Super Bowl XLVII

The time has come, Super Bowl 47 will be held in New Orleans next Sunday

It's finally here. Time to gather up a bunch of friends and snacks and sit down and enjoy the Super Bowl. This year the San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens led by Ray Lewis and Joe Flacco, beat Indianapolis, Denver, and New England to get here, while the 49ers defeated the Packers and Falcons.

This game should be a good one as the Ravens somehow found a way to get here. I never would have picked the Ravens to be in the Super Bowl. They somehow got by Denver, who was the team to beat in the AFC, and they also knocked off a very good New England team. That is no big loss because it is nice to see Tom Brady watching the game from home for once. That slide you did was cheap Brady, you deserved every bit of that fine. Anyway, The Ravens put together an incredible run, and Joe Flacco has been amazing in this postseason as he has yet to throw an interception. Flacco has thrown for 853 yards to go along with his eight touchdowns this postseason. Ray Lewis has also motivated the Ravens in their journey to New Orleans as he announced that this will be his last season in the NFL.


For the 49ers, ever since Collin Kaepernick took over this team he added a whole new element to this team, that being the option run. Kaepernick tore apart the Packers in the Divisional Round, running for a quarterback single game record--postseason or regular--with 181 rushing yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. Kaepernick also accounted for 263 yards and two scores in the air against the Packers as well. The 49ers depend on their power running game, and Kaepernick can definitely sling it as well. This team plays wonderful defense, as do the Ravens, but if I had to pick a defense I would give the 49ers the upper hand.

Prediction: The 49ers are 5-0 in Super Bowls, and I see them taking Super Bowl 47, 24-13.



For more coverage of the super bowl, visit this site:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/superbowl



Information:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11252/joe-flacco
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick
http://espn.go.com/nfl/
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens
Superdome photo:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2013/01/20/nfl-network-super-bowl-nhl-espn-fox/1849489/

Time to Panic in the Steel City?

Byron Leftwich going down vs the Ravens

The Steelers are normally the face of the AFC North and challenge the Baltimore Ravens for the division title. This year the Steelers are in a world of trouble. The Steelers sit at 6-4, which if the playoffs were to begin now, they would be the sixth and final seed in the AFC North. One problem. The Bengals are only a game behind Pittsburgh, and the Steelers injury list is filled with key pieces to their team.

The biggest injuries being the injuries to star safety Troy Polamalu and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Without Ben, back up Byron Leftwich took Roethlisberger's starting postion going into their game against Baltimore last week. Leftwich looked great often, taking the Steelers straight down the field in their ugly "bumble bee" throwback uniforms for a touchdown.  Leftwich showed inability to make certain throws in the game and took a beating from the Ravens defense. He suffered two broken ribs and an injured shoulder in the 13-10 loss.

Here was Leftwich's 31 yard rushing touchdown against the Ravens.

The biggest problem for the Steelers is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are sitting at 5-5, one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North. The Steelers currently hold the tie breaker defeating the Bengals 24-17 on Sunday Night Football earlier this season.


The Bengals have a very easy schedule remaining this season, as they will face the Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, and Eagles, who are all under .500. The big games will be the final two as the Bengals face the Steelers in Pittsburgh, and finish with a game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers will be without Roethlisberger for 3-6 weeks, and with Leftwich out the Steelers will have to look to back up Charlie Batch to lead the team.




Credits:

Byron Leftwich Picture:
http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/11/19/3668310/byron-leftwich-injury-steelers-charlie-batch

Stats and Information from:
http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/11/19/3668310/byron-leftwich-injury-steelers-charlie-batch

http://espn.go.com/nfl/

Video from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l7f2ujvKRY&feature=player_embedded