San Francisco 49ers
1. Colin Kaepernick. I'll be the first to admit that I thought the Niners were making a mistake by replacing Alex Smith with the unproven Kaepernick in the midst of a season in which they were clearly contenders, and after a year where Smith dazzled in the playoffs, especially against the New Orleans Saints in a memorable divisional round matchup. I'll also, however, be the first to admit that I was wrong. Kaepernick has given San Francisco an added dimension on offense that Smith couldn't provide. His legs, combined with his rocket of an arm, provide a deadly combination that certainly keep opposing defenses up late at night. He has resurrected a seemingly-lost Michael Crabtree since he became the starting signal-caller in November. Kaepernick will cause the Ravens' defense fits with his read-option and may also be able to get loose for a few big runs against a weaker Raven run defense than we're used to seeing.
Will Colin K. be flexin down in Nawlins?
2. The Front Seven. You show me a better front seven in football, and I'll show you a liar. The pass rush led by the Smith brothers, Aldon and Justin (no, they're not really brothers), paired with a linebacking corp featuring Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are a matchup nightmare for any blocking scheme. They rush the passer better than anyone in the league and they tackle better than anyone in the league. They are as sure of a thing as sure things come. However, don't sell their secondary short either as Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, and even Chris Culliver (who has made the press this week for all the wrong reasons) are nothing to scoff at either.
3. Vernon Davis is a matchup nightmare. Vernon Davis' numbers were down this year, mostly thanks to a disappearing act at the end of the season, back he has seemingly resurrected himself and become the force that we know him to be. The Ravens will likely be forced to bring a nickel back onto the field for much of the game to cover Davis, but there will be times throughout the game where he'll be staring across the line at a linebacker, a matchup that Colin Kaepernick must exploit. Few tight ends deserve the attention that Davis warrants, but then again, there aren't exactly too many 250 lb tight ends that run a 4.38 (40-yard dash).
4. Jim Harbaugh is the better coach. No disrespect to John here, and this "Harbowl" is clearly something to commemorate because we may never see anything like it again, but Jim has the upper hand. Sure, John is the longer tenured coach, but he inherited a fearless defense with surefire Hall of Famers in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and all-pro caliber players like Haloti Ngata. Granted Jim was handed most of his team as well, but the players he was given never demonstrated any sort of success prior to his arrival. Hell, San Francisco hasn't been this relevant since the Jerry Rice and Steve Young days (even with T.O. and Jeff Garcia, who somehow has a smokeshow of a wife). All in all, I contend that Jim utilizes his team's strengths better and owns a better overall gameplan on a week-to-week basis.
5. The football gods owe them. We all remember (or at least should) Kyle Williams' devastating fumble that, for all intents and purposes, fumbled the game away last year in the NFC Championship Game against the eventual champion New York Giants. If Williams fields a relatively routine punt cleanly, Eli Manning is still sitting on one championship. However, Williams muffed the punt, which was recovered by the G-Men, sending the Niners home sooner than it seemed they would. When a break goes so far toward the other team in professional sports, things tend to go your way the next time; everything has a way of evening out, a level playing field, if you will. The signs would indicate that the Niners are due, and due for something big like, dare I say it, a Lombardi Trophy.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Joe Flacco. I started off San Francisco's list with Kaepernick, so it only seems fair to go Flacco here, but all-in-all he is a difference maker. I really think Flacco's play alone will dictate this contest; I think he is the biggest variable. He's been nothing short of spectacular this postseason, as he boasts an 8-0 touchdown-to-interception differential. He received an awful lot of criticism when he claimed that he believes he's the best quarterback in the NFL last year, and by criticism I mean a lot of laughs. However, why shouldn't he be confident? He's backed it up with two consecutive AFC Championship game appearances and now a Super Bowl berth. If Flacco continues his stellar play, I think it's Baltimore's game to lose, but if he falters, they'll be in a world of trouble. This is his chance to prove that he is, in fact, an elite quarterback, and I definitely think he is capable of answering that call.
Joe Flacco is about to get paid if he wins one more game.
2. Ray Lewis' last hurrah. Will Ray Lewis be as big of a factor as he was in the Super Bowl XXXV victory in which he was named MVP? Absolutely not. However, he will be extra motivated to go out on top, and I think his teammates want to help him do that (if for no reason other than to usher him out the door). Big name players have seemed to go out on top recently, so why can't he be the next one to retire after winning "The Big One" with the likes of John Elway, Jerome Bettis, and Michael Strahan? Say what you want about his character, his past, or his sudden devotion to his faith, but the guy can play some ball. Besides, how could I call myself a (quasi)sports writer without mentioning Ray Lewis in a Super Bowl column?
3. Torrey Smith. I'm a big fan of Torrey Smith's. I skyped with the man last year (no, but really, I did) and he's a genuinely nice human being, however that doesn't even begin to describe how good this guy is. He may not get the press that other high-level receivers get, but Torrey Smith has quietly (a nice chance of pace for a team with Ray Lewis) become arguably the best deep threat in the NFL. With Joe Flacco having what is most likely the strongest arm in the league, Torrey Smith can just put a move on the DB and turn on the jets because Flacco will get him the pigskin. Smith will play a major role in this game, as no team has had an answer for him thus far in the playoffs.
4. They're the underdogs. There's just something to be said about an underdog. While they may only be a small underdog in Vegas (+3.5 last I looked), most are predicting a Niner victory. Well, tell that to Baltimore. They weren't supposed to beat Denver. They did it. They weren't supposed to beat New England. They did that too. Why not San Francisco? Tell me. Why not?
5. The leg of Justin Tucker. There's something special about the leg of this young man. He's been virtually automatic on the year, missing only 3 FGs all season long as a rookie. He's made four from 50+ and has already drilled a 47-yard game winning FG in double OT in Denver (how's that for clutch?). I think this is a close game, and Baltimore has the better, more consistent kicker right now in Tucker, whereas David Akers has been a mini disaster this season for San Francisco. This game has all the makings of a dogfight and if it comes down to the wire, I like the foot of the youngster.
Prediction
It's going to be close, and I think anyone who believes otherwise is kidding themselves. (Of course when it's a blowout I'll have the taste of foot in my mouth for a week). As with my last point made, I think it's Justin Tucker hoisted on the shoulders of his Raven teammates as the clock expires, bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Baltimore, sending Ray Lewis off into the sunset (thank God).
Baltimore, 27-24.
-TA
