PickSix 1.3.09

Take it Outside
by Vince Darcangelo

Any football fan will tell you that January is the best of times and the worst of times. There’s a wealth of quality football on television — the Lions, Browns and Bengals are not on the guest list — but quantity is lacking. Gone are those wonderful Thursday, Sunday and Monday night games that made the week that much more bearable.

This thinning of football programming also reminds us that what Gary Zeidner refers to as the Dark Time is nigh.

But the P-6 is playing to the whistle, and this season isn’t over until we’re hoisting the Lombardi — or Pat Bowlen fires us.

Dome Theory

What’s wrong with the people of Arizona and Minnesota? These playoff-starved cities finally have a homecoming dance to attend, and their fans aren’t showing up! Risking possible (and unheard-of) television blackouts in the postseason!

We’re not too surprised, though, since both teams play in domes. The P-6 has long asserted that dome teams do not elicit much loyalty from their fans. Football is an outdoors, cold weather sport. This isn’t baseball, where the players run and hide in the dugout to keep their clothes dry when it starts to sprinkle. This is football. Bring on the mud, the fog, the snow, the rain. Blizzard? Even better. Hurricane? Ben Roethlisberger made his first start in a hurricane. No lie.

The best fans are those that root for cold weather teams in open-air stadia. Could you imagine cities like Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh going arena-style with its football stadia? Not a chance. There would be rioting in the streets. (Note that the cities listed above have been rightfully represented in more than a third of all Super Bowls.) Football towns love football weather, even in Cleveland where they don’t have much to cheer about, but dammit, they’re out there every week, shirtless, flashing signs, showing colors and tossing dog biscuits until the final gun.

As for Arizona and Minnesota (not to mention Detroit, which had to deal with blackouts earlier this year), even in good times you’re not supporting your team? Even with a comfort-control dome over your heads?

The P-6 says: Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! And may the dome teams get knocked out this weekend so that true football towns can enjoy that magical playoff snow that comes only once a year.

Six Pack

Like the Arizona Cardinals, the P-6 limped into the playoffs, going 2-4 in week 16, dropping our season record to 46-32. We like to think of ourselves as the Philly of prognostication, though. We’re about to get hot at the right time.

Atlanta vs. Arizona
Shame on you, Arizona. And shame on you too, Atlanta, for having a dome.
P-6 picks: Atlanta

Indianapolis vs. San Diego
We’re pulling for you, Chargers, but don’t see it happening.
P-6 picks: Indy

Baltimore vs. Miami
Be afraid of the Ravens, NFL. Be very afraid.
P-6 picks: Baltimore

Philadelphia vs. Minnesota
Here’s to Donny Mac tearing the lid off that joint.
P-6 picks: Philly