One of the most anticipated Super Bowl match-ups in recent memory is taking place on Sunday. The Battle of the Brothers or The Harbowl or The Harbaugh Bowl, as I like to call it, will be sure to bring a number of viewers. The Niners are seeking to restart their winning tradition and tie the Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories of all time with six. The Ravens are looking for their first title since 2000 and to send Ray Lewis into retirement riding high. Side note, Ray we get it you love God and love football enough with the crying and Gospel Church renditions already. Anyway, the main storyline is how Jim and John Harbaugh are facing each other. It got me thinking that imagine how awesome it would be to beat your brother in the biggest sporting event on earth. Imagine next years Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas day when you can drop the "Hey, remember when I beat you in the Super Bowl?" line. Ultimate shit-talking and bragging rights for the rest of eternity. But in order for either team to be victorious they should keep a few keys in mind to the game.
Baltimore Ravens
1) Contain Colin Kaepernick- As hard as it sounds you have to try and slow him down. He has shown that he can play under any circumstance and can make plays with his feet or with his arm. Maybe a QB spy or some creative blitz packages wouldn't hurt during this game either to avoid scrambles and long runs.
2) Find out who is covering Vernon Davis- With Wide Receiver like speed and the body of a Tight End it's hard to stop him. Also coming off the line instead of the slot or wideout position doesn't help either. Ray Lewis can't keep up with him so I think you should look for some safety help over the top from Reed or bring in an extra defensive back when he is on the field to stop the big play.
3) Use Torrey Smith as a deep threat- With similar abilities and speed to Julio Jones, who racked up 11 catches for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns, try and use Torrey as the Falcons used Julio. The Niners secondary is talented but showed they can struggle against deep threat players.
4) Establish the running game- Ray Rice is an elite running back and you have to get his game going in this one if you want a chance. Besides the Denver game Ray Rice has struggled this postseason. I think if you get him going it'll open up the passing game, specifically play action and help the offense against a stout Niners D.
5) Protect Joe Flacco- The Niners have an elite pass rush in Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis and company. Aldon Smith alone is coming off a 19.5 sack season and as a team the Niners have 38 as a team. I think leaving in an extra block like Vonta Leach or Ray Rice will help slow it down and help the passing game
San Francisco 49ers
1) Keep utilizing Kaepernicks abilities- No one has seemed to shut him down completely yet and the read option style offense is something you can't necessarily prepare for as it requires instincts more than game planning. I think if they keep using him effectively they will win this game.
2) Get Crabtree the ball- He has been huge for the Niners this postseason and expect them to keep feeding him the ball. He's a sure-handed receiver with some quality speed and I don't think the Ravens defense is as elite as it used to be to keep up with him.
3) Keep pounding the ball- The combination of a physical offensive line and a power back in Frank Gore and speed back in LaMichael James should cause problems for the Ravens. If they can keep running the ball as they are capable of, then they should be fine. The Ravens linebackers aren't fast enough to keep up with them. It will come down to a battle in the trenches.
4) Put pressure on Flacco- I believe Joe Flacco is an elite Quarterback but if you dial up the right blitz and put enough pressure on him he starts to struggle. Don't give him enough time to beat you deep like he did to the Broncos and it could lead to turnovers instead of deep touchdowns.
5) Match Baltimore's intensity- Baltimore will have a little extra motivation to win a Super Bowl for their team leader and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, and if the Niners can match it then that will be a non-factor all game
*Predictions for the game will be up later this week*
Information courtesy of: http://www.pro-football-reference.com
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