Four Downs: SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers (-4) Sun. Feb. 3 6:30 (CBS)

While the Four Downs segment may be coming to an end (until September) it will not go without a classic Defense vs. Defense Super Bowl breakdown. This is the first time in a decade that the Super Bowl will not be played by a Manning, Rodgers, Brady or Roethlisberger. Instead it will be Joe Flacco’s Baltimore Ravens against Colin Kaepernick’s San Francisco 49ers (my SB pick). There are so many storylines with the Harbaugh brothers sticking out like a sore thumb, but it goes beyond that. Jim’s eldest son Jay is a coach on the Ravens. Can you imagine the next time they sit at the dinner table and Jay is wearing a ring and his dad Jim has to look at it every time. I would not want to be living in that household if that happened. If Jim wins then I think Jay could deal with it a lot better. All kidding aside it seems that after the joint press conference, first time in NFL history that both coaches had a joint press conference that both brothers truly care for each other, and regardless who wins the other will be happy for him…sort of. Here are the breakdowns of what I believe are the four most crucial matchups heading into Super Sunday.

First Down: Joe Falcco vs. Colin Kaepernick

One does it with his arm, the other does it with both his arm and his legs. Joe Flacco has finally reached the pinnacle of his career (and right before a new contract too) and Colin Kaepernick has been the wildcard since he stepped in on week 11 and beat the Chicago Bears handedly. Since then Kaepernick has been nearly flawless especially in the playoffs where he torched the Packers defense on the ground and then came back from 17 down in the second half to beat the Atlanta Falcons on the road. However, as impressive as that might be Flacco’s path to the Super Bowl was a statement made to the entire NFL. Flacco beat Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. In all the games it was clear that Flacco was the better quarterback and has yet to throw an interception all playoffs. The key’s to both being successful will rely on how much time their offensive lines can give them. If Flacco has time he can throw a deep ball to either Torrey Smith or Anquan Boldin. For Kaepernick it is a little more tricky because he can decide to take off and break a 50-yard run. Both quarterbacks have trusty receivers. For Baltimore Anquan Boldin has been on this stage before and Torrey Smith has been solid. The 49ers have the combination of the young Michael Crabtree and old Randy Moss.

Edge: 49ers

Second Down: Ray Lewis vs. Patrick Willis

This matchup I find the most intriguing. Who will have a bigger impact? One of the best linebacker’s to ever play the game? Or the guy that will assume the roll as best linebacker in the game next year? Patrick Willis is a young Ray Lewis but Ray Lewis is Ray Lewis. Both men bring the intensity every game, every play and on the biggest stage it should be fun to watch. Lewis has been a beast throughout the playoffs leading the team in tackles every game. Willis has led his team in tackles as well in both playoff games but it’s Lewis who has played the more inspiring football. While the two men are the headliners on defense the supporting cast will have to do their part. For the Ravens and 49ers their safeties of Ed Reed and Benard Pollard and Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner are the best in the game, so they cancel out. Kaepernick will have to be sharp with his decisions because if he decides to throw deep, there is a good chance that Reed will be waiting there and if he decides to run he better be smart, because this guy Pollard hits really hard. On the outside Terrell Suggs and Aldon Smith will be counted on to get the opposing quarterbacks and Haloti Ngata and Justin Smith will be tasked to stop the run.

Edge: Ravens

Third Down: Ray Rice vs. Frank Gore

Ray Rice and Frank Gore are both respected running backs in the NFL who finished with 1,000 + yards this year on the ground. For Gore, he is more of a threat in the pistol offense, even if it has been a change for him from the I-Form formation. Gore is given more holes because teams are too worried about Kaepernick running, shown by the Flacons in NFC Championship game. Rice works out of the generic I-Form formation and his 4th and 30 yard performance (Best Play of the Year Awarded last night) shows exactly what he can do. He’s pound for pound able to go with every guy in the game and is an excellent blocker like Gore is in the passing game as well. Both Backup running backs Bernard Pierce and LaMichael James should also play a factor.

Edge: 49ers


Fourth Down: Jim vs. Jon Harbaugh

Cut from the same cloth and born from the same mom as well Jon and Jim Harbaugh will be the first brothers to oppose one another in a championship game in NFL,NBA and MLB history. Both men have done extraordinary jobs with their teams to get them to this point. Every one points at Jim for being the better one, because of his move from Smith to Kaepernick. However Jim is a play-caller where Jon is not. I think in that case of big calls where it’s 4th and 2 and they decide to go for it both men will be risky and gamble at times but Jim’s play calling may suffer if a big play does not go his way. It didn’t seem to rattle him in the comeback win despite his emotions on the sidelines but in a game of this magnitude it will be up to who can keep their emotions in check. Jon has been the calming influence on the sideline and a good manager of the game.

Edge: Even

Prediction: Overall, these teams are almost mirror images of each other. Even though they met last year it’s clear that both teams have changed a lot. The Ravens are more of a threat on offense and Colin Kaepernick is in for Alex Smith. I do not think this will be a high scoring game because of how well the defenses have played to this point but there is a possibility that it becomes a shootout and in which case it will be which team can make the timely stop. I think the 49ers are built to be here for a while, but the Ravens have this one-year. I have said they are a “Team of Destiny” and the best way to show Ray off is with a Super Bowl win.


Baltimore Ravens 20 – San Francisco 49ers 17