The Super Bowl is upon us! The biggest USA sporting spectacle is becoming more and more popular overseas as the years go by. Back in my native New Zealand I have seen the increase of Super Bowl parties throughout the country. In fact in many circles it is becoming a annual fixture like the Wellington 7's. It's not uncommon for people to take the Monday afternoon off to watch the game. So if your new to this Super Bowl thing or even American Football in general then I have the preview for you.
The Harbowl they are calling it this year as it is the first time two brothers are coaching against in the Super Bowl. The match will be one of the most physical in recent memory as both teams have physically mauled there way into the finale of the NFL season.
The Teams
San Francisco 49ers:
History: Established in 1946 the 49ers are one of the most popular teams in the NFL. They have been to the Super Bowl five previous times and have won all of those games, The 49ers remain the only team in NFL history to appear in more than one Super Bowl without ever losing. All of the victories came in the 80's and 90's where Hall of Famer's like Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice made the 49ers one of the premier teams the game has ever seen. The 49ers have had a rough spell of results since those times, before Jim Harbaugh became head coach last year the team hadn't had a winning season since 2002.
Season so far: After narrowly losing in the NFC Championship game to eventual Super Bowl champions, the NY Giants last year the expectations were high for this team coming into the season. They have largely met those expectations apart from some struggles vs their division rivals the Seahawks and Rams. The biggest controversy was Jim Harbaughs decision to change quarterbacks halfway through the season. Seven year veteran Alex Smith was unceremoniously dropped for second year player Colin Kaepernick which led many to question Harbaughs judgement. The truth of the matter is that Smith was only going to take the team so far and Harbaugh saw the potential of Kaepernick. The results in the second half of the season and in the playoffs have confirmed his decision as defences have not been able to stop Kaepernick who has a rare ability to be dangerous with ball in hand or throwing it accurately.
Team strengths: The running game- the 4th best in the regular season led by running back Frank Gore. Kaepernicks ability to run makes it hard to focus on the running backs. Their defensive front 7- Maybe the best in the league, strong, quick and physical they can stop the run and rush the quarterback. DE Aldon Smith recorded 19.5 sacks this year- second best in the NFL.
Team weaknesses: Kaepernick's inexperience, he's only played half a season, will he be able to handle the added pressure of the Super Bowl? The secondaries inability to prevent big passing plays in the playoffs. Kicker David Akers has struggled mightily at field goals this year, he is converting only 69% of them, down from 85% the previous year. If the game is close then this could become significant.
Players who the media/commentators will talk about the most:
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his dual-threat ability. Linebacker Aldon Smith's sack potential. Middle linebacker Patrick Willis physical play. Defensive lineman Justin Smith being the key to the 49ers defence. Running back Frank Gore's renaissance year.The players you should take notice of:
Justin Smith is the key to this teams defence, and I believe of the whole game. He is that disruptive that he creates the hole for Aldon Smith to get sacks. Justin Smith has been recovering from a triceps injury which has limited his effectiveness and has resulted in Aldon Smith not recording a single sack during the playoffs. If Justin Smith is not effective then this team will be vulnerable to Flacco's big arm. Linebacker Navorro Bowman gets less attention then team mate Willis but he had arguably a better season then him, incredibly agile and adept at making a big play. Both him and Willis will be a handful for the Baltimore offence. Finally this one may surprise you but punter Andy Lee maybe very significant in the game. Punters in American Football get an unfair rap for being insignificant. They can play an important part in containing the opposition deep in their own half. If a team is consistently starting within their own 10 yard line it becomes very difficult to drive down the entire field and score. Lee has the best punting average in the NFL and was 3rd in the amount of punts placed within the opposition 20.
Baltimore Ravens:
History: One of the youngest teams in the NFL the Ravens organisation used to be the Cleveland Browns before owner Art Modell controversially moved them to Baltimore in 1996. With their second selection ever in the NFL draft they selected Ray Lewis who continues to be the heart and soul of the team. In 2000 the Ravens won the only Super Bowl they have been to with one of the greatest defensive teams in NFL history.
Season so far: The Ravens season has been a roller coaster event with the team struggling through key injuries and inept coaching. Defensively the team has been decimated by injuries. Their best pass rusher and 5-time Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs has missed half the season due to an Achilles injury. Their best cornerback blew out his ACL in the same game that Ray Lewis tore his triceps half way through the season. Usually that sort of injury would mean at least one year to recover but the 37 year old Lewis has defied logic by being back and playing with in 3 months (more on this later). Offensively the team has been frustratingly inconsistent under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Cameron ran one of the most Vanilla offences in the league and did not get along with Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco which led to tension within the team. Eventually John Harbaugh fired Cameron late in the season and allowed Flacco more flexibility to call plays. The result has seen them upset both the Broncos and the Patriots away from home with Flacco being outstanding- throwing eight touchdowns for zero interceptions.
Team Strengths: The offensive line- it maybe the best in the NFL thanks to late season change at the tackle position. It has allowed Flacco to stand in the pocket and throw the deep ball without pressure, he is perhaps the best in the league when it comes to throwing long. Wide receivers Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones give the Ravens two big, fast threats on the outside which defences have to take seriously. Their return game in the kicking game has been the best in the NFL this season. Their ability to score at anytime is their major strength. Running Back Ray Rice is the best back in the game but is criminally underused by the Ravens. Against the stout 49ers running defence this will limit Rice's contribution to pass protecting and being a receiver out of the backfield.
Team Weaknesses: Their cornerbacks can be beaten on the outside. They can struggle to defend the run, with Ray Lewis being 37 and recovering from torn triceps he is not the same player he once was.
Players who the media/commentators will talk about the most:
Ray Lewis- is the Super Bowl this year. The inspirational leader of the Ravens has been with the team for its entire existence. Media sites and publications the week leading up to the game have been filled with the fact that there is evidence Lewis has used banned substances in deer antler spray to recover from his torn triceps injury. And then there was the last time he went to the Super Bowl..... Let's just say I believe he is on the scale of Lance Armstrong of inspirational athletes who shouldn't be so celebrated. Quarterback Joe Flacco's case for being classed as one of the elite at his position will be a big talking point during the game.The players you should take notice of:
Offensive tackles- Bryant McKinnie and Michael Oher. The resurgence of McKinnie in the playoffs maybe the single biggest reason that the Ravens have made it to the Super Bowl. A former pro bowler McKinnie is immensely gifted but according to many sources, one of the laziest. He played sparingly during the regular season which forced Michael Oher of "The Blinside" fame to move to left tackle where he struggled. Oher is better suited at right tackle so that fact that McKinnie has decided to play has meant that the offensive line is playing incredibly strong at the moment. Wide receiver Torrey Smith is the deep threat and most dangerous receiver for the Ravens but veteran Anquan Boldin could be the most important. He is one of the toughest receivers in the game. Years ago he broke his face in game and returned the next week with a protective mask on. With Smith being doubled team in coverage there will be space for Flacco to throw to Boldin. Defensively Ray Lewis gains the most attention but he is not their best player by a long shot. Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs are the keys to disrupting the 49ers running game and they both need to have big games for the Ravens to win.
The Game-All you need to know.
Location- The Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana. Capacity: Over 76,000. This will be the 10th Super Bowl in the Super Dome, tied for the most ever.
Fun fact you can impress the ladies/men with: The average price of a ticket to this Super Bowl is $2978 US! This is actually down on the previous two years.
Key Matchups
Ravens O Line vs 49ers D Line- For the Ravens to have any chance of winning they need to be able to protect Flacco long enough for him to use the cannon he has as an arm. If Mckinnie can defend against Aldon Smith one on one that means the Ravens can double team Justin Smith who is very disruptive.
Torrey Smith vs secondary- You are going to see Smith get double teamed in lot of circumstances because of his ability to get behind defences for the long throw. The Ravens will try and use play action pass to get the defence thinking its a run play and try and get Smith wide open. Once he is behind a defence he is simply too fast to be stopped.
Kaepernick vs himself- At this point there is not a team in the NFL right now that can stop Kaepernick from moving the ball down the field. He is to accurate a passer if you leave him time in the pocket. If you blitz him though he his incredibly quick for his size and can break tackles to get first downs and much more running the football. The Ravens can only hope that the moment will get to him and that the pressure forces him to make mental errors which turn into turnover opportunities. Otherwise the Ravens are going to find it a nigh impossible task to prevent him from moving the ball.
Jim Harbaugh vs John Harbaugh- Despite being brothers they have different temperaments and ways of coaching their teams. Jim is the more impassioned one and comes across as petulant and childish when things aren't going is way. He is also more aggressive in his offensive playcalling which could work out. Johns offences have been traditionally less creative but defensively he really minimises the oppositions strengths. Special teams is his speciality which makes the Ravens very dangerous in the return game. Both brothers will know each others tendencies inside out so this will be a fascinating match strategy wise.
Prediction-
To be honest this has been the toughest Super Bowl matchup to predict in a long time. On paper the 49ers look like overwhelming favourites who match up really well against the Ravens. Their best strength-running the football is the Ravens weakness on defence. In Kaepernick they have one of the most dynamic and explosive quarterbacks in the NFL and at the same time he doesn't turnover the ball. Frank Gore will be used to wear down the Ravens defence which will set up play action where they can throw to receivers like Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. The Ravens will struggle to run the ball against the formidable front seven of the 49ers so it comes down to whether Flacco can maintain this hot streak that he has been on in the playoffs. If the O-line can't hold up against the Smiths then this game won't be close.
However, funny things tend to happen in Super Bowls. Favourites suddenly get clammy and uptight and don't play like they usually do. The Ravens do have the talismanic Ray Lewis who has carried this team this far into despite the odds and his injury. The Ravens were dead and buried coming into the playoffs and yet they are the classic case of a team building momentum at the right time and place. For me it comes down to whether Kaepernick can cope with the big stage. If he can I am predicting the 49ers win. If he doesn't come out confident though the Ravens have the belief and pure grit to win this. It's going to be a tightly fought match that is for sure.
Final scoreline: San Francisco 27, Baltimore 23.
Hope you enjoy the game where ever you are in the world!
Peace
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