Super Bowl Review
Holy crap that Super Bowl was crazy. There were fireworks from beginning to end, minus the little bit of time when the LIGHTS IN THE STADIUM SHUT OFF. During the Super Bowl. How does that happen? Anyway, I want to start off by congratulating the Baltimore Ravens on winning the 2013 Super Bowl with a dominant first half, followed by an OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP second half, that at least kept the game interesting. I also wanted to pat myself on the back, as well as anyone who might have listened to me when I predicted the Ravens to win the Super Bowl in my preseason predictions post. I don’t want to come across as cocky or egoistic because I self-promote myself in times like these; the thing about me is that I always own up to it when I am wrong, so when I nail a prediction as awesome as this one, I feel that it’s fair to take some credit. I wanted to do a Super Bowl review separate from the entire NFL season review because 1: there’s a lot to talk about, and 2: it’s still fresh in my head. So, there’s no more introduction needed. Let’s get into what happened on a thrilling night.
The night started off with some emotions, when the Sandy Hook chorus sang America the Beautiful, and Alicia Keys performed a very moving National Anthem (I started off 0/1 with props; her anthem was much longer than I thought it would be). I feel like if you’re having a discussion with your friend about some of the best voices in this age, Alicia Keys would be one of those people you leave off the list at first, and then the next time you hear her sing, you’re like, “how did we forget about her, she should definitely be included on that list”. The game started off fast too, with the 49ers immediately going 3 and out, followed by a quick Ravens touchdown from Flacco to Boldin. Flacco would later throw a strike to Dennis Pitta for his second TD, putting the Ravens up 14-3. Baltimore was in complete control at this point. The LaMichael James fumble earlier was huge, too; at the time it was 7-3 and the 49ers were in field goal range, at least. After 14-3, Kaepernick, who looked shocked and rattled early on, immediately through a pick to Ed Reed, further sending the 49ers into a tailspin. The next play I want to talk about, is, of course, the fake field goal. It took me completely by surprise. I feel positively and negatively about the call. I like the guts and confidence by John Harbaugh to say, “we’re going for an early dagger right here”, but I would not have made the same call. Not on 4th and 9, that’s the part that I disagree with. A lot to ask from your kicker to get nine yards with a bunch of speedy special teams guys out on the field for San Fran. It ended up not costing them, so in hindsight I would say the call ended up being low-risk (49ers got the ball at like the five), high reward (huge statement and three-possession lead potential). Of course, it didn’t work out, and Baltimore got a quick stop anyway. Then came the play before the half that knocked the wind out of San Francisco. It wasn’t quite the dagger yet, but it was a big blow: the touchdown to Jacoby Jones. I’m surprised he didn’t have his feet up smoking a cigar by a fireplace, that’s how open he was. 56 yards later, the game is blown open, and we end up going to halftime at 21-6, when the niners came up short in the red zone again.
So here we are at halftime. I’m still recovering from how dominant the Ravens were in the first thirty minutes. I was on top of the world, filled with wings, enjoying my pick cruise to a title, and about to witness royalty. Because that’s when Queen Beyonce came out, a goddess stuck on Earth with lowly mortals. That halftime show was extremely energizing. Rumors turned out to be true when the rest of Destiny’s Child popped up from under the stage and joined B for a little bit. To tell you the truth, a small part of me is disappointed, because she didn’t really sing that much with her angelic voice. But for the spots that were lacking for my ears, it was more than made up for with the visual artistry taking place. And by that, I mean Beyonce in a tight black outfit dancing with the grace of a swan and the power of Joan of Arc. Oh my god. The whole world witnessed last night why she was, is, and will always be my celebrity crush. Great performance, a lot of fun to watch, and beautiful in every way. Thank you, Beyonce.
I was still in dreamland when the second half started. And in the blink of an eye, Jacoby Jones was going 108 to the house. I actually missed the first thirty yards and looked up as he broke free from the pack. I was stunned. The whole world knew that Jim Harbaugh had just given a fiery speech to try and get his guys going, and they desperately needed a fast start to the second half. Kick return touchdown for Baltimore. This, I thought, was the dagger. 28-6 with every ounce of momentum and fire that any champion needs. Flacco was on his game, Ray Lewis was the emotional leader he always is, and John Harbaugh was coaching his way to a blowout over his brother...and then the lights went out.
I’m starting a whole new paragraph for this. The 34-minute wait from hell. The game immediately switched from the HarBowl to the Blackout Bowl. There’s been a lot of controversy over ESPN and other networks and radio shows, etc. over the impact of this delay. I agree and disagree with different parts of people’s arguments. I think that this delay DID have an impact on this game, to an extent. I believe in fate, karma, gods, however you want to put it in terms of the sports world. Other things fall into this category of intangible factors on performance, such as momentum. And this wait deeply affected that. This was just after Jones’ kick return that electrified the building. The 49ers were facing a 3rd an 13. They had no confidence. This game was over. The wait changed everything: the energy level of the Baltimore defense just depleted. A huge part of defending is determination, passion, and will, and the fiery streak that the Ravens had just diminished. Part of this is the players’ fault, of course, but the delay was life-sucking. the 49ers, meanwhile, had a chance to catch their breath, and to look at themselves and think, “we’re better than this, and we’re not going out like punks”. From then on, Baltimore played softer and reserved, while the 49ers were the ones attacking, feeling confident and making explosive plays. It was like the teams switched mindsets during the blackout. The Ravens should have came out more aggressive, but they probably felt a little comfortable with their lead, and stepped off the gas, while the niners put the gas to the ground. They scored 17 points in the next four minutes and change. If the 49ers had won this game, I have no doubt that the blackout would have played a major role in it; but a lot of credit has to be given to San Francisco for laying everything on the line, and Baltimore has to be blamed for pulling back. The 49ers did their job after the break, but the Ravens let the niners get in rhythm, which was almost their own downfall. In the end it comes down to the players, but what I’m saying is that the blackout gave the 49ers a new life, and they are the ones who executed afterward, outscoring Baltimore 25-6 for the rest of the game. That’s my stance.
Let’s get back to the action. From here on out, I was terrified. I truly thought that San Francisco was just going to run away with this one at the end. The defensive side of the ball for Baltimore took a huge downturn. The beginning of the comeback was a 31-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick to Crabtree, with some of the worst tackling on one play I’ve ever seen in my life. YOU TACKLE WITH YOUR ARMS, BALTIMORE, NOT JUST BY HITTING SOMEONE HARD. That should not have been a touchdown, but the Ravens let them run wild. Then Baltimore had an instant three and out, followed by a horrible punt. It took two plays for the 49ers to get back in the end zone. And on the Gore touchdown, Haloti Ngata was knocked out for the rest of the game. In the blink of an eye, it’s a one-possession game and the Ravens don’t have their top run stopper. Oh crap. In the next sequence, Ray Rice, of course, fumbles the ball right back to San Francisco. Then, it’s the stop Baltimore needed: David Akers missed a field goal, right on schedule, giving the Ravens the ball back, with momentum, and a new drive to take back control. Except for one thing: Baltimore had a running into the kicker penalty, which probably could have been roughing if the refs weren’t passive all night long. Akers made his second chance. Combined with the missed fake field goal, that’s six points that the Ravens gave up on field goals. Now it’s 28-23, where one more San Fran touchdown GIVES THEM THE LEAD. Baltimore stopped the bleeding a little bit on their next drive, but not before backup running back Bernard Pierce got hurt on the last play of the third quarter following a huge third down pickup. That was devastating, although he would thankfully come back in the game. I love this kid; I actually think he was better than Ray Rice the last few games of the season. He’s a bulldozer with some nice agility as well, with the speed to get to the outside. He’s a stud. Now on to the fourth quarter.
Still up 28-23, the Ravens have the ball on the one yard line, 3rd and goal after being stuffed on second down. Here’s another decision I didn’t like from the coaching staff for Baltimore. You were aggressive earlier, opting for the fake field goal. You have your opponent breathing down your neck, and have a chance to strike hard. They opted to go play action, and after an incomplete pass, kick the field goal to make it 31-23, an 8-point game. However, this was the time to push, in my opinion. Run the ball. You have two chances, along with fourth down, to get a single yard. They were solid on short yardage all night. Pound the rock from that close, and make it 35-23 in the fourth quarter, taking control back and making it a two possession game. John Harbaugh decided to play it safe, probably because he was scared of the 49ers’ run as well. I would have liked to see them make a stand. Find a way to get one yard. Anyway, I digress. Afterward, Baltimore let San Fran go straight down the field and score again, this time on a Kaepernick scramble. 31-29. 10 minutes left. Next coaching decision: do you go for two this early in the game? My mom was actually the one who questioned this call. I agreed with Jim (I’m just going to use first names to make it easier; I am not on first name terms with the Harbaugh brothers, obviously). Your team is hot. You go for the tie right now. And then, the amazing happened: THEY BLITZED KAEPERNICK AND MANNED UP ON THE OUTSIDE. What a concept. And it worked: Kaep had to throw it fast and missed Randy Moss. Ravens clinging to the lead.
Then came the play of the game, in my opinion. Ravens driving, 3rd and inches at their own 45 with 7:14 to go. Pound this ball, pick up the first, and ice more clock. That’s the plan. But don’t tell Joe Flacco that. He saw the obvious blitz that the LBs were showing, and audibled to the one on one outside matchup, a pass to Anquan Boldin. Joe threw it up, and Boldin once again came down with a marvelous grab, holding onto the ball even though the defender’s arm was in between Boldin’s body and the ball. Shades of that touchdown catch he had against the Colts in the first round. That was the biggest, gutsiest play of the game. The Ravens were not in field goal range, and an incomplete pass would have stopped the clock. After that play, I looked to my parents and said out loud, “That’s a championship play”. The drive would later stall when Dennis Pitta couldn’t bring in a third down pass, which means that Baltimore had to settle for a Tucker field goal, cutting the lead only to 5. This means that the 49ers would be forced to score a touchdown instead of a field goal, but also that a TD would be enough to win. Here’s where that Boldin catch comes into play: not only did it extend the drive, leading to a score instead of a punt, but it took another two and a half minutes off the clock. 34-29. 4:19 left. And here’s the drive for Kaepernick. To either come up short, or become a champion. I felt pretty confident, until the niners went for 24 on a pass to Crabtree, followed by a 33 yard run by Frank Gore to get down to the seven yard line. This is it. Four plays for the Super Bowl Championship.
Needless to say, I was freaking out. Kaepernick was destroying me all second half. And now he only needs seven more yards to win the Super Bowl from down 22. However, the Ravens are really good defensively in the red zone; they destroyed the Patriots when they got inside the twenty in the AFC Championship. 1st down: run by LaMichael James. I’ll take that. 2nd down: incomplete to Crabtree on rollout. Nice. Horrible timeout by the niners. 3rd down: incomplete to Crabtree on a quick out. One more play. One play for the Super Bowl. All out blitz. Fade. Out of bounds. Incomplete. One final goal line stand for Ray Lewis and company to be champions. A lot of questions about playcalling in this sequence, but I don’t care about those. I think the pass calls were ok, the Ravens just defended it well. If anything, they could have tried another run I guess, but in terms of the passes, I think they were solid calls. Would have liked at least ONE to go towards matchup nightmare Vernon Davis. Here’s what I want to focus on. The fourth down play. I gotta be honest...it was defensive holding. But I like the no-call, and I’m not just saying that because I wanted the Ravens to win. The refs were letting them play, there was contact both ways, and Crabtree ran into the defender. It wasn’t a clear cut foul, and I agree with the theory that it would have caused more of a controversy if the call WAS made, then when it wasn’t. It was just a physical play. I was talking all week about the NFC Championship Game, because I thought that fourth down play to Roddy White was a foul on Bowman, and then maybe San Fran isn’t even in this game. But 49ers fans can’t be mad. They were behind 28-6 and had four plays from inside the ten. It was a bang-bang play that wasn’t called. Not horrible. Not Super Bowl-deciding. Just physical.
Wrapping up this game, the Ravens did get the ball back. Instead of punting at the end, John Harbaugh elected to take a safety, in one of the most sloppy, awkward plays I’ve ever seen. The punter held the ball and ran towards the sidelines while there were like five holding calls and much chaos with the camera angle. 34-31 Baltimore. Free kick returned, and Ginn brought down. Game over. Weird ending. No Gatorade pour or anything. No final Hail Mary attempt. But zeroes were on the clock, and the Baltimore Ravens were Super Bowl Champions. A wild, strange game between two physical teams and two competitive brothers. The Harbaugh-Beyonce-Blackout Bowl will not be soon forgotten. Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31.
Let’s get into the aftermath of the game. First, regarding the losing 49ers: their second half comeback symbolized what could have been if they didn’t suck ass the entire beginning of the game. They’ll be a force for a long time. And while I’m glad he didn’t win, Colin Kaepernick was brilliant during that comeback. Joe Flacco might have the biggest arm, but Kaep throws absolute laser beams. He’s a nightmare to gameplan for. I don’t want him to ever win a Super Bowl, but I don’t hate him anymore, as much anyway. I just really wanted him to lose this one. He’s the permanent starter now, so if he goes the distance in a season beginning to end and ends up winning a title, he will truly have deserved it. No hard feelings Colin. Also, Michael Crabtree has completely flourished with Kaepernick at QB. He’s going to be a top 10 WR next year. But more of that in my season review.
There’s not much else to say about the Ravens that hasn’t been discussed at length. I won’t call Flacco an elite QB, because I don’t believe in that word. I’m going to make a separate post about that topic specifically. However, I do think he deserves at least $15 million a year in his new contract. He’s a proven winner. And he had one of the most incredible postseasons ever: 11 TD, 0 INT. He now has the same amount of playoff wins and rings as Peyton Manning, with the most road/neutral site playoff wins ever. And he’s in his fifth year in the NFL. Other takeaways: I love Bernard Pierce. He’ll be a starter someday, wherever that might be. This offense is just starting to develop. Torrey Smith will keep growing, possibly into the most terrifying deep threat in the game. And a shoutout to Anquan Boldin, who has been an incredible professional since the moment he stepped into this league. In my opinion, he’s the toughest player in the entire league, and I thought that before this playoff run. He had his face broken against the Jets a few years ago and only missed like two weeks. He’s made every big play for Baltimore, and had the play of the Super Bowl with that third down catch. I looked at his stats, and by the time he’s retired he should be at or beyond 1,000 catches, 15,000 yards, and 75 touchdowns, give or take. He might be in the Hall of Fame one day. On defense, this unit was not exactly great, but they sure were passionate and savvy, led by Ray Lewis, who I will probably also dedicate a column to sometime soon. No matter what you think about him, it’s nice to see him go out on top. He is one of the greatest leaders in sports history, and a top five linebacker. Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs also got their first rings. Finally, Jacoby Jones was an unsung hero: he’s the one who made the miracle touchdown catch in Denver, and he was huge in the Super Bowl with the long touchdown catch and the explosive kick return touchdown. That return is Exhibit A of why the NFL should keep kickoffs in the game; it really is the most exciting play in football.
Time for some predictions results! I’m pretty happy with how things went in general. But I wasn’t perfect by any means. First off, I was way wrong on the score; it was much higher than I thought it would be. The game did start off slow, and if the niners don’t give up the Jacoby Jones TD, it’s something like 14-6 at the half. But then it got to 28-6, followed by San Fran becoming explosive. In terms of players, I was way too high on Torrey Smith, and way too down on Vernon Davis. I also missed on the jersey number on first TD, and a few of my own over/unders.
However...I nailed a lot. First, to the NFL awards: the only one I missed was AD getting OPOY as well as MVP instead of Peyton. Congrats to Peterson for winning MVP, well-deserved. I correctly predicted touchdowns by Boldin and Pitta for the Ravens, and by Gore and a Kaepernick run as well. I was right not only about the Kaep interception, but that it would go to Ed Reed as well, so if you bet on that, you’re welcome. I was ALMOST right about Akers: if Baltimore hadn’t committed the running penalty, and that FG missed, he would have been 2/3. I was correct about the niners being down by two in the fourth quarter and missing a two point conversion to tie the game, which was really impressive. I called Flacco winning the MVP, and was SO close on the long pass. I got the OVER right on that, but I said 55 to Torrey Smith--it ended up being 56 and a TD to Jacoby Jones.
Finally, I wanted to give this prediction it’s own spotlight.
My Flacco Prediction: 21-32, 289 yds, 2 TD, o INT, MVP
Actual Flacco Stats: 22-33, 287 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT, MVP
Yeah. That one I will definitely cherish. Pretty damn close.
Last but not least, I want to quickly run through some commercials, but I won’t put too much writing here because I want to do a separate commercial piece, not just with Super Bowl ads but all commercials in general. Look out for that one. I’m interested in marketing. So here are some of my thoughts on the ads.
The Good: Audi (prom), Taco Bell (crazy old people), Jeep, Etrade (love that baby), Clydesdale (duh), Dodge Ram farmer thing (deep), Tide (Montana stain)
The Bad: GoDaddy (oh my god. this is ridiculous. definitely bringing this one back in my big commercials piece), Volkswagen (get happy! no. weird jamaican accents. should have been red stripe), Kia (hotbots), Toyota (Kaley Cuoco) others that were bad so I don’t remember them.
The WTF Just Happened: GoDaddy again (because why not), Both Stevie Wonder commercials (I get them, I just thought they were weird. But I did like Zoe Saldana), Axe Apollo (astro-NOT...you know, because of the astr...never mind), Calvin Klein (male model, making hypocrites out of all women who don’t like the over-sexual women commercials).
The Good Celeb Spots: Best Buy (Amy Poehler), Pistachios (GANGNAM STYLE ALERT!!!!!!), Whatever commercial Deion Sanders was in as Leon Sandcastle, Samsung with Seth Rogen and Paul Ruud.
So there we go, all of my thoughts and feelings about the Super Bowl. It was a great night all around, from food to family to Beyonce to a thrilling Ravens win. Even though the NFL season is over, this won’t be my final football column of the year. I’m going to have a complete NFL season review within a week that includes a preview for next year as well, and then I’ll probably have some minor posts until the NFL draft in April. But for now, readers, it’s been an incredible football season, from the replacement refs to Ray Lewis’ retirement run. I hope you enjoyed the season and my writings. I love getting my sports opinions out into the world, so I hope you appreciate reading. Congratulations one more time to my preseason Super Bowl pick, the Baltimore Ravens on winning the 2013 Super Bowl!!! Until next time, sports fans.