The J-E-T Press Superbowl Roundtable

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks during a press conference at the New Orleans Convention Center. Super Bowl XLVII will be played between the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The game is a little over 24 hours away, so the staff of the J-E-T Press is going around the table to give our thoughts and predictions for tomorrow’s game. Some are with score, some not. I am going to bring up the rear this time instead of going first, and we are going to start with the ladies:

SYDNEY

Apparently I’m a traitor to the conference I normally support because of who I’m rooting for to win the Super Bowl. As if this isn’t obvious, and although I’ll repeat it again at the end of this little bit here, I’m going for the 9ers. Why? I like their team better. I don’t care much for the Ravens and while I won’t deny that they’re a talented club, I think the 9ers are more talented. They’re also more fun to watch. I don’t buy into the politics of liking a team for one player, but if I did I’d like the 9ers solely because of Colin Kaepernick. Yes, I think it’s terrible that Alex Smith lost his job due to the timing of an injury and the backup’s style of play coming full circle, but look at that team’s games throughout the playoffs and tell me they weren’t the most fun group of guys to hit a field. I don’t care much for Ray Lewis and I think Flacco is a product of his environment that finally hit it right. So, call me a traitor because I’d like to see the team representing the NFC win the big game on Sunday, or just call me a person who doesn’t have any real vested interest in either team and just wants to see a great game. Either way you paint it, I am hoping to see San Francisco come out as the victors. And then we’ll all have to brace for Kaepmania to sweep the land even more. Tebow who?

WINNER: 49ers

DEBBIE SCHECHTER

The 49ers have an opportunity to take the next step, to get the ring that they thought was theirs last year. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been incredible since the moment he took the starting job and he’s had a post-season for the ages. Micahel Crabtree has looked like he’s resurrected his career and now that they were able to get Vernon Davis going, they look unbeatable. That defense for the 49ers has been ferocious all year. HOWEVER, they are coming up against a team in the Ravens that have the pedigree of playing a tough hard nose smash mouth brand of football. And the Ravens have gotten healthy at the right time. Do the 49ers have more talent than the Ravens?  At a lot of the skill positions, I’d say yes they do. But this game is an opportunity for Ravens QB Joe Flacco to finally step into the spotlight and say that I belong with the best of the best. When Mark Sanchez started in the league and made the AFC title game in the first two years, I looked at Joe Flacco as someone who Sanchez could be. Now Flacco is on the verge of being considered one of those elite quarterbacks.

This game, as of right now is a betting line of 49ers being a 3.5 favorite over the Ravens. And to me, that basically amounts to a pick ’em game and that it’s too close to call. This game is going to be won or lost in the trenches with (as Ray Lucas would say) the big fatties up front. I also see this being a big game for both teams running backs. And both teams have stud running backs in Frank Gore and Ray Rice.

I’ve been saying all along that the Ravens will pull this off, I’m going to stay with that pick. And I think Rice (the New Rochelle native) will prevail as the better back and I think that the Ravens defense will figure out Kaepernick. So I’m going with the Ravens (and because it’s fun to try and guess the score — Ravens 17, 49ers 14.

Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco addresses the press during a press conference in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

SEAN LESTER DURHAM

This Superbowl pits brother against brother but that’s not even the most intriguing story line within this game; the tale of 2 QBs searching for next level establishment is more rich has more substance going into the Superbowl IMO…. There’s no doubting the effectiveness of both these respective defenses but this game will be a dual between 2 talented QBs in Joe Flacco and Collin Kaepernick that won’t disappoint….

Solid defenses aren’t the only thing these respective teams have in common. They are both great at running the ball and the effectiveness of their respective offenses is predicated off the effectiveness of the running game…. Both teams have big play WRs with the ability to get past the defense at any given moment, both teams QBs have completed at least 60% of their passes in the playoffs this season and both defenses beat an elite QB to get to the Superbowl, so I’d say this one will be as good as we’ve seen in a long while….. I do give Flacco and the Ravens the slight edge for experience as they have playoff experience on both sides of the ball at key positions. Unlike the Falcons, the Ravens won’t disregard Vernon Davis and will force Kaepernick to find other targets as much as possible and I believe as good as Kaepernick has been this year in his limited action, I believe his inexperience and youth will be exploited by the veteran Ravens defense. Look for Torrey Smith and Ray Rice to have big games for the Ravens and look for Ray Lewis to pick off Kaepernick at least once. Ravens will be crowned kings of the world…. Ravens – 34 49ers – 23

BOB MONTGOMERY

Joe Flacco sends Ray Lewis out on top as the Ravens beat the 9ers in a close fought match. Flacco and Co. have too many weapons for the San Fran secondary to cover. Dennis Pitta and Ray Rice will have big days exploiting coverage over the middle. Counter runs and misdirection will also prove successful against the fast flow defense led by Patrick Willis and Novaro Bowman. Kaepernick will perform and keep it close to the end but a determined Baltimore team will pull out the win on the shoulders of elite quarterback play for Joe Flacco.

Final Ravens 32 – 49ers 27

Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis addresses the media during a press conference in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

JETSERIOUS

It’s starting to look more and more like the Ravens are destined for a Super Bowl Championship. -Ray Lewis’ last run. -Promoting Jim Caldwell to O.C. -Ray Rice’s 4th & 26. -Joe Flacco’s BOMB to Jacoby Jones to beat the Broncos. -Benard Pollard’s forced fumble in New England.

Everything seems to be pointing in one direction…up. And it’s hard to state otherwise. But I’ll give it a shot.

What about San Francisco? They’ve certainly seen the chips fall into place for them this season, very much like the Ravens. -Alex Smith’s concussion… Allowing Kaepernick to get his first career start. -Recovering a punt return fumble, lost by the Packers (not49’ers Kyle Williams). -Kaepernick breaking off for a 56 yard TD run to set the tone at Lambo Field. -Shutting out Atlanta in the second half, to overcome a 28-7 deficit in the Georgia Dome.

The 49ers have shown that they are able to overcome adversity when backed against the wall. With that being said, I’m going to go with the 49ers as the Super Bowl champs. Actually, I don’t think it will be that close.

I believe the 49ers’ aggressive offensive attack will be too much for the Ravens to handle. With so much speed and athleticism, I can’t imagine the Ravens defense going step for step for 60 minutes. The scoreboard will look as if the game was closer than it was, but in reality, the 49ers will have a comfortable lead heading into the 4th quarter. The deficit is too much for the Ravens to overcome, and the 49ers will seal the deal with their downhill rush attack.

San Francisco 34, Baltimore 27 Kaepernick is MVP.

And last but not least………..

ALAN SCHECHTER

I cannot wait for this matchup. Obviously, I am always excited for the Super Bowl, being a football fan, but this game, I actually cannot wait for these two teams to take the field. Yes, the two brothers are going against each other, but that is far from the only thing that makes this game compelling. What’s exciting is that these teams play the same style of football, and both do it well. They both play good defense, run the football well, and can score.

The most compelling element to be is the two quarterbacks, Joe Flacco and Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, as amazing as it sounds, will be making his 10th career start tomorrow in the Super Bowl, and has been quite impressive as we all know. His ability to make it happen with his legs as well as his arm makes him fun to watch, and the bright lights of the big stage don’t faze him. Then we have Joe Flacco, who has been in the playoffs every year since he was drafted, and is looking to cash in and make that step to elite status.

Both quarterbacks will play well, but Flacco’s downfield passing will prove to be the difference. Flacco recorded the second most attempts of over 20 yards or more(92), and was still able to record 11 TDs vs 0 INTs. Torrey Smith will catch a long TD from him and in the end, they will win this one in a close one. Don’t worry SF fans, you will be back.

Winner: Ravens

So we are a little bit split at the J-E-T Press.  What do you guys think about the game?