Ravens (13-6) vs. 49ers (13-4-1), 6:30 p.m. CBS
Note: Don't forget to vote in my poll on the side of the page ... Niners or Ravens, who ya got?
It all comes down to this. The Harbaugh brothers talk is over for the most part, though it will certainly be touched on during the game. The rise of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick from obscurity to star in a few short weeks has been a nice story, but it is time for him to produce. And did anyone know this was Ray Lewis' last game? My guess is the people who broke this deer-antler spray story knew, launching it on Lewis at the perfect time and the perfect time for their company. That talk will subside now.
Finally, the media circus is, for the most part, over. The players can play. They can settle the NFL champion on the field.
This is the second time Jim (San Francisco) and John (Baltimore) Harbaugh have faced each other as opposing coaches. The Ravens won in Baltimore on Thanksgiving 2011, 16-6. That was before the 49ers offense got so dynamic, though. It was good last year, better this year and got even better this season once Jim went with his gut and made the controversial decision of starting Kaepernick over Alex Smith, even though Smith was having his best year as a pro and was back healthy after sustaining a concussion.
It's actually kind of funny. I remember the game that Smith got the concussion and Kaepernick entered the game. It was against the Rams in Week 10. It was 17-7 at one point and Kaepernick ended up leading the 49ers to a tie against the Rams. I remember listening to the game on the radio, and an announcer saying how Kaepernick would have to throw it to get the 49ers back in and that he wasn't good enough to do it and that San Francisco wouldn't be able to move on the way it would like with him under center.
Now look where the second-year guy out of Nevada got them.
The fact that the 49ers have gotten here isn't surprising. They've had one of the best defenses in the league all year and now have one of the best offenses, too, led by the dual-threat Kaepernick, running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, and receiver Michael Crabtree.
The Ravens are a little more surprising. Early on, they dominated, racing out to a 9-2 record. They stumbled down the stretch, though, finishing just 10-6. For some of those games, however, they were without defensive leaders Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis. Lewis, of course, is also one of the best motivators in football and losing him was like Baltimore lost its soul. Once that pair of defensive dominators got back, the Ravens turned it on in the playoffs, defeating the Colts at home, the Broncos in an incredible two-overtime thrillfest, and then handling the Patriots quite easily on the road in the AFC championship. Joe Flacco has had an awesome postseason, tossing eight touchdowns and zero picks. He already owns the most road playoff victories in the history of the league, and now he is trying to break through to truly elite status by winning a Super Bowl.
The 49ers have dominated a lot of the teams they've played, but let's not overlook the fact that they were down 17-0 to the Falcons at one point in the NFC championship. I don't think they can afford to do that against the Ravens. The Ravens are tougher mentally than the Falcons and won't give up a sizable lead as easily.
Against Atlanta, Kaepernick had to rely on his arm to get the Niners back in the game. He only rushed for 21 yards after rushing for an all-time QB record 181 vs. Green Bay in the Divisional Round. The Ravens are going to want to get up big on San Francisco from the get-go to try to force Kaepernick to beat them in the air. If I'm the Niners, I am pounding the rock with Gore and trying to control the clock and keep the Ravens off the field. Flacco has been great at throwing the deep ball lately and he will attack down field with receiver Torrey Smith, who went to Maryland (also, Ahmad Brooks, who went to UVa, is a starter in the 49ers fearsome linebacking corps and Virginia Tech grad Tyrod Smith is the backup QB for the Ravens). The 49ers secondary must be ready for when Flacco tries to strike deep.
The Ravens are playing with all kinds of confidence with Lewis back between the lines. It seems like he is going out on top no matter what. I think the defensive savvy of the Ravens will be too much for Kaepernick and the 49ers to overcome, but it will be a close game. Baltimore's defense will not allow Kaepernick to run all over it like he did the Packers, and he won't be able to pass on them like he did the Falcons.
Then again, the QB with the tattoos and interesting life story has proven lots of people wrong this season.
San Francisco is really good and Jim Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in America if you ask me. I think the 49ers will win a Super Bowl in the next year or two. But this feels like one of those teams of destiny and I think this Super Bowl belongs to older brother John and the Ravens. Lewis or Flacco will be MVP. If it comes down to kicking, the Ravens have Justin Tucker, one of most accurate in the NFL this year, while the 49ers have struggled with veteran David Akers.
Ravens 26, 49ers 23
Note: Don't forget to vote in my poll on the side of the page ... Niners or Ravens, who ya got?
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Finally, the media circus is, for the most part, over. The players can play. They can settle the NFL champion on the field.
This is the second time Jim (San Francisco) and John (Baltimore) Harbaugh have faced each other as opposing coaches. The Ravens won in Baltimore on Thanksgiving 2011, 16-6. That was before the 49ers offense got so dynamic, though. It was good last year, better this year and got even better this season once Jim went with his gut and made the controversial decision of starting Kaepernick over Alex Smith, even though Smith was having his best year as a pro and was back healthy after sustaining a concussion.
It's actually kind of funny. I remember the game that Smith got the concussion and Kaepernick entered the game. It was against the Rams in Week 10. It was 17-7 at one point and Kaepernick ended up leading the 49ers to a tie against the Rams. I remember listening to the game on the radio, and an announcer saying how Kaepernick would have to throw it to get the 49ers back in and that he wasn't good enough to do it and that San Francisco wouldn't be able to move on the way it would like with him under center.
Now look where the second-year guy out of Nevada got them.
The fact that the 49ers have gotten here isn't surprising. They've had one of the best defenses in the league all year and now have one of the best offenses, too, led by the dual-threat Kaepernick, running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, and receiver Michael Crabtree.
The Ravens are a little more surprising. Early on, they dominated, racing out to a 9-2 record. They stumbled down the stretch, though, finishing just 10-6. For some of those games, however, they were without defensive leaders Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis. Lewis, of course, is also one of the best motivators in football and losing him was like Baltimore lost its soul. Once that pair of defensive dominators got back, the Ravens turned it on in the playoffs, defeating the Colts at home, the Broncos in an incredible two-overtime thrillfest, and then handling the Patriots quite easily on the road in the AFC championship. Joe Flacco has had an awesome postseason, tossing eight touchdowns and zero picks. He already owns the most road playoff victories in the history of the league, and now he is trying to break through to truly elite status by winning a Super Bowl.
The 49ers have dominated a lot of the teams they've played, but let's not overlook the fact that they were down 17-0 to the Falcons at one point in the NFC championship. I don't think they can afford to do that against the Ravens. The Ravens are tougher mentally than the Falcons and won't give up a sizable lead as easily.
Against Atlanta, Kaepernick had to rely on his arm to get the Niners back in the game. He only rushed for 21 yards after rushing for an all-time QB record 181 vs. Green Bay in the Divisional Round. The Ravens are going to want to get up big on San Francisco from the get-go to try to force Kaepernick to beat them in the air. If I'm the Niners, I am pounding the rock with Gore and trying to control the clock and keep the Ravens off the field. Flacco has been great at throwing the deep ball lately and he will attack down field with receiver Torrey Smith, who went to Maryland (also, Ahmad Brooks, who went to UVa, is a starter in the 49ers fearsome linebacking corps and Virginia Tech grad Tyrod Smith is the backup QB for the Ravens). The 49ers secondary must be ready for when Flacco tries to strike deep.
The Ravens are playing with all kinds of confidence with Lewis back between the lines. It seems like he is going out on top no matter what. I think the defensive savvy of the Ravens will be too much for Kaepernick and the 49ers to overcome, but it will be a close game. Baltimore's defense will not allow Kaepernick to run all over it like he did the Packers, and he won't be able to pass on them like he did the Falcons.
Then again, the QB with the tattoos and interesting life story has proven lots of people wrong this season.
San Francisco is really good and Jim Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in America if you ask me. I think the 49ers will win a Super Bowl in the next year or two. But this feels like one of those teams of destiny and I think this Super Bowl belongs to older brother John and the Ravens. Lewis or Flacco will be MVP. If it comes down to kicking, the Ravens have Justin Tucker, one of most accurate in the NFL this year, while the 49ers have struggled with veteran David Akers.
Ravens 26, 49ers 23
Forgot to mention just realized thanks to my uncle that the 49ers also have another UVA player on their roster in addition to Ahmad brooks and that is backup linebacker Cam Johnson who is in his rookie year.
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