers' history. I guess that's what you'd call a two-fer. The ensuing late-week turmoil -- earning America's Team the new nickname, America's Trainwreck -- is just the star on top of the tree -- no pun intended.


The only thing more enjoyable than viewing this annual meltdown is knowing that our Steelers sent you into this tailspin. James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and Deshea Townsend enjoyed that very much.

Oh, and T.O., Ike Taylor held you to three catches on Sunday. Considering two balls thrown your way were picked off means that you had a 3:2 reception-to-interception ratio last weekend. Ike wanted us to pass on a one-word message to you: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"


The last time the Cowboys beat Pittsburgh it was 1997. Clinton was in the first half of a second term. Deion Sanders was still on your team and still relevant. The Houston Texans didn't exist. Neither did the Browns, for that matter, except on paper. The Titans were still called the Oilers. And nobody would have guessed then that you wouldn't win another playoff game for at least another 12 seasons. At least!

Alas, as fun as it was, barring some miraculous late-season surge, or sudden rise beyond mediocrity in the next three years, your only chance at getting another shot at Pittsburgh won't be until 2012. T.O. will likely be destroying the Raiders (if it's even possible to make things worse there). Pacman will likely be doing 10-20. And Romo will be a trivia question on VH1's "I Love the '00s."

So, good luck with the Giants on Sunday. You're going to need it.

Sincerely,

The P-6


Alright, with our letter-writing out of the way, the P-6 is going to jump ahead to this week's Six Pack. After going 5-1 last week (stupid Detroit!), our season record has improved to 40-26, and that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, we like it. This week, coming down the home stretch, we're looking at games with postseason implications.

Six Pack

Buffalo vs. N.Y. Jets
Only one of these teams actually plays in New York. Here's a hint: It's not the winning team.
P-6 picks: N.Y. Jets

Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta
Don't buy into the Bucs. This team is more untrustworthy than the Broncos.
P-6 picks: Atlanta

Minnesota vs. Arizona
Congrats to the Cards.
P-6 picks: Arizona

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore
A bloodbath? Yes. But only for the Poes, quoth the P-6.
P-6 picks: Pittsburgh

Denver vs. Carolina
The Broncos should be wary of Carolina's newest tactic, copyright infringement.
P-6 picks: Carolina

N.Y. Giants vs. Dallas
Let the circus begin!
P-6 picks: N.Y. Giants