By Josh Martin
5. San Francisco’s Poor Execution in the Redzone
For the most part, the 49ers had no trouble moving the ball between the twenties. In fact, they outgained the Ravens by over a hundred yards from scrimmage, compiling 468 to Baltimore’s 367. Baltimore, however, unlike San Francisco, was able to execute in the Red Zone. In San Francisco’s 6 trips to the Red Zone they only came up with 2 touchdowns. A 33% touchdown percentage in the Red Zone is not going to get the job done in the Super Bowl, especially when the other team is coming up with touchdowns. Now a lot of the credit for this poor percentage must be attributed to the Raven’s bend but don’t break defense. Coverage tightened as Colin Kaepernick was merely a pedestrian 1 for 5 for 8 yards in the Red Zone. Running holes for Frank Gore, open most of the night, collapsed inside the 20. The only big play was a 15 yard Quarterback scramble for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Otherwise, the red zone was owned by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the Ravens. Of course, when the game culminated in a goal line stand, the resilient Ravens came out on top.
4. John gets best of Jim
In a Super Bowl where the coaches were hyped more than the players, John Harbaugh got the best of his brother Jim. Whatever John did to motivate his players before this game worked as the Ravens jumped out to a 22 point lead just after halftime. Having Ray Lewis in the locker room for one last time probably made motivation effortless. John’s scripted plays worked well as the Ravens came out scored a touchdown on the opening drive. When the game was in its defining moments the Ravens made the brilliant decision to take a safetywhich not only ran out the clock but also flipped the field position.
Jim Harbaugh’s team, while for the most part regarded as the more talented one, came out soft against a Ravens team that was ready. The 49ers struggled to move the ball in the first half due to a critical game planning mistake by San Francisco’s staff. The plan was too scripted and it took away the threat of Kaepernick’s great improvisational skills. Kaepernick has a dual threat presence that only Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton can provide in the NFL and this ability was taken away from him in the first half. When the Niners’ offense started rolling in the second half it was partially due to Kaepernick having more freedom with the ball and he finished with 7 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground. His innate playmaking ability was taken away from him however on the definitive goal line stand, when the last throw was a fade to the corner of the endozone which completely took Kaepernick’s legs out of the equation.
3. Continued Playoff Excellence of Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco played like a guy whose contract was expiring after this season. 287 yards, 3TDs, no picks on 67% capped off one of the best postseasons in NFL history. Joe Flacco struggled for much of the regular season but had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the postseason. After there was strong talk that he might be cut after the regular season, there is a strong possibility he will get the biggest contract in football history after this outstanding post season. After four years of mediocrity, Flacco didn’t manage his team to a Super Bowl victory, he led them to the championship and earned MVP honors. Flacco made all of the throws necessary, showcasing his deep ball on long throws to Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones. If Flacco can sustain the success he showed in the playoffs, he will certainly be worth his contract.
2. Ray Lewis, Defense, Stepped up when it mattered most
The story of the game was Ray Lewis. He only finished with 7 tackles, by far a postseason low for him this year, but his impact on the game was unquestionable. For 17 seasons, Ray Lewis has not only been a lock for the pro bowl and the identity of the Ravens defense, but also the face of the entire city of Baltimore. So when the Ravens defense stepped up in the Super Bowl, a bulk of the credit must go to #52. The defense was punishing out of the gate holding the 49ers, who torched both the Packers and Falcons, to 6 first half points. The defense consistently prevented Kaepernick&Co from getting into the end zone when Baltimore had their heels on the goal line. In the culminating goal line stand, Baltimore was able to create pressure on Kaepernick while only rushing 4 men. Considering that for all of the second half the Ravens defense couldn’t stop the run or the pass, and let up 468 yards, it is incredible that they only gave up 29 points because it could have been much more.
1. ‘Niners did not Limit the Big Play
The Ravens have an offense that is predicated on the quick score. Baltimore struggles against top 10 defenses when they are forced to sustain long drives without big plays. Against the Broncos, they needed three touchdown passes of more than 30 yards to send the game into overtime. The Ravens have three burners in Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Anquan Boldin and a quarterback who can deliver the deep ball. Jacoby Jones, who took two kickoffs to the house during the regular season, is one of the best return men in the league. The Ravens needed these big plays to win the game and the 49ers knew that but they couldn’t stop it. Jacoby Jones, one of the fastest athletes you will ever see was my pick for MVP as he came up with two huge, tone-setting plays in crucial situations. Jones beat the coverage deep caught the ball, fell down and still scored for a 56 yard touchdown in the second quarter to break the game open at 21-3. Jones received the kickoff 8 yards deep in his own end zone. 108 yards and 11 seconds later he was celebrating in his team all the way in the other end zone, silencing a 49ers team looking to make a second half comeback. Without those two enormous plays, there is no way the Ravens win that Super Bowl. They would be well under 5 yards per play from scrimmage and they would not have clung to their initial momentum as long, barely breaking 300 yards of total offense.
Beneath The Helmet 