Head Coach: John Fox

Key Position: Running Back – It’s not a glaring weakness, but one that Denver must solve if they are to take pressure off of QB Peyton Manning.  But to be honest, the Broncos will need to make sure the defense doesn’t give up big plays like they did against the Ravens in the playoffs last year.

Key Acquisitions: CB Quentin Jammer (San Diego Chargers), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Philadelphia Eagles), DT Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville Jaguars), G Louis Vasquez (San Diego Chargers), LB Shaun Phillips (San Diego Chargers), WR Wes Welker (New England Patriots)

Key Rookies: DT Sylvester Williams, RB Montee Ball

Head Coach: Andy Reid (Philadelphia Eagles)

Key Position: Quarterback – The one team that desperately needed a good quarterback was the Kansas City Chiefs.  Ranked 32nd in passing last year, they relied heavily on their RB Jamaal Charles and the defense to bail them out.  With QB Alex Smith aboard they hope to give their defense more rest and more opportunities for Charles and others to score. 

Key Acquisitions: CB Dunta Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), CB Sean Smith (Miami Dolphins), DE Mike DeVito (New York Jets), QB Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers), TE Anthony Fasano (Miami Dolphins), WR Donnie Avery (Indianapolis Colts)

Key Rookies: T Eric Fisher, RB Knile Davis

Head Coach: Mike McCoy (Denver Broncos)

Key Position: Offense – The focus should be to keep QB Philip Rivers upright and have more time to make plays in the pocket. Without a reliable running game to alleviate the pressure Rivers sees, it will be another long season for the Chargers.

Key Acquisitions: CB Derek Cox (Jacksonville Jaguars), DE/LB Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts), RB Danny Woodhead (New England Patriots), T King Dunlap (Philadelphia Eagles)

Key Rookies: T D.J. Fluker, LB Manti Te’o, WR Keenan Allen

Head Coach: Dennis Allen

Key Position: Running Back – They seemed to have forgotten that RB Darren McFadden is one of the best running backs in football. Now that they traded away QB Carson Palmer, they’ll look to get back to featuring more of McFadden.

Key Acquisitions: CB Tracy Porter (Denver Broncos), CB Mike Jenkins (Dallas Cowboys), LB Nick Roach (Chicago Bears), QB Matt Flynn (Seattle Seahawks), S Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)

Key Rookies: CB D.J. Hayden, T Menelik Watson

Head Coach: John Harbaugh

Key Position: Defense – There is a new identity to the franchise and many new additions to the 17th ranked defense last season. With the departures of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, Baltimore’s defense will take a hit.  They weren’t that great with them last year, but a Super Bowl title debunks all that criticism.

Key Acquisitions: DE Marcus Spears (Dallas Cowboys), DT Chris Canty (New York Giants), S Michael Huff (Oakland Raiders), LB Elvis Dumervil (Denver Broncos), LB Daryl Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Key Rookies: S Matt Elam, LB Arthur Brown 

Head Coach: Marvin Lewis

Key Position: Offense – The Bengals first two picks of the draft were used to help get the offense going after being ranked 22nd overall (18th in rushing, 17th in passing).  There’s far too much talent here for them to not be ranked in the top 10 in the league.

Key Acquisitions: LB James Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Key Rookies: TE Tyler Eifert, RB Giovani Bernard, S Shawn Williams

Head Coach: Mike Tomlin

Key Position: Running Back – Only the Green Bay Packers seem to have gone longer without having a 1,000 yard rusher.  They need to get back to running the ball (26th in rushing) and take less pressure off QB Ben Roethlisberger. 

Key Acquisitions: CB William Gay (Arizona Cardinals), QB Bruce Gradkowski (Cincinnati Bengals)

Key Rookies: LB Jarvis Jones, RB Le’Veon Bell

Head Coach: Rob Chudzinski (Carolina Panthers)

Key Position: Offense – It will be hard to improve the 25th ranked offense with a new coaching staff, but QB Brandon Weeden should thrive in new coordinator Norv Turner’s system. If not the Browns will have to look elsewhere.

Key Acquisitions: DT Desmond Bryant (Oakland Raiders), LB Paul Kruger (Baltimore Ravens), LB Quentin Groves (Arizona Cardinals), QB Jason Campbell (Chicago Bears)

Key Rookies: LB Barkevious Mingo, CB Leon McFadden

Head Coach: Bill Belichick

Key Position: Secondary – Ranked 29th against the pass last year will not result in a Super Bowl title if that happens again this year.

Key Acquisitions: WR Danny Amendola (St. Louis Rams), DT Tommy Kelly (Oakland Raiders), S Adrian Wilson (Arizona Cardinals)

Key Rookies: LB Jamie Collins

Head Coach: Joe Philbin

Key Position: Quarterback – Ranked 27th in scoring last season, Miami with all of the new offensive weapons at QB Ryan Tannehill’s disposal must improve in this area.

Key Acquisitions: CB Brent Grimes (Atlanta Falcons), LB Dannell Ellerbe (Baltimore Ravens), LB Philip Wheeler (Oakland Raiders), T Tyson Clabo (Atlanta Falcons), TE Dustin Keller (New York Jets), WR Brandon Gibson (St. Louis Rams), WR Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Key Rookies: DE Dion Jordan, K Caleb Sturgis 

Head Coach: Doug Marrone (Syracuse University)

Key Position: Quarterback – Ranked 25th in passing, the Bills will need to find consistency at this position. They’re hoping rookie QB E.J. Manuel will solve this as they begin to implement a read option system.

Key Acquisitions: LB Manny Lawson (Cincinnati Bengals), QB Kevin Kolb (Arizona Cardinals)

Key Rookies: QB E.J. Manuel, WR Robert Woods, LB Kiko Alonso

Head Coach: Rex Ryan

Key Position: Every offensive position – The Jets were the 30th ranked offense last year and it doesn’t bode well this year either. If they can get back to establishing the running game, they might get back to the middle of the pack.

Key Acquisitions: LB Antwan Barnes (San Diego Chargers), RB Chris Ivory (New Orleans Saints), S Dawan Landry (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Key Rookies: CB Dee Milliner, DT Sheldon Richardson, QB Geno Smith

What can you say?  The Baltimore Ravens made plays when they needed to.  I being like most 49ers fans was disappointed for a moment. They came so close to completing the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.  Yet I believe the 49ers are far too talented to not get back to the Super Bowl in the near future. With that aside you have to give all the credit to the Ravens. 

First and foremost to their MVP QB Joe Flacco. His hot streak continued right from the start of the game. He threw three touchdown passes early in the first half to propel them to an eventual title. The game probably shouldn’t have been as close as it was if the power didn’t go out early in the third quarter. That did help the 49ers get more time to regroup for the rest of the game. 

Flacco’s poise under pressure was flawless. He made big throws in tight windows to WR Anquan Boldin and TE Dennis Pitta for touchdowns. His trademark deep pass connected with WR Jacoby Jones just before halftime. But two of his completions to Boldin on third down in the second half were instrumental in their victory. 

Jacoby Jones did have a big impact on special teams as he opened the second half with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Some argued that he should have been the MVP, but no matter who won the award it was Flacco’s year. 

Does this put Joe Flacco at the top of the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks? No. Not yet at least. Winning a Super Bowl definitely puts you in a different class. Some will say he won with less talent around him. The same can be said of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has two rings. But does that put him in the running as the best quarterback in the league? No it certainly doesn’t. 

For my list Flacco is still not in my top five, but he’s right there. Either six or seven. Just outside the top five. Another Super Bowl title certainly will make me rethink my top five, but for now he knows that everyone has to start including him in the conversation. Just like Eli Manning a few years ago everyone, including myself, scoffed at Flacco when he said he was the best quarterback in the NFL. 

Now I’m eating some crow, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Just like I did for Eli Manning last year after he beat the 49ers, I’m doing the same with Flacco. They had an amazing run. Things will probably be different for them next year. Especially on defense, but at least they know they have a franchise quarterback leading the way for them for the foreseeable future. 

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1)

Ravens – 16th

49ers – 11th

Ravens – 17th

49ers – 3rd

Two weeks is way too long to have to wait for the Super Bowl to start.  This year is a little more nerve racking for me.  I’m a 49ers fan.  If you don’t know that by now, well the secret is out.  What you probably don’t know is that this is the first time I’ve predicted my team to be in the Super Bowl since I started this website.  I have tried my best to be a realistic fan.  Granted those days of screaming at the TV are still in me, but I’d like to think I’ve done a good job of keeping that back.  With that said this years Super Bowl is going to be a dandy.  So many great players that will be putting their talents on display.  It’s going to be a fantastic day.

If you haven’t hear yet, both head coaches are brothers.  The only thing that I have in common with both Harbaughs’ is that I have brothers, three to be exact.  Going against one another we’re always competitive with each other.  That will be no different between John and Jim.  Both go about their business in almost the exact same way.  Their teams’ style reflects their head coaches’. Jim had to deal with a bit of a quarterback controversy in the middle of the season as he chose Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith.  John had to make a change at offensive coordinator firing Cam Cameron and promoting Jim Caldwell to the same position. Both moves had risk, but both coaches were rewarded for their bold moves.  The one advantage that goes in John’s favor is that he has beaten Jim once before, last Thanksgiving in Baltimore. Both seem to have no problem talking about playing against one another, but when it gets to game time they both know what will be at stake.  Never again will the majority of the headlines for a Super Bowl be about the head coaches than the one this year.

As I mentioned before, there are a lot of great players playing in this game.  Everyone is focusing on Ravens LB Ray Lewis going for another Super Bowl title.  That is just one story.  Another is seeing 49ers WR Randy Moss try to win his first Super Bowl title. He had one previous opportunity with the Patriots in 2007.  Other great players like Ravens S Ed Reed, LB Terrell Suggs and 49ers LB Patrick Willis, DT Justin Smith and RB Frank Gore will be going after their first Super Bowl titles as well.  All of those players mentioned are going to be talked about all day Sunday.  The Ravens and 49ers have three players each that haven’t been talked about as much this week.  For the Ravens it’s QB Joe Flacco, WR Anquan Boldin and S Bernard Pollard.  For the 49ers it’s LB Navorro Bowman, LB Aldon Smith and S Donte Whitner.  Baltimore will need to tandem of Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin to be at their best.  Bernard Pollard will need to do his best to help cover the middle of the field and stop the run.  Bowman is among the best linebackers in the game right now.  He will be tasked with covering the Ravens TE Dennis Pitta and RB Ray Rice.  Smith and Whitner are excellent attacking defenders.  Smith is among the best pass rushers and Whitner is a fearless hard hitting safety.  The 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will be a major part of their gameplan as well.

It’s simple for both teams.  Stop the run.  The Ravens will need to get RB Ray Rice and RB Bernard Pierce involved early and they need to be productive.  They have been quiet for most of these playoffs, but they need to show their capable of performing on this stage.  The 49ers will need to get RB Frank Gore going as well. With the speedy complement of RB LaMichael James the 49ers have a perfect combination for their pistol offense.  Baltimore and San Francisco both take pride in stopping the other teams running game.  This will be a tough task for both, but whomever is able to run the ball more and control the clock will be victorious.

You all know who I want to win.  I have waited almost 20 years to see my team get back to the Super Bowl.  I take pride in knowing that this team has been through some rough patches and still remained confident to appear in two consecutive conference championship games.  The Baltimore Ravens will provide a great matchup.  They have been waiting for a long time as well to get back to the Super Bowl.  There have been a lot of good teams in their history, but I will argue that this team is perhaps the best in their franchise’s history.  Both teams play the old school, smash mouth type of football that I grew up loving.  This will be a great game regardless of the outcome.  49ers win 24-21.