Well here we are, the last weekend of NFL football before the holy grail of sporting events, the Super Bowl. By Sunday's end both tickets to the biggest of games will be punched and an epic clash will await in Indianapolis.
BALTIMORE 30, NEW ENGLAND 27
In an epic clash of strength vs. strength, the vaunted Ravens D comes into Foxboro with aspirations of shutting down the Patriots high-powered offense. The Ravens have been one of, if not the most unpredictable team from week to week, as they've turned in dominant performances against the likes of the Steelers and 49ers while falling victim to the Jaguars and Seahawks. In four losses this season, the entire team played down to their competition and if they hope to win on Sunday, everyone has to be ready to go. The Patriots on the other hand looked very sharp in their blow out win over the Broncos last weekend though New England fans beware, teams that have scored 40+ pts in the postseason tend to struggle the following round. The match up ultimately comes down to which weakness can be most effective. The Pats D is atrocious and one of the worst in the NFL, while the Ravens O apart from Ray Rice has been pedestrian. Should the New England step up and get multiple crucial stops, the Pats should walk away victorious. However, if the Ravens D can play to its full potential and shut down the Patriots just enough for Joe Flacco to get a lead, John Harbaugh's guys will be Indianapolis bound.
NEW YORK GIANTS 20, SAN FRANCISCO 27
Coming off a simply epic victory over the Saints, how will the 49ers follow it up? And let's not forget that New York upended the defending Super Bowl champs in dominant fashion. Both teams sport punishing defenses, with San Francisco's having the edge in linebacker and defensive back play and New York sporting a slightly better D line. The Giants offense has a decisively more explosive passing game, while SF has a slightly better ground attack. I expect this game to be a very physical affair as neither team is supremely better than the other. This Sunday night showdown should be competitive throughout with the outcome being decided late in the 4th quarter. San Francisco has been consistently better than the Giants throughout the season, though New York has shown the ability to turn in unexpected dominating performances. When the dust settles though, an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl will be set when alls said and done.
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