Just got off the phone with Ira Miller, the dean of NFL writers. I'd also like to write he's my friend, but one reader of the Zohn said I shouldn't write he's my friend. So I'm not writing it. Ira took a few minutes to dope out this weekend's playoff games.
Baltimore at Tennessee: I pick the Ravens. The teams played in October and Baltimore had a lead into the fourth quarter. I think Baltimore's defense will play too well for Tennessee and I don't trust Kerry Collins to win against that defense.
Arizona at Carolina: The only game I think will be blowout. Arizona is 0-5 in the Eastern time zone and allowed an average of more then 40 points in those games. They just happen to play in that dreadful division and that's how they got into the playoffs.
Eagles at Giants: I'm going with the Eagles. It's a gut feeling. They split two during the season. The Eagles finally discovered it's legal to run the ball. The Eagles defense will be able to shut the Giants down. The Giants don't have a real good passing threat since the guy shot himself. Philly wins a low-scoring game.
San Diego at Pittsburgh: I'm picking San Diego. By all rights Pittsburgh should win because their defense is so much better and San Diego probably won't have LaDainian Tomlinson. But there's something about this Pittsburgh team I don't like. The offensive line doesn't protect the quarterback well and he's been hurt and Philip Rivers has had a great year. I might add I'm picking three visiting teams to win and that's never happened since they started setting up home-field advantage based on the regular-season records. But that's what I'm doing.
I am glad your consistent. Unfortunately no one cares.
You are like a car wreck, you slow down to see if you were the guy who crashed who was weeving in and out of traffic, cetainly one would smirk if it is you that engaged the pole....It is important to be informed, and while a lot of the half wits think people read you for entertainment, I read you to keep up with the hypocritical commentaries you barf out onto print and blogs, it is akin to keeping up with bush and his cronies, most are simply not aware of the criminality of him and his group and of course the rubber stamping fellow democrsts. Memo- don't flatter yourself- I read you with contempt.
Thanks for being a loyal and faithful reader of the Zohn. We need every page view we can get, and you are one of our best mainstays.
Lowell, all year I haven't been able to find a direct link to Ira's stuff. I sometimes come across it doing Google searches a week or two after he's written it. He shouldn't be lost on the internet. Tell him to get a decent, consistent URL so his fans can link to it.
Bob --
Ira here. I share your pain. I would like to make it easy for readers to find me, and I have asked that Comcast do what you suggest. Meanwhile, about all I can suggest is to google "Ira Miller 5 burning questions," and that should take you to it. Thanks for reading.
while thank you lowell, how very witty and engaging, you really caught me off guard and I am just suprised you responded here and not at the jerry mcdonald smack he layed on you about your raider waaaahhhh story and not being on their email list! Anyways, I can only accept this award if you always call me your friend and talk about me publically wherever you go. A example? next week, witout prompting, bring my name up here as a beacon of insight and intellect and call me your friend jonny! At that time I can feel just like matty and timmy!
Hey Lowell and Ira: Obviously it doesn't count because I didn't say it beforehand but the Cardinals aren't that bad. So I didn't see them being blown out today. But I sure didn't think they win like they did either.