Baltimore Ravens 34-31 San Francisco 49ers - Superbowl Match Report

Joe Flacco - Superbowl MVP

Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco pulls out a Superbowl MVP winning performance as the Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the Superbowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

This also gave the best possible ending to Ravens LB Ray Lewis, as he was able to retire from the sport as a champion.

The Ravens won the coin toss and decided to allow the 49ers receive the ball first, keeping to their tradition of letting their opposition have possession first.

But they quickly got the ball back after forcing the 49ers three and out, and they started with good field position too, on their own 49 yard line.

And they took advantage of this field position three plays into their drive with a deep right pass from Flacco to WR Torrey Smith for 20 yards.

Then another three plays later, they capped it off with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Flacco to WR Anquan Boldin, the first score of the game.

Anquan Boldin touchdown -
REUTERS/Jim Young

On the eighth play of their next possession, the 49ers entered the RedZone for the first time in the game thanks to a 24 yard pass from QB Colin Kaepernick to TE Vernon Davis.

But they were reduced to a 36 yard field goal by K David Akers and not a touchdown, as Ravens LB Paul Kruger was able to sack Kaepernick for a loss of 10 yards, the first sack of the game.

The Ravens continued their good start on their next field possession when Flacco and Boldin connected for a 30 yard pass on the sixth play of their drive.

They were unable to capitalize though as three plays later, Flacco was sacked by 49ers DE Ray McDonald for a loss of five yards, forcing them to punt.

The 49ers started with the ball in the second quarter and on their first play, Kaepernick was able to link up with Davis again for 29 yards.

But once again they were unable to capitalize as their RB LaMichael James fumbled the ball on the Ravens 25 yard line.

The ball was then recovered by Ravens DE Arthur Jones, causing the first turnover of the game.

On the sixth play of their drive, Flacco was able to find TE Ed Dickson for 23 yards to the 49ers 29 yard line.

They then concluded the drive four plays later, with a one yard pass from Flacco to TE Dennis Pitta in the right part of the endzone, giving them a two possession lead.

It only took one play from the 49ers on their next drive for the Ravens to get the ball back and cause the second turnover of the game.

Kaepernick’s deep pass intended for WR Randy Moss was intercepted by Ravens FS Ed Reed, the first pick of the game.

This also gave the Ravens good starting field position, as they started their drive on the 49ers 38 yard line.

However, the 49ers defense was able to force the Ravens to go for a field goal after eight plays in their drive.

History was made in the Superbowl on the next play though, as the Ravens attempted a fake field goal. This is the first time it has ever been attempted in the Superbowl.

Sadly though, it wasn’t converted, as Ravens K Justin Tucker was forced out of bounds at the 49ers six yard line, leaving him one yard shy of the first down.

After the Ravens defense forced the 49ers to another three and out, the Ravens started another possession in good field position, from their own 44 yard line.

And once again they took full advantage as on the third play, Flacco found WR Jacoby Jones who was able to weave his way into the endzone for a 56 yard touchdown.

Jacoby Jones - Associated Press

This gave the Ravens a three possession lead with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The 49ers entered the RedZone for the second time in the game on their four play of their drive, courtesy of a 28 yard pass from Kaepernick to TE Delaine Walker.

But two plays later, Kaepernick was sacked for the second time in the game by Kruger, forcing them to settle for a field goal.

This made the half time score 21-6 to the Ravens.

The Ravens started off the second half in style, as WR J. Jones was able to return a kick-off for 108 yards for a touchdown.

This was the longest ever kick-off return in Superbowl history.

Jacoby Jones scoring on
kick-off return - REUTERS

Kaepernick started off the 49ers next drive well with a 29 yard pass to WR Michael Crabtree.

Two plays later though, Kaepernick was sacked for a loss of six yards by DE A. Jones, Ravens’ third sack of the game.

After this play, there was a power cut in one half of the Superdome, causing the game to be delayed. Action wasn’t resumed again for another half an hour.

Referee stands in the dark - Associated Press

The power outage seemed to work in the 49ers favour as when they regained possession, they started to add points more frequently to the board and play like the team that was favourites to win the Superbowl.

Crabtree gave the 49ers their first touchdown after catching a pass from Kaepernick and running it for 31 yards, breaking two tackles along the way.

The 49ers defense then forced the Ravens three and out as Flacco was sacked by LB Ahmad Brooks for a loss of eight yards.

49ers return specialist Ted Ginn was then able to return the Ravens’ punt for 32 yards, allowing his team to start their drive on the Ravens 20 yard line.

RB Frank Gore reduced the Ravens lead to eight two plays into the 49ers drive, when he scored a six yard touchdown run.

Frank Gore scores a touchdown - REUTERS

Two plays into the Ravens next drive, the second fumble of the game occurred. RB Ray Rice fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Tarell Brown, the third turnover of the game.

With the 49ers starting with the ball on the Ravens 24 yard line, they had another opportunity to add a touchdown to their score.

However, they were forced three and out, and they had to settle for a 34 yard field goal by Akers, reducing the Ravens lead to five points.

Three plays into the Ravens next drive, Flacco was able to connect with Boldin again for 30 yards. This looked like the catalyst that would restart the game for the Ravens.

But as the drive went into the start of the fourth quarter, they had to settle for a 19 yard field goal by Tucker, restoring Ravens’ eight point lead.

Kaepernick was able to find Moss on the second play of their next drive for 32 yards. Then Kaepernick capped off the drive three plays later with a 15 yard run for a touchdown.

Kaepernick's touchdown run past
Ed Reed - AP Photo/Matt Slocum

The 49ers did attempt a two-point conversation after the touchdown, but this failed as Kaepernick’s pass for Moss was overthrown.

With the Ravens leading now by only two points, they surged down the field to try and add more points to the board.

However, after ten plays, they had to settle for a 38 yard field goal by Tucker.

On the 49ers next drive, they looked like they would score another touchdown after two fantastic back-to-back plays by Crabtree and Gore respectively.

The first was on the four play of their drive and it was a deep middle 24 yard pass to Crabtree. It was quickly followed up on the next play by Gore with a 33 yard run to the Ravens seven yard line.

They were unable to complete the drive on the ninth play as a pass intended for Crabtree was incomplete, causing a change in possession.

The Ravens then played very tactically, running down the clock to four seconds and giving the 49ers a safety, but they still gave a chance for the 49ers to win the game on the kick return.

The 49ers though were unable to conjure up anything from this, meaning the Ravens won the game 34-31.

Ray Lewis lifts the
Vince Lombardi trophy - Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

This was a dream come true for Lewis, as he was able to retire from the game as a champion for only the second time in his career.

This also means that Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens have kept their 100% record at the Superbowl, winning on both occasions they have been there.

But for John’s brother and 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers, their 100% record is over, as they have been to the Superbowl on six occasions but only won five times.

Jim (left) and John Harbaugh (right)
congratulate each other - REUTERS

For his fantastic performance of 287 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, Joe Flacco earned himself the Superbowl MVP award, meaning the MVP award has gone to a QB for the fourth year in a row.

So, NFL action is now over till the season starts up again in September. Don’t worry though, you can see how future NFL prospects do in the NFL Combine which starts on the 20^th February and concludes on the 26^th February.

Then you can see where they get drafted in the NFL Draft. This starts on the 25^th April and then finishes on the 27^th April. 

twitter - @ConorJPorter

Superbowl XLVII Preview - 3rd February 2013

Finally, it is here once again. The Superbowl! This time, it takes place in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and the teams are the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s my preview of the big game.

Superbowl Sunday

Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers – Ravens win

For the first time in a Superbowl, two head coaches, that are also brothers, will go against each other. Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers and John Harbaugh of the Ravens will go against each other for the first time since the 2011 Thanksgiving game, which the Ravens won 16-6. I’ve got a feeling the Superbowl will create a similar result.

If it does, what a way it would be for Ravens OLB Ray Lewis to retire. He’s already got a Superbowl ring from back when the Ravens won it in their first and only trip to the Superbowl in the 2000 season. This however, will be his last game ever and to go out with another Superbowl ring on his finger is the script of a Hollywood movie. This possibility will drive the rest of the Ravens squad to help him achieve it.

Ravens OLB Ray Lewis - 

Doug Pensinger/Getty Image

However, the 49ers have a 100% record in the Superbowl, winning five out of the five times they have been there. Their last Superbowl win though was back in the 1994 season, when NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young was QB. If they win their sixth Superbowl title, they’ll match the Pittsburgh Steelers with the most ever Superbowl wins.

One man who will want to win the Superbowl more than ever, is Ravens QB Joe Flacco. He can prove to his critics that he should be in the class of elite QBs with a win on the big stage on Superbowl Sunday. He will be hoping he can add more touchdowns to the eight he has already earned in his last three playoff games, therefore WRs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith need to be on form. RB Ray Rice will also need to be on form too, to make sure the offense line stays aggressive.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco celebrating 

- AP Photo-Charles Krupa

The 49ers defense trio of Patrick Willis, NaVarro Bowman and Aldon Smith will do everything they can to stop Flacco from releasing the ball. If Flacco manages to get the ball off though, the 49ers secondary including CB Tarell Brown, DB Chris Culliver and FS Dashon Goldson will be the last line of defense to stop the Ravens getting any 21 unanswered points like they did against the New England Patriots.

49ers ILB Patrick Willis (no. 52)
 - Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images

On the offense side for the 49ers is QB Colin Kaepernick. The 2^nd year QB has been fantastic since taking over QB Alex Smith as starter earlier this season. Expect him to use the option plays which came alive against the Packers earlier in the playoffs being used once again. RB Frank Gore, WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis will be helping him out, as the 49ers will want to catch out the Ravens defense anyway possible.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick (no. 7)

 - Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images

In Kaepernick’s and the 49ers way though, is a Ravens defense that wants to give Lewis the best sending off for retirement ever. FS Ed Reed and CBs Cary Williams and Corey Graham will be hoping to stop anything coming into the secondary. Hoping to stop the ball from ever reaching the secondary are Lewis, ILB Dannell Ellerbe and OLB Terrell Suggs. Collectively the whole Ravens defense will want to repeat a similar performance like they did against the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

AFC Champions: Baltimore Ravens

Four out of the last five Superbowls have been won by six points or less (only exception is Superbowl XLIV where the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts by 14 points), so expect another tight and exciting game.

This is also the first time since Superbowl XXXVII that a Manning, Brady or Roethlisberger hasn’t featured in the Superbowl, showing the rise of a new era of QBs.

My score-line prediction:

Baltimore Ravens 28-21 San Francisco 49ers

The Superbowl will kick off at 6:30pm ET (11:30pm GMT) on 3^rd February. Alicia Keys will be singing the national anthem and Beyoncé will be performing in the Pepsi Superbowl Half time show. Watch out for the Superbowl commercials too.

twitter - @ConorJPorter

San Francisco 49ers 28-24 Atlanta Falcons - Match Report

Streeter Lecka-Getty Images

A nine yard touchdown run by Frank Gore means the San Francisco 49ers will go to their sixth Superbowl, thanks to a 28-24 win against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. 

The Falcons were the team though that got off to the best start. On the seventh play of their opening drive, QB Matt Ryan was able to find WR Julio Jones in open space down field for a 46 yard touchdown.

On the first 49ers drive, they were forced three and out as a pass by their QB Colin Kaepernick intended for TE Vernon Davis was broken up by Falcons FS Thomas DeCoud, forcing them to punt the ball.

Jones then caught a 27 yard pass on the Falcons eighth play on their next drive, putting him on 100 yards for the game, with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

However, the Falcons had to settle for a 37 yard field goal by their K Matt Bryant, on the twelfth play of their drive.

The first sack of the game occurred on the next 49ers drive as Falcons DT Corey Peters was able to get to Kaepernick, forcing another three and out and another punt by the 49ers.

At the start of the second quarter and on the fourth play of the Falcons drive, Jones added another touchdown to the Falcons score with an amazing catch in the left hand corner of the end zone thanks to a 20 yard pass by Ryan, giving the Falcons a 17 point lead.

The 49ers finally entered the RedZone for the first time in the game on the tenth play of their next drive, thanks to a 27 yard pass from Kaepernick to Davis.

Two plays later, RB LaMichael Jones gave the 49ers their first points of the day with a 15 yard run into the end zone for a touchdown, reducing the Falcons lead to ten.

After the Falcons were force three and out, the 49ers entered the red zone again after a 25 yard pass from Kaepernick to Davis, who was then forced out of bounds at the Falcons four yard line by Falcons CB Asante Samuel.

Davis then finished off the drive one play later, catching a four yard pass for a touchdown, reducing the Falcons lead to three.

Gonzalez restored the Falcon's ten point lead on the fifth play of their next drive, with a great catch for a touchdown in the middle of the end zone, from a 10 yard pass by Ryan.

This made the half time score, 14-24 to the Falcons.

The 49ers started with the ball in the second half and added more points to the board thanks to a five yard run by their RB Frank Gore, completing a seven play drive of 82 yards.

Five plays into the Falcons next drive, Ryan was sacked for the first time in the game by 49ers NT Isaac Sopoaga. On the next play, Ryan was picked off by 49ers CB Chris Culliver, the first turnover of the game.

On the first play of the 49ers resulting drive, Kaepernick completed another deep throw to Davis for 31 yards, who was pushed out of bounds at the Falcons 25 yard line by DeCoud.

The 49ers were given a chance to level the game four plays later, but K David Akers field goal attempt hit the left upright, keeping the score 21-24 to the Falcons.

Nine plays into the Falcons next drive, Ryan fumbled the snap, which 49ers OLB Aldon Smith jumped on, giving his team the ball on their own 37 yard line, the second turnover of the game.

On the fourth play of the 49ers drive in the fourth quarter, WR Michael Crabtree plucked the ball out of the air for a 33 yard pass to the Falcons 33 yard line.

Two plays later though, Crabtree fumbled a pass on the Falcons one yard line, eventually recovered by Falcons SS William Moore for no gain.

However, the 49ers got the ball back straight away, as they forced the Falcons three and out for the second time in the game. A poor punt by the Falcons, allowed the 49ers to start their next drive on the Falcons 38 yard line.

Six plays into the 49ers drive, Gore ran for a nine yard touchdown, giving the 49ers the lead for the first time in the game.

On the fourteenth play of the Falcons drive, on a 4th down and 4, a pass intended for Falcons WR Roddy White was broken up by ILB NaVarro Bowman, resulting in the third turnover of the game.

The Falcons defense then forced the 49ers three and out for the third time in the game, giving the Falcons one last opportunity to win the game from their own 41 yard line.

Sadly, it wasn't to be. Ryan managed to complete a 24 yard pass to Jones, but he was stopped on the 49ers 35 yard line by 49ers CB Carlos Rogers, making the final score 28-24 to the 49ers.

This win means the 49ers are the champions of the NFC, but more importantly, they will be competing in the Superbowl for the sixth time in their history on 3rd February, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, against the Baltimore Ravens.

This game will also be the first time that two head coaches that are brothers, Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers and John Harbaugh of the Ravens, have gone against each other in the Superbowl.

twitter - @ConorJPorter

NFL Predictions - Conference Championship Previews - 20th January 2013

Last weekend was one great weekend, filled with lots of outstanding NFL action. The Baltimore Ravens were able to defeat the AFC number one seed Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers outplayed the Green Bay Packers for the second time this season, the Atlanta Falcons became the top 'bird of prey' by winning against the Seattle Seahawks, and the New England Patriots won their divisional match up against the Houston Texans for the second year in a row.

These results have set up two fantastic Conference Championship games for this Sunday, including one rematch from last year’s playoffs. The 49ers will play against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome and the Ravens will travel to Gillette Stadium to play against the Patriots. Here are my previews and predictions of this Sunday's action.

NFC Championship

San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons - Falcons win

Yes ladies and gentlemen, the Falcons will be going to the Superbowl for the first time since the 1998 season. In my opinion too, they should be able to defeat the 49ers with ease. Falcons WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones won't be going against a CB like Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman this Sunday, so they might be able to get into more open spaces, giving QB Matt Ryan more options. The 49ers Linebacker trio that will be trying to stop him any way possible though, are Pro-Bowlers Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will be looking to continue his good form from the Packers game last week. With the success of the option plays last week, expect to see the option plays being run a lot in this game. It's important not to forget the inclusion of RB Frank Gore in the rushing game and WR Michael Crabtree in the passing game as well. Don't be surprised though if you see Falcons DE John Abraham stopping Kaepernick ever allow this to happen. Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux will be hoping he can play the same way he did against the Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, to stop any 49ers inside running game. There are still some errors though in the Falcons secondary as shown by the Seahawks and their 21 points in the fourth quarter. Falcons FS Thomas DeCoud and CB Asante Samuel will need to recapture their regular season form though if they want to stop Crabtree and 49ers TE Vernon Davis from getting any passes this game. Falcons to win by a touchdown.

AFC Championship 

Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots - Patriots win

This is a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, which the Patriots won and which was also at Gillette Stadium. I think they will do the same this weekend as well. However, the Ravens and the Patriots have already met each other this season back in Week 3, which the Ravens won 31-30 at M&T Bank Stadium with a fourth quarter comeback. Therefore, although the Patriots may have home-field advantage which is a big factor in games of this magnitude, they must make sure they don't get complacent when they have the lead. Patriots QB Tom Brady is on fine form as he always is, and is also the perfect leader to make sure his team is focused on the task at hand. He has an equal counter-part in this field though in the form of Ravens OLB Ray Lewis, who will be doing everything he can to stop Brady, to make sure his last game before retirement is at the Superbowl.

Brady will once again be looking to hand off to RB Stevan Ridley and connect with WR Wes Welker this Sunday. Usual TE target Rob Gronkowski though is out due to injury, so the likes of TE Aaron Hernandez and WR Brandon Lloyd will be receiving a lot more of the ball. Lewis along with OLB Terrell Suggs and CB Ed Reed will be looking to stop him, but also CB Corey Graham will be looking to add more interceptions to his stats along with the two he earned against the Denver Broncos last week. Ravens QB Joe Flacco still has to prove to some critics that he is an 'elite' QB and one way he can do this is going one step further than last year and get the Ravens to the Superbowl. WR Torrey Smith and RB Ray Rice will be there to assist him. However, if the Patriots defensive line of DTs Vince Wilfork and Brandon Deaderick and DEs Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones can perform the same way they did against Houston Texans RB Arian Foster, they'll force the Ravens to pass the ball, applying more pressure on Flacco to perform. Patriots to win by a touchdown.

twitter - @ConorJPorter