MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- After five months of touchdowns, hits, flags, wins, losses and a tie, a national Football league champion will be crowned Feb. 3 in new Orleans, as the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers play the last game of the 2012 season.
Both teams have made unexpected runs this postseason by beating higher-seeded teams. the Ravens played against two of the league’s best quarterbacks in back-to-back weeks, beating peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos and tom Brady’s new england patriots. the 49ers also had a tough road, beating the Green Bay packers and Atlanta Falcons and overcoming a 17-point deficit in the Georgia Dome to win 28-24.
This game has multiple story lines that will broadcast the week leading up to kickoff.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams since 2001. the Ravens have won the past three, including the first game in which brothers Jim and John Harbaugh faced off as nFl coaches last season. this will also be the first Super Bowl where both head coaches are brothers.
Linebacker Ray lewis, who has played his entire career with the Ravens and is the last player from the inaugural team in 1996, announced his retirement earlier this year and will end his career with a Super Bowl appearance.
Second year quarterback Colin Kaepernick will start for the 49ers and will be making only his 10th career start in the NFL. He replaced Alex Smith half-way through this season and led the 49ers to a 7-2 record.
This is the Ravens’ second Super Bowl appearance. the team won it all in 2000 with a stout defense led by the Most Valuable player of the game, Ray lewis. This time around, the Ravens have a balanced offense in addition to their defense. The players have also taken to John Harbaugh’s coaching philosophy, which has its foundation on one thing.
According to John Harbaugh, “there are three important things in putting together a football team: number one is the team, the second most important thing is the team, and the third most important thing is the team.”
The 49ers are trying to become the second team in NFL history with six Super Bowl titles, joining the Pittsburg Steelers. if this happens, Kaepernick will follow the footsteps of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young in 49er lore.
Jim Harbaugh has taken aspects of his playing career and used them to mold his coaching philosophy and team identity.
"If people see characteristics of Bo Schembechler’s teams, or the characteristics of the Baltimore Ravens in our team, then that would be something we’d be proud of.”
No matter the outcome of Super Bowl XLVII, New Orleans has a history of hosting large sporting events and the game is expected to be one of the most watched television events of the year. Even if you don't cheer for the Ravens or 49ers, the Super Bowl atmosphere is something anyone can enjoy.