Super Bowl XLVII Recap
Ravens 34, 49ers 31
These Ravens won't go down as the best team of all time or anything, but one of the best players to every take the field was able to win his second Super Bowl ring on his final ride. Ray Lewis, who was the center of attention for the early part of the week because of the deer antler spray revelation, told his team that he was going to retire after this season. This seemed to inspire Baltimore during its magical run to the Super Bowl. Lewis did not play well physically, but he was instrumental mentally and inspired his team like no one else could. In the triumph, Lewis became the first player in NFL history to claim consecutive Super Bowl rings 12 or more seasons apart.
It was also nice to see the other Ravens win the Lombardi. Contrary to popular belief, Ed Reed was not part of the stalwart 2000 Baltimore defense, so this was his first championship. Terrell Suggs, Bryant McKinnie, Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Marshal Yanda and others served as great players in this league over the years, so they deserved this trophy as much as anyone.
Of course, the person primarily responsible for making this happen was Joe Flacco, who claimed the MVP trophy - and rightfully so. There have been arguments for Jacoby Jones, but one of Jones' two scores came via a Flacco bomb. Granted, it was underthrown, and Jones had to juke two 49ers to reach the end zone, but without Flacco, there's no chance Baltimore would have won the Super Bowl. If Jones wasn't on the roster, the Ravens would have definitely still had a legitimate chance, so it would be very contrarian to state that Jones deserved the award.
Flacco was outstanding. He went 22-of-33 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He was unreal on third down, converting 9-of-16 attempts. He was hot in the first half, torching a helpless San Francisco secondary with his monstrous arm. He was barely able to do anything in the third quarter after the infamous blackout because the 49ers held all of the momentum, but he made enough clutch throws to lead his team to field-goal drives of 71 and 59 yards in the fourth quarter, occupying nearly 11 minutes of the clock on those two possessions.
Colin Kaepernick was awful early on. CBS analyst Bill Cowher even suggested that the 49ers should bench Kaepernick in favor of Alex Smith. This was a completely ridiculous notion at the time, and it proved to be so as Kaepernick finished 16-of-28 for 302 yards, one touchdown and an interception along with seven carries for 62 rushing yards and a second score on the ground. Kaepernick wasn't very good in the red zone, however, thanks to Baltimore's No. 1 red-zone defense. However, 49er fans may point to poor officiating as a reason for that. They certainly have some beef - Michael Crabtree was clearly held in the end zone on San Francisco's final offensive play, but the refs' whistles were silent.
The officiating was putrid throughout. The Ravens benefited from most of the calls, though they were screwed over by a phantom running-into-the-kicker penalty on a David Akers miss. However, San Francisco has only itself to blame for this defeat. The team committed too many mental errors. The first play of the game, a 20-yard completion to Vernon Davis, was wiped out by illegal formation. The 49ers also wasted two crucial timeouts in the second half, and the play-calling in the red zone on the final offensive drive was abysmal. If it wasn't for the blackout, Baltimore may have run away with a victory of at least two touchdowns.
For more thoughts, check out my updated NFL Power Rankings, which will be posted Tuesday morning.
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stlouisrams
01-03-2011
05:01 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.188
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On Sam Bradford looking retarded after the pick, that's just the way he plays. Never gets too up, never gets too down, he likes to keep himself in check emotionally, so he doesn't throw the game away because of one stupid mistake. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that, so hot chicks aren't always right!
charlie whitehurst
01-03-2011
03:33 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.58
(total posts: 1)
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how do you think i played despite the rams giving it away
Walter
01-03-2011
03:30 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx9.63
(total posts: 6)
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LOL funny Chad Simpson - Jerome Simpson error. Jerome Simpson has just been irrelevant for so long.
Pete Carroll
01-03-2011
03:15 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.134
(total posts: 2)
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My team can still win in the playoffs damnit!!!
At least I have a postseason with the Seahawks...
Pete Carroll
01-03-2011
03:14 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.134
(total posts: 2)
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My team can still win in the playoffs damnit!!!
At least I have a postseason with the Seahawks...
Bengalhoel
01-03-2011
03:07 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.203
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Its funny how you defend Colt McCoy's struggles on offensive line and reciever issues, but bash Carson Palmer all year when he had the worse of both issues and put up way better numbers.
Jerome Simpson
01-03-2011
12:08 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx2.97
(total posts: 2)
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My name ain't Chad! Adam Shefter!!!
Joey P
01-03-2011
08:11 am
xxx.xxx.xxx5.73
(total posts: 1)
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At least you agree with me that McCoy wasn't awful yesterday. I want to string Mass from the nearest tall tree by the balls for what he did yesterday. For three weeks The Browns' Offensive Line has let down and Mass has quit on routes and watched TWO interception in two weeks. His feet didn't move on incomplete routes on either. Yesterday's was so bad I wanted to go beat him down. It was awful.
Dude living in Horsham, PA
12-29-2010
06:44 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx5.55
(total posts: 1)
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Hey man great site, I just started gambling(my new 401k) and I love your approach. You do a great job. I enjoy the game of football that much more after coming to your site and seeing actually how things do work in the NFL and college ball. My only beef is that I'm ok with Vick, but I respect your opinion.
kdaddy
12-29-2010
01:43 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.135
(total posts: 4)
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Dear Mr. Sherepinsky,
Please consider the following list of terms that should be banned on any decent football website: -any reference to Japanese mushrooms or Asian lapdogs -any team name containing an animal or marginalized ethnic group -Coach Ryan's first name or belt size: it's just wrong -the words fat, obese, huge or Andy Reid -Bears, Packers or Browns: they already got DADT repealed, now they want the NFC North? -endless comments from bored football fans sitting at home all week waiting for Sunday -Bob Costas calling the Seahawks-Rams matchup the game of the week Thank you for your consideration
kdaddy
12-29-2010
12:47 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.135
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It's also found in what the NFC West winner won't present any meaningful level of in the first round of the playoffs or what 49er fans may circulate to get rid of Crazy-Eyes Mike. And let's not forget that rather nasty word found in the place you might receive health care, if you had insurance of course. You might consider banning that one too. 8 year-olds, Tea Partiers and douchebag reactionary advertisers thank you for your vigilance. Oh, and douchebag isn't very nice either.
kdaddy
12-29-2010
12:31 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.135
(total posts: 4)
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By the way Walter, if you're going to ban the 3-letter slang word for a woman's breast, even if Dolphin fans are giving BJ's to businessmen, you may want to remember it's embedded in the word that refers to what the Pats won for clinching the AFC East or the more correct name for a whore.
kdaddy
12-29-2010
12:02 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.135
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Notes on week 16:
-Seems neither Manning can beat a good 3-4. Stats on that Walter? - Could we lock Vick up again? Maybe the warden can teach him to run and throw at the same time. -How long before Matt Millen is washing windshields at red lights? I'm starting to actually feel sorry for him. -note to 4 and 5 win teams: If you quit after 3 wins, you too can get great draft picks and easy schedules and even make the playoffs without beating a winning team! I smell a Panthers-Broncos Superbowl. -Trade Manning? Favre sucks? Anyone in Miami would service all the fat businessmen in Little Havana to get either one. -Breaking news from league office: the last Vikings game will be played at the East Lansing School of Beauty parking lot on Easter Sunday. -Call the Vatican: Jesus Schwartz has created a competetive team out of 3 good players and a couple of 3rd-string QB's. Motown should issue a comemorative coin. -New Sunday drinking game: Take a shot whenever the camera cuts to Jerry Jones looking concerned. Double round if he's seen kissing one of the grandchildren. He gets more face time than his plastic surgeon. -Thanks Walter for a great site, but my doctor has hinted I can beat this epilepsy thing if I stop following your pick of the month. I fear time may actually stop if you publish a pick of the year.
Chris
12-28-2010
03:07 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.243
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Walt, have you seen the latest from Ed Rendell? It's hilarious, how he calls the US a nation of "wusses" and says the Chinese "would have walked [to the game] and would have done calculus on the way down". I think you're right in saying NBC chose the wrong game for broadcast; hindsight's 20/20, but wouldn't Timbow Slice draw more than a senile versus an ex-con?
david
12-28-2010
02:23 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.49
(total posts: 1)
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good idea adding comments.
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