The season ended four weeks ago for myself, however, two teams still live to die another day, and that day happens to commence in just under an hour from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in beautiful New Orleans.
So, who do we like here?
The 49ers are the better team on paper. They have the younger, quicker, stronger defense. The more versatile offense. The phenom quarterback. They were the popular pick to win it in week one, and they've been the popular pick over the last two weeks.
HOWEVER..
I like this Baltimore Ravens team. No, I'm not jumping on the Ray Lewis bandwagon, in-fact, I picked this Ravens team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in my preseason pick. So, clearly I've liked this team for a while now.
But that's not the only reason I like them today.
I like their experience. I like Flacco over Kaepernick. I like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs to contain the two-headed monster of Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore on the ground. Will they struggle at times? Certainly. However, even after two weeks of game-planning, the goal should remain simple:
Keep that 49er rushing attack BETWEEN the tackles, and you'll see results.
Let Kaepernick get to the edge and it's off to the races (a race he has yet to lose).
Yes, some of you will argue that Frank Gore is one of the more effective runners in the middle of the field. But, I counter that with a question:
Who would you rather deal with? Frank Gore up the middle, into one of the more experienced, physical defenses in the league. Or Colin Kaepernick in a foot race down the sidelines?
Personally, I'd take the former.
And that's why I like Ray Lewis to go out a winner, and the Ravens to bring the Lombardi trophy back to Baltimore.
Final: Ravens 24 49ers 21
So, now I ask you. Who do you think wins Super Bowl XLVII?
