AFC Championship Prediction

AFC – Conference Championship Prediction

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

How they got here:
- Both the Ravens & the Patriots won their respective divisions. The Ravens however had tough competition on their way towards the AFC North Championship. Baltimore had to fight with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and to a length also the Cleveland Browns, who actually had a better record than New England’s main opponent, The New York Jets. The Ravens had 12 wins and 4 losses – they had the exact same overall record as the Steelers. You can say that their Playoffs began much much earlier than for a lot of other teams in the NFL, seeing as they had to fight every week for the top position in the AFC North. Then it’s time for the Patriots. As mentioned earlier, their main opponent in the Regular Season was the New York Jets. However, remember that both the Browns & the Steelers had a better record – and therefore the Patriots had a much easier way to the Playoffs than the Ravens. But, as we know both of these teams won their respective divisions. Also, both teams entered in the Divisional Round. The Patriots faced the lucky Denver Broncos, led by the famous running Quarterback Tim Tebow. Now in my opinion both Tebow and the entire Bronco-offense is overrated, and that definitely proved to be the case when they faced the AFC East winners. The Patriots proved their offensive might when they rewrote the offensive Playoff-record books with Brady’s arm & Rob Gronkowski’s hands. They ended up winning 45-10 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In a sense both the Ravens & the Patriots where lucky, seeing as they both met either an injured team or an unbelievably lucky team. The Ravens met the injured team, the Playoff-debutants the Houston Texans. When looking at the Texans, it was obvious that they were injured severely! Just look at the Quarterback position – they started a rookie 5^th round pick, T.J. Yates. Sure, he’s actually done fine – but he replaced the very very good Quarterback Matt Schaub & Matt Leinart. They relied heavily on their running-game and their defence. Bears-football. The Texans did their best, but, eventually they lost 20-13 at the M&T Bank Stadium. So now the Ravens face the Patriots in Foxborough to fight for the AFC Championship and the AFC Super Bowl-spot. 

Ravens experience:
- This is their 8^th appearance in the Playoffs for the Ravens. They won the AFC Championship & the Super Bowl in the 2000-season. However, there are a lot of new faces on the team. But, remember – the Ravens have been to the Playoffs every year since the 2008-season, all of which has been with Joe Flacco as their Quarterback.

Patriots experience:
- This is their 19^th appearance in the Playoffs for the Patriots. They’ve won the AFC Championship 6 times, and the Super Bowl 3 times – all these Super Bowl wins have been with their current Quarterback Tom Brady.

Offense:
- The Patriots offense is record breaking! I’ve already mentioned Brady & Gronkowski, and they are simply magnificent this season! Their per game average point total is the 3^rd highest in the NFL, their yard average at 2^nd highest, their passing yards 2^nd highest – however, their running yards average is ranked 20^th in the NFL. An amazing offense! However, their opponent has a very average offensive output. Flacco doesn’t do much, and Rice hasn’t been amazing throughout the season, therefore both of these will have to play good in order for the Ravens to pull out a win!

Defence:
- The Patriots allow the second most yards per game in the NFL – that is all I need to say. Their defence is not good enough. They rely on their offense! The Ravens D is much much better than their defence… With names like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs & Ed Reed they have a very good shot on defence. Their defence allow the 3^rd lowest amount of yards and points in the NFL!

Special Teams:
- I’d rank the Patriots as the 19^th best Kick Return-team, and the Ravens as the 14^th best. Both teams have very good kickers and punters.

Who will win?:
- This is tough… I’d love to see the Harbaugh-Harbaugh II in the Super Bowl, however, I believe that Flacco will not be capable of providing the Ravens with a good enough passing offense, and that will ultimately end up being the reason they lose the AFC Championship Game… The Patriots aren’t good defensively, but, they are scary offensively! Brady, Belichick & Gronkowski will go to the Super Bowl!

Prediction for the AFC Championship Game:
- New England Patriots.

- I’m Jeffrey Rex!

Divisional Playoff Predictions!

Playoff Wildcard Predictions!

Last regular-season predictions

Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen's New Year's Speech: "Goodbye 2011"

Hello,

2011 is a year that marked a lot of things, some more important than others. It was a year that changed me into someone with clearer goals for the future. It was a good year!

In sport a lot of fans were terrified. Why? Well, two very important leagues could have been cancelled this year. I am of course speaking of the NFL & NBA-discussions. Thankfully, it’s all settled for now. And another year in sports has been terrific, not really for the teams I love – but in general. Next up are topics that, at times, will be kind of sad. Politics and the likes.

I believe in a lot of things. Things that, thankfully, had a big impact on the year that is now over. This was also the year for an election in Denmark – an election that was supposed to be my first election, I was gonna cast my first vote ever! However, the ex-Danish Minister of State Lars Løkke Rasmussen chose to have the election only 15 days before my 18^th Birthday, and therefore I couldn’t vote this year – a huge disappointment.

Even though I didn’t get to vote I was happy when the voting began. Every election in Europe is a symbol of how Democracy has won. Later that evening, however, I wasn’t that glad – Why? Well, the thing is that the Party I’d have voted for did not ’win’ the election – they are no longer a part of our Government. Instead the current leading Party is the Socialdemocrats – a Party that holds the second highest number of seats in the so-callled Folketing. My Party did not win, but, thankfully Democracy won!

Actually, I’d like to dedicate this year to Democracy. For example we saw Southern Sudan vote for Independence – a power we all must give them. Even though 2011 is the year of Democracy, it’s also a year full of Dictatorship and horrors. The name Gaddafi was unfortunately mentioned a number of times, but we were reminded of a certain horror in the beginning of September – thankfully, however, balance has been brought to the situation. 10 years after 9/11 we could look back and hope for a brighter future, one where Terrorism wasn’t gonna be in high gear. The American Army had a huge win in the battle against Terrorism however – the death of Osama Bin Laden came in 2011. And even though a death is never good, balance is needed and sorrow must be cast aside.

In Europe we have the European Union, a community that certainly is being tested, perhaps being split up. I’ve always believed in the European Union, and the ideas that Sir Winston Churchill, among others, once presented – and it hurts to see those ideas being tested the way they are. But it is natural, and it must happen. Every huge community and union must be tested at some point or another. I remember reading of the failed League of Nations and how its replacement came to life. I believe that we somehow must either resurrect the European Union and its ideas completely, or start over – and build a new Union, based on the newfound ideas, treasures and knowledge.

Denmark will now have the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an honour that we must take serious. This is our chance to do what is right, and to show the rest of Europe that even a small country, such as Denmark, can take charge and do what is right! We must build the foundation for the future of this United Europe. 

I, myself, dream of one day being a big part of this Union – that is a dream I have, but first off I need to be educated at Universities. My stay at ’Odsherreds Gymnasium’ is almost over, and though I am sad that I must leave my friends and classmates for other cities, I am happy to know that the future shines bright as a beacon of light through the street that we all must cross.

I thank my friends, and I thank my family for a good year – and I wish, I dream that the next will be as good for us all; if not better. I couldn’t have made it through this year without people like my sister, and my friends Sidney, Jeppe, Mathias & Martin – that is a fact. Thank you, I appreciate it.

So, that was it – and now a new year is upon us. 2012. A year that, according to Chaos Theorists, will lead to our doom. I don’t know if I am to laugh or cry – but let’s just see what happens.

Thank you all.

Happy New Year!

- Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.

Another week of picks!

Predictions Dec 16-20

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Another week

With Dragon Dictate: Today's QB's

It is tough to understand, how tough it is to cope with reality  in sports. Especially in football. In the NFL players like Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Tom Brady and the amazing, multi talented, running and throwing quarterback Cam Newton are always treated differently than offensive linemen, why? Well the answer is simple, as an offensive lineman the leading role is not thrust upon you. You expect every quarterback to be a leader, a leader like Peyton Manning. But that isn't always the case, sometimes players like Ryan Leaf surface. Players that don't understand the game, players that don't fit in and players that are just too juvenile. This is unfortunate, for in the 21st century you are expected to act a certain way. Reality is twisted, or well, it is to them. This reality doesn't fit with their normal life, or what they expected it to be. Every quarterback must be a leader, or else he doesn't belong as the 1st stringer. That is how the NFL works today. Look at Mark Sanchez, does he belong? Because when you look at him, well, he doesn't call the shots. Their center does. We will see what happens, in the coming weeks. Will he thrive, or will he stumble? The same can be asked, when speaking of Tim Tebow and especially, Blaine Gabbert!

Thank you very much,

I'm Jeffrey Rex!

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