Super Bowl Preview

On the eve of the Super Bowl brings my last preview and prediction of the season. It's a game I love and always look forward to with great anticipation but it is also the last game of the season which is never a good thing. Later this week I will do some seasonal reviews but for today it's all looking forward to tomorrow's big game. I'm going to look at both teams in great detail in today's blog, I have watched all their playoff games, listened to the press conferences and experts and feel more equipped than any other game I have watched.

Baltimore
There is no where else to start than saying this game is defiantly Ray Lewis's last ever game. The previous three games have been emotional affairs knowing this fact and this is going to be no different. That last game speech is going to move mountains let a-known football players, that field entrance is going to be more entertaining than Beyonce's half time performance and he is bound to make one more explosion play it could be an interception or fumble. I expect Baltimore to ride this emotional roller coaster for one more game and the player they refer to as their big brother to lead them.

Lewis has been playing well in the playoffs leading the team in tackles but this defence as been stout. They managed to control the games two best passers with neither of them having much success. I expect the Ravens to do a similar good job of the 49ers they will have come up with ways to contain Kaepernick and different ways to attack that pistol read option offence. I think the Ravens secondary will keep a lid on the receivers all night as they have done for much of the playoffs. Where this defence can win the game for Ravens is by pinching a possession or two,they will need to do this at critical times to prevent Kaepernick getting into a rhythm.

The offence has not relied on Rice in the playoffs as much as I had thought but hopefully he sees a lot of the ball on Sunday. Through Rice the game can be controlled and with Bernard a nice change of pace this rushing attack is something serious. They are going to have a tough time because the 49ers run defence is stout. So much rides on Flaccos play they need to take their shots deep to Smith who is a deep threat king and this is the throw Flacco throws best. What he must do is trust his arm across the middle Boldin has played brilliantly in January and will be a good option come Sunday night and has the experience of playing the big game.

San Francisco
The 49ers have been building up to this game for a couple of years now. They made it to the championship game last year and this year have made that final step and it appears that final piece to the puzzle fell into place this year. That piece of course being Kaepernick the quarterback. He is playing this read option offence like no one could have imagined, I think he makes the best reads out of all the quarterbacks that run this offence. When he runs he is explosive so quick and sensible knowing when to hit the sideline or slide down. He throws a strong football meaning it comes out with great velocity I still question his intermediate routes and his all round precision but I feel these questions could be answered come Monday.


There are two even more dangerous parts to this offence in my opinion. One being Frank Gore teams and now spying Kaepernick leaving plenty of running room when Kaepernick makes all the correct reads. He has had great success in the playoffs and I think he may continue to on Sunday this will be Ray Lewis responsibility to shut down. Then there is TE Davis he is a match up nightmare and the Ravens do not have a natural line backer who matches up well to stop him. He also shows up on big games.

Finally the defence, I have said for numerous weeks I think this defence is the most complete defence in football. However recently I have spotted a hole through the injury of Smith. Justin Smith is not playing his best due to the injury he has been carrying for the last coupe of months. This has meant extra responsibilities for Aldon Smith in stopping the run which has in turn worn him down and preventing him for getting to the quarterback as much. They will need to set Smith free at some point in this game as the Ravens O-Line has played outstanding this last month.

There you go a few key match ups to look forward to tomorrow and that's without mentioning Lewis riding of in to the sunset, this Super Bowl being a family affair and Moss and Reed on potentially joining Lewis. Without putting it of any more my Super Bowl prediction I will not hide the fact I want the Ravens, being a sucker for a fairy tale but my head says 49ers. With Kaepernick they could explode at any minute and that defence is totally solid. 49ers win this in a low scoring game by 5 points.