This is Super Bowl XLVII.
The San Francisco 49ers of the NFC will be taking on the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens at the Superdome on Sunday. Many storylines surround this exciting game, including the battle between the brothers at head coach, Ray Lewis’ final game in the NFL and the return of the once-mighty 49ers. But at the end of the day only one thing will matter–who is holding the Lombardi Trophy.
The Ravens are certainly the underdogs in this contest, but this won’t be a new feeling. The Baltimore club has defeated the heavily favored Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots before moving on to the biggest stage. So far, the Ravens have kept a simple formula for their success–consistent passing, power running and rigid defense. Quarterback Joe Flacco has played a large role in the playoff run, throwing for eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
Another key component for the success has been future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Lewis, who has been in the NFL for 17 years and won the championship in 2000, has led the defense with 44 combined tackles (25 more than Patrick Willis, the 49ers’ leading tackler). This squad is tough and will be ready to play.
Since the departure of NFL passing legends Joe Montana and Steve Young, the 49ers have had limited success in the playoffs. But now with rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the helm, they’re back. Kaepernick is the key to winning this game. His ability to improvise and make big plays is the reason the 49ers are even in New Orleans right now. If the Ravens aren’t able to control him, it’ll be over before it even gets started.
In most games, it comes down to coaching, but here we have Jim Harbough versus John Harbough. Both coaches are excellent at formulating successful strategies and motivating their players. This one is really a tossup.
This is football’s biggest stage. Both teams are going to come in fired up, but they will also be nervous. The team with a strong leader that has Super Bowl experience will come out on top.
My prediction: 49ers-31; Ravens-35
