Top 5 NFL Players of All-Time

1. Jerry Rice
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown
4. Joe Montana
5. Lawrence Taylor

1. Jerry Rice:
1,549 Receptions (1st),
22,895 Receiving Yards (1st),
207 Touchdowns (1st- 197 receiving, 10 rushing)
Pro Bowls- 13
All-Pro Selections-12 (11x 1st Team All-Pro)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)
3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Super Bowl XXIII MVP
2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)
Holds numerous NFL records
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receptions (1,281)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receiving Yards (19,247)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career TDs (187)
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Most 1,000 yard receiving seasons (14)
Most consecutive games with with a pass reception (274)
Most consecutive games with a touchdown reception- (13-1986-1987)
Most seasons with 50 or more receptions (17)
4 seasons with 100+ receptions
6 seasons leading the league in receiving yards
Led the league in touchdown receptions 6 times.
Postseason Records:
Most postseason games (29)
Most postseason touchdowns (22)
Most postseason receiving yards (2,245)
Most postseason receptions (151)
Most consecutive games, 100 or more receiving yards-3 (1988-1989)
Super Bowl Records:
Career points-48 (1st)
Receptions-33 (1st)
Receiving yards- 589 (1st)
Touchdowns- 8 (1st)
Receptions in a game- 11 (1st)
Receiving yards in a game- 215 (1st)
Ranked 1st for NFL Network's Top 100 Players of All-Time
Ranked 2nd for Sporting News Top 100 Players of All-Time
San Francisco 49ers #80 retired

The Consumate definition of consistency and work ethic. What else can be said about the imprint that Jerry Rice has left on the NFL? While other positions can be highly debated, no one can dispute the contributions that Rice has made during his 20-year tenure. His name is written all across the NFL Record Books. Rice's dedication, professionalism, drive and exceptional play are what have made him the legend that he has become. Rice was the most valuable weapon for San Francisco's Super Bowl Success. He was the lead option of the West Coast Offense, as he and HOF QB's like Joe Montana and Steve Young engineered legendary drives and amazing games that will go down in history. Rice is the automatic first pick for any NFL All-Time Team. Jerry's most notable achievements include being first all-time in Receptions (1,549), Receiving Yards (22,895) and Touchdowns (207). Rice is also the NFL All-Time Leader in Receiving for the Postseason, along with being a member of both the 80's and 90's All-Decade Teams. Jerry Rice was, is and will always be the San Francisco Treat.

2. Walter Payton
3,838 Carries (2nd)
16,726 Rushing Yards (2nd)
125 Touchdowns (110 Rushing-4th, 15 Receiving)
1977 NFL AP MVP
1977 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year
1985 Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year)
Super Bowl Champion (XX)
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1993)
Pro Bowl Selections: 9
Pro Bowl MVP (1978)
All-Pro Selections: 9 (6x 1st Team, 3x 2nd Team)
10 seasons with 1,000 yards rushing (1st)
Most seasons with 1,300 or more rushing yards (9-1st)
6 Consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards rushing
Led the league in Rushing Attempts 4 times
NFL Rushing Champion (1,852-1977)
League leader in Rushing Touchdowns (14-1977)
League leader in Yards from Scrimmage (1977, 1978)
Career-high 275 rushing yards in one game (Nov. 20, 1977 vs Minnesota Vikings)
Games with 100 or more yards rushing, career: 77
Consecutive Games with 100 or more yards rushing: 9 (10/13/85-12/8/85)
Yards from Scrimmage, Career: 21,264 (3rd)
All-Purpose Yards, Career: 21,803 (3rd)
Average Yards Per Game, Career: 88 ypg (7th)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Ranked 5th for NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 8th on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
Chicago Bears #34 retired

Walter Payton has to be considered one of the best all-around players in NFL History. He was a dynamic combination of strength and agility, and played with intense physicality. His 5-10, 200 pound frame packed a powerful punch. Coming out of small Jackson St., Sweetness was exceptional from the start. In 1977, Walter won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award as he led the league in Rushing for 1,852 yards with 14 TD's. The highlight of that season came when he rushed for a then Single-Game Record 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20, 1977 in a home game in Chicago. As a bonus, he played with the flu. Payton was also named Offensive Player of the Year that season. Sweetness was the embodiment of the Chicago Bears franchise, as he has left a giant stamp on that organization. For 7 long years, Payton carried a Bears squad that was often mediocre at best. By 1982, Mike Ditka became the coach of Chicago, and started making a turnaround to bring him help. With the addition of fellow Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, Chicago built a defensive machine that would take the weight off of Walter's shoulders while he still continued to produce at a very high level. In 1984, Walter Payton joined Jim Brown on the Rushing Mountain, as he surpassed him to become the NFL's All-Time Leader in Rushing. A torch had been symbolically passed, and there was no one more deserving than Sweetness. In 1985, Walter finally put the icing on his legendary cake as he won his first and only Super Bowl when the Chicago Bears wiped out the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. In 1987, Payton retired with 16,726 yards with 125 Touchdowns. Walter also had 10 seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards. He was also a 9-time Pro Bowler, and 9-time All-Pro Selection. In 1993, Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sadly, he passed away in 1999 at the age of 45. His legacy will continue to be held in the highest regard as his influence has been seen years after his retirement. Payton was also named to the 70's and 80's All-Decade Teams, along with a selection on the NFL 75th Anniversary Team. His nickname was Sweetness, but Payton was like Wolverine on the field.

3. Jim Brown:
2,359 Carries (25th)
12,312 Rushing Yards (9th)
126 Touchdowns (106 Rushing-5th, 20 Receiving)
3x NFL MVP (1957, '58, '65)
Pro Bowl Selections: 9
9x All-Pro Selection (8x 1st Team, 1x 2nd Team)
8x Rushing Champion ('57-'61, '63-'65)
Average Yards Per Game, Career: 104.3 ypg (1st)
Average Yards Per Carry, Career: 5.2 ypc (1st)
Yards from Scrimmage, Career: 14,811 (21)
All-Purpose Yards, Career: 15,459 (24th)
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1971)
Ranked 2nd on NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 1st on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
Cleveland Browns #32 retired

Jim Brown was simply a man among boys during his time. He was a revolutionary running back that you could take from his era and you can guarantee that he will have success in whatever time frame or system that you put him in. Like Wilt Chamberlain in Basketball, Jim Brown was a force to be reckoned with on the Football Field. In his rookie campaign (1957), Brown won his first NFL MVP Award, along with his first Pro Bowl Selection and Rushing Title. Brown would win another MVP in his second season ('58). In 1963, Jim set the original single-season rushing record of 1,863 yards. Brown would make the greatest impression in a short time span of any player in NFL History. Brown would finish his career with 12,312 yards, which is still good enough for ninth all-time. His 126 TD's still rank 5th among all players. Brown's averages are still at the top of all rushers, as he averaged 104.3 yards per game with 5.2 yards per carry. In translation, he averaged half of a first down. Brown monopolized the running back position, and practically carried defenders to the end zone. Jim Brown was the quintessential player of his time, as he was in a class of his own. If you were to build a prototype running back, Jim Brown would be the ultimate model. Brown was a unanimous choice for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, along with the 60's All-Decade Team. Brown raised the bar exceptionally high, and was in a class of his own.

4. Joe Montana:
Completions: 3,409
Attempts: 5,391
Percentage: 63.2%
Passing Yards: 40,551
Touchdowns: 273
Interceptions: 139
QB Rating: 92.3
Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV)
4x NFC Champion (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989)
Pro-Bowl Selections: 8 (1981, '83-'85, '87-'90, '93)
3x AP First-Team All-Pro ('87, '89-'90)
2x AP Second-Team All-Pro ('81, '84)
NFL AP MVP (1989-'90)
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year (1989)
2x AP Sportsman of the Year (1989, '90)
Sporting News Sportsman of the Year (1989)
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (1990)
NFL 1980's All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (2000)
Ranked 4th on NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 3rd on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
San Francisco 49ers #16 retired

Joe Montana was the perfect Quarterback to captain Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense in the 1980's. Montana was overlooked coming into the NFL, because of his lack of size. However, what he lacked in arm strength he more than made up for with his IQ and precision. Joe also had great mobility along with a laser arm. His footwork and motion were brilliant. Montana was the king of comebacks, and game time heroics. When you are looking for a clutch QB to build a team around, Montana would be the guy. Joe would decimate opponents with short to medium passes as Jerry Rice and John Taylor excelled in slant routes during the Niners march to victory. Joe Montana has a flagship career with 4 Super Bowl trophies and 3 Super Bowl MVP Awards. Montana could manufacture a comeback victory (Super Bowl XXIII), or he could rip a team to shreds (Super Bowl XXIV). He also won two MVP Awards, along with other honors. Montana was exciting and is a standard bearer for other QB's to model themselves after. He was the chief QB of the 80's All-Decade Team, and the 75th Anniversary Team. In 2000, Joe Montana Joe Cool was one of a kind.

5. Lawrence Taylor
10× Pro Bowl (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
10× All-Pro (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)
AP NFL MVP (1986)
PFWA NFL MVP (1986)
NFL sacks leader (1986)
Career Sacks (132.5-11th)
3× AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)
NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1986)
2× UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1983, 1986)
AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
Bert Bell Award (1986)
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
New York Giants No. 56 retired
Ranked 3rd by The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1999)

Lawrence Taylor reshaped the linebacker position from the moment he stepped into the NFL in 1981. Taylor changed how offenses schemes were run, as his dominance led to coaches implementing a two Tight-End System. Lawrence was an intense blend of strength, quickness and athleticism as he was able to spin past defenders to get to his assignment, whether it was the Quarterback or Running Back. LT was a menace as a pass rusher, as he would terrorize QB's on the blitz. In his 1981 rookie season, Taylor was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. This would be his first of three DPOY Awards, as he won his second straight in 1982. That season, he also made his first of ten consecutive Pro Bowls and All-Pro Teams. 1986 is considered to be Taylor's finest season of his career, as he became the first Defensive Player in 15 years to win the NFL MVP Award. That season, he lead the league in Sacks (20.5) along with his third DPOY. Taylor was the Unanimous choice for MVP that season, as he was the engine that led the Giants defensive machine to win their first Super Bowl in history. Taylor would help the Giants win another Trophy in SB XXV, before retiring in 1993. When you consider how dominant he was at his peak while looking at his entire body of work, Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player of all-time. Taylor ranks 11th all-time in sacks with 132.5. LT took his rightful place in the HOF in 1999.

Jerry Rice: Football Royalty

I have been waiting for the longest time to do this project. The Model of Consistency. One of the true Ironmen of Sports, especially in a Sport like Pro Football. The Gold Standard that other Wide Receivers are measured by. Jerry Rice is the embodiment of commitment, discipline and greatness. Although he was not the fastest or the most physical wideout, Jerry's work ethic and technique brought him a countless number of accolades. Rice was a standout wide receiver ever since his days at Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU (Historically Black College University). Jerry attended MVS from 1981-1984. While there, he received the nickname "World", because there wasn't a ball in the world that he couldn't catch. In 1982, Jerry caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and 7 touchdowns. 1983 was his standout campaign, as he set numerous records. That season, Jerry had 102 receptions, with 1,450 yards while being named First Team Division I-AA, All-America. The next season, he broke those records with 112 receptions and 1,845 yards, with 27 touchdowns. Jerry finished his historic College Career with 301 receptions, 4,693 yards, and 50 touchdowns. In spite of his record-setting career at MVS, the one weakness that scouts discovered was his speed. During the combine, Rice clocked in a 4.7 speed, which is not very high for receiver standards for the draft. However, there were two key teams that kept a very close eye on him. Fittingly enough, the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. Niners coach Bill Walsh saw a huge investment in Jerry and drafted him with the 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. Walsh was impressed after watching highlights of Rice the Saturday before San Francisco played the Houston Oilers on October, 21, 1984. The investment would prove to pay off in great ways. San Francisco came off the heels of winning their second Super Bowl Trophy in late January, when they drilled Dan Marino's Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX. San Fran looked to add to their dominance, and Rice was the perfect new weapon for Joe Montana. In his rookie campaign, even though he struggled at times, Rice gave glimpses of his greatness, when he caught 49 passes for 927 yards (18.9 yards per catch) and 3 TDs. This performance earned Jerry the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year. His standout game was a 10-catch, 241 yard game against Division rival Los Angeles Rams. 1986 proved to be Rice's first breakthrough season where he had his first of 11-straight 1,000 yard seasons. This was also the first season with double digit Touchdowns and 80 or more receptions. That season, Jerry recorded 86 receptions for 1,570 yards and 15 TD's. This campaign also marked the first of six seasons where he would lead the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns. The rewards would include, his first of 13 Pro Bowl Selections, his first of 10 First-Team All-Pro Selections along with the NFC Offensive Player of the Year Award. This is where Jerry truly raised his game to become a transcendant player. The 1987 season was shortened by a strike, which typically became a roadblock for statistics. However, Jerry became the exception to the rule. Despite playing only 12 games, Rice lead the league with 1,078 yards and a then NFL-record 22 Touchdowns. For his brilliant season, Jerry was named NFL MVP by both the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). Rice also received his first of 2 NFL AP (Associated Press) Offensive Player of the Year Awards. Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Mike Quick was in second place with 11. This marked the first time in NFL history since the merger, where a player doubled the numbers of his nearest competitor. In 1988, Jerry caught 64 passes for 1,306 yards (career-high 20.4 YPC) and 9 Touchdowns. This was his first Super Bowl Campaign, as San Francisco won the NFC West with a 10-6 record. In the playoffs, Rice raised his level of dominance, as he helped lead the 49ers to a 28-3 thrashing over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in the NFC Championship. That game, he had 5 receptions for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jerry raised the bar even higher in his first Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIII, Jerry was unstoppable, as he set records for receptions (11) and receiving yards (215) with 1 Touchdown to help the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16. This was the third Super Bowl in team history, as Jerry won the Super Bowl MVP Award. Rice only became the third wide receiver in history to win the award. 1989 is considered by many to be the greatest season in 49er History. That season, they went 14-2, with Jerry's 82 receptions, 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he was still sensational, with 12 receptions, 169 yards and 2 touchdowns in their 2 playoff games before the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIV, Rice was once again a major weapon for the Niner Army with 7 receptions for 148 yards and a record 3 touchdowns as San Francisco dismantled the Denver Broncos 55-10 to win their 4th Lombardi Trophy. Rice continued his success in 1990, with a league-leading 100 receptions, 1,502 yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately, San Francisco failed to three-peat as they lost in the NFC Championship game to the eventual champion New York Giants. For six seasons, the Jerry Rice-Joe Montana Connection was the most lethal QB-WR Combination in the NFL. Together, they scored for 55 Touchdowns, and won back-to-back Super Bowls. Even though Joe had been a champion twice, Jerry helped to extend his greatness. The 1989 Season was the perfect example of that. However, the party would soon end, when Montana went down with an injury that sidelined him for the entire 1991 season. Steve Young would take the torch as the new starting QB. Jerry admits that he had to make slight adjustments, because Young was not only a left-handed QB, but he was also mobile. However, Jerry continued business as usual (80 catches, 1,206 yards, 14 touchdowns). In 1992, Rice caught 84 passes, 1,201 yards and 10 touchdowns as he and Steve Young led the Niners back to the NFC Championship. San Fran would fall to the future champion Dallas Cowboys. In 1993, Rice caught 98 passes for 1,503 yards and 15 TD's to win his second AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. In 1994, Jerry had his finest season at that point, with a career-high 112 receptions, 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Raiders, he broke Jim Brown's all-time record for Career Touchdowns. During the game, Jerry caught 7 passes for a season-high 169 yards and 2 touchdowns (rushed for one more), to move into first place with 127. Even though he only had 6 catches in the playoffs, Rice once again became unstoppable when it mattered most, in the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXIX, Rice recorded 10 receptions for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns as the 49ers torched the San Diego Chargers 49-26 to become the first team to win 5 Super Bowls. In 1995, Rice superseded his previous season numbers with a career-high 122 receptions (tied with Cris Carter for 2nd place), a career-high 1,848 yards (1st place, a record now broken by Calvin Johnson) and 15 touchdowns, before the Niners would fall to Green Bay in the Divisional Playoffs. From '94-'96, Rice racked up a phenomenal 342 receptions, 4,601 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns. This has to be considered the best three year stretch by any receiver in history. However, his prime would soon come to a close. In 1997, Rice tore ligaments in his knee on a WR Reverse play. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp grabbed Jerry by the face-mask and pulled him to the ground, causing a 15-yard penalty. This ended Rice's streak of 189 consecutive games played. As a result, he was forced to miss the Pro-Bowl for the first time in 11 seasons. However, Rice would recover and return in 1998 with 82 catches, 1,157 yards and 9 touchdowns to make his 12th Pro Bowl appearance. By 1999, the Niners organization was moving in a new direction with the emergence of Terrell Owens. TO was considered the present and future, while Rice was officially considered the past. This was the first season where Rice failed to reach 1,000 yards in 16 games. He had the same results in 2000. San Fran was officially in rebuilding mode, and Jerry saw the writing on the wall as he left the 49ers to sign with Bay Area rival the Oakland Raiders in 2001. During his time with the Raiders, Rice showed flashes of brilliance as he and fellow Hall of Famer Tim Brown became the oldest receiver duo in NFL History. In his first season, Jerry caught 83 passes for 1,139 yards and 9 touchdowns. 2002 was his best season in Oakland, as Jerry made history by making the Pro-Bowl and All-Pro Teams as a 40-year old. That season, he caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards and 7 touchdowns to reach his 13th Pro-Bowl. In the process, he helped make Rich Gannon and MVP. This was a great way to show that he could still shine even without two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. However, the fun would soon end as the Raiders were pummeled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. In 2003, the Raiders never recovered as they went from 11-5 in 2002 to 4-12 in 2003. Jerry requested to be traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he would spend the rest of his career. At the end of the 2004 season (his 20th), Jerry originally opted for a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos. However, during training camp, he decided it was best to retire than to finish his career at the bottom of the depth chart. On August 24, Rice signed a one-day deal to officially retire as a San Francisco 49er, just as Emmitt Smith did with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2010, Rice and Emmitt would appropriately be inducted together into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This has to be the first time that the All-Time Leaders in Receiving and Rushing were inducted in the same class. Jerry Rice holds virtually every significant receiving record that you can imagine. Rice was a true Ambassador of the game, both on and off the field. Unfortunately, Rice has had his fair share of critics (both fans and players) who say that he was only a star because of his two Hall of Fame QB's (Joe Montana and Steve Young). Most notably, Rice's former teammate and mentee, Terrell Owens made this ridiculous statement because of bitterness and jealousy. I have been waiting to address this for the longest. Jerry was great on his own. It takes two to tango. Rice was a playmaker when he caught those passes. Don't sell him short, because of his team. He made both of them look better. If it was just about his Quarterbacks, players like Dwight Clark, John Taylor, Brent Jones, etc would have had the careers that Jerry Rice had. Rice was a prototype receiver that came at a time where the NFL was introducing bigger, stronger more athletic wideouts. Jerry was a transcendant player who was naturally great anyway. It helped to have a nice supporting cast, but Jerry recorded those astronomical numbers because he was the best option on the team. He emphasized conditioning and endurance, which made him maintain a high level of play within the final 2:00 minutes of a game. He was a master of Yards After the Catch in a similar way that Michael Jordan was a Master of playing off the Dribble. Montana and Young loved to have Rice on their team to throw the ball to. He was a great teammate in the locker room and not a constant nightmare for his coaches. Players like TO and Randy Moss imploded the teams that they played on. Jerry's 22 Touchdowns in 1987 were more impressive than Randy's 23 in 2007, because Rice played in a strike shortened season. Meanwhile, Moss broke the record by only 1 TD in a full 16 GAME SEASON!! Owens burned three of the best bridges that he had (Niners, Eagles and the Cowboys). Along the way, both players had their strings of impressive QB's. Overall, Jerry Rice raised the standards for players who strive to one day make it to the Hall of Fame, especially on a 1st Ballot basis. Rice's name is all over the history books, as he is the all-time leader in receiving for both the regular season and post season. In 1999, Sporting News named Jerry Rice the 2nd Greatest Player of all-time behind Jim Brown on their 100 Greatest Players list. In 2010, NFL Network ranked Jerry Rice number 1 on their 100 Greatest Players list. Jerry was also named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1980's and 1990's. Rice's legacy is lightyears ahead of any other wideout in history, as he finished his spectacular career with 1,549 yards, 22, 895 receiving yards, (14-1,000 yard seasons) and 208 Touchdowns.

 

 

The Blackout Bowl

Super Bowl XLVII will go down in history, as one of the most intriguing/bizarre games in SB history. Drama is an understatement for this game. Ray Lewis' career ended on a high, but often strange note. In the beginning, the Ravens brutalized the 49ers in the first half, 28-6. Baltimore's momentum was at a fever pitch, because of their motivation to play their heart out for their fearless leader #52. San Francisco came out flat during the first half. Then again, the first half itself felt pretty lethargic for me. The Ravens D held the Niners in a corner. The Blitz was very strong for the Ravens. However, things became even crazier during halftime. When Beyonce comes to perform, the stage is designed just like her face, and her performance has the usual pyrotechnics. That is only to cover up the worst Halftime Show of recent memory, and one of the worst in SB history. For a concert that was promoted more than the game, it completely bombed in every sense of the word. She was blasted all over Twitter, FB, and even Instagram for it. SpongeBob Squarepants put on a better show than that. It felt like pure torture. Now, after that debacle, let's get back to the game. Wait, it gets even more humiliating. The game was delayed, due to a power outage. There were plenty of theories as to how the power was lost:

1. Beyonce drained the power with her awful concert
2. Jay-Z pulled the plug backstage, because he was not on stage
3. Joe Montana pulled the plug, because when he won his last SB in New Orleans, the Niners won 55-10.(SB XXIV vs. Denver)

Talk about a major embarrassment for not only New Orleans, but the NFL itself. This was a major blackeye for the league. JB, Dan Marino, Coach Cowher, and the rest of the CBS crew killed time, by talking about the first half, and how the Ravens dominated. When the light finally came, the Niners came strong for a comeback, and destroyed Baltimore's steam. (Let There Be Light!) San Fran was grilling Baltimore numbers wise in this half. This game became a tale of two halves. San Francisco transformed into an entirely new team. The Niners Defense raised their game in the second half, and weapons like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree caught key passes. However, the Niners were going too far with Crabtree, instead of throwing to Davis more. San Francisco should have used the opportunity to exploit the mismatch between Vernon Davis and Ray Lewis. The key would have been for Vernon Davis to torch Ray Lewis, with his speed combined with strength. Ray would have really looked like a senior citizen covering Davis. Veteran Wide Receiver Randy Moss caught some vital passes. He could have bailed Michael Crabtree out, when the ball bounced off of Crabtree's hands and came his way in the endzone. Sadly, the pass missed him. The Niners caused Ray Rice to fumble, only to not finish with a score. The Ravens were left standing on pins and needles. Unfortunately for San Fran, they could not close out that amazing comeback, and the Ravens capitalized on the mistakes that they made down the stretch. The Offensive Line was another great factor for the Ravens, because of how they protected Joe Flacco. Flacco was named SB MVP, (22/33, 287 yards, 3 TD's, 0 INT's). That is correct: ZERO!! When you have weapons like Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, and Jacoby Jones, it also makes you look that much better. Boldin was the primary option for Flacco. (6 Receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD) Towards the end, there was also a pass interference play that was not called. This caused Coach Jim Harbaugh to challenge the play, and run out of timeouts. Ultimately, it did not work. Not to diminish, but the officials were pretty slow on their calls during the game, especially when it pertains to penalizing the Ravens. This has been a trend for them during the playoffs lately. Just being honest. (Watch the Broncos-Ravens. That's another story)San Francisco has nothing to be ashamed of. Colin Kaepernick had a great game. (16/28, 302 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) Frank Gore had 19 carries, 110 yards, and 1 TD. Michael Crabtree-5 Receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD. Vernon Davis-6 Receptions, 104 yards. Davis and Boldin had identical games. The Ravens endzone defense, front seven, and experience saved the day for them. Ed Reed also made a crucial interception in this game as well. This will definitely be a lesson for San Francisco to learn from, and they will only become even stronger. Kaepernick simply needs to develop into a more polished passer. Vernon Davis will continue to become an even bigger force at the TE position. In the midst of the Ray Lewis phenomenon, the main veteran overshadowed in his quest for a ring was Randy Moss. Moss had been to the Super Bowl before with the New England Patriots. (SB XLII, loss to Giants) This could have been virtually his last chance, because no one is to sure of whether or not he will return. The Niners as a whole are on the rise to make a return to the mountaintop. Since this was the first Super Bowl loss in franchise history, the 49ers will become even hungrier and more focused than before. Now that it is all said and done, congratulations to Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the Baltimore Ravens franchise. The legend went out with a bang! By the way, the blackout was the REAL game changer and MVP!

No BLACKOUT formed against the Ravens was able to prosper! Amen.

Top 5 Wide Receivers of All-Time

1. Jerry Rice- 20 NFL Seasons
1,549 Receptions (1st),
22,895 Receiving Yards (1st),
207 Touchdowns (1st- 197 receiving, 10 rushing)
Pro Bowls- 13
All-Pro Selections-12 (11x 1st Team All-Pro)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)
3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Super Bowl XXIII MVP
2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)
Holds numerous NFL records
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receptions (1,281)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receiving Yards (19,247)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career TDs (187)
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Most 1,000 yard receiving seasons (14)
Most consecutive games with with a pass reception (274)
Most consecutive games with a touchdown reception- (13-1986-1987)
Most seasons with 50 or more receptions (17)
4 seasons with 100+ receptions
6 seasons leading the league in receiving yards
Led the league in touchdown receptions 6 times.
Postseason Records:
Most postseason games (29)
Most postseason touchdowns (22)
Most postseason receiving yards (2,245)
Most postseason receptions (151)
Most consecutive games, 100 or more receiving yards-3 (1988-1989)
Super Bowl Records:
Career points-48 (1st)
Receptions-33 (1st)
Receiving yards- 589 (1st)
Touchdowns- 8 (1st)
Receptions in a game- 11 (1st)
Receiving yards in a game- 215 (1st)



















2. Randy Moss- 14 NFL Seasons
982 Receptions (10th)
15,292 Receiving Yards (4th)
156 Touchdowns (2nd)
73.6 receiving yards per game (7th)
Pro Bowls: 7
All-Pro Selections: 5
10 seasons with 1,000 receiving yards (2nd)
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
Most touchdown receptions in a season- 23 (2007)
Highest career yards per catch average with 900+ career receptions- 15.6
Fastest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards
Most seasons with 17+ TD receptions- 3 (1st-'98, '03, '07)
Most 1,200 yard receiving seasons to start a career- 6 ('98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03)
Vikings 2nd All-Time Leader in career TDs (92)
Most 100 yard receiving games in Vikings history (41)
Most Playoff TDs in Vikings history (8)

3. Terrell Owens- 15 NFL Seasons
1,078 Receptions (6th)
15,934 Receiving Yards (2nd)
153 Touchdowns (3rd)
Pro Bowls: 6
All-Pro Selections: 5 (1st Team)
3x NFL Receiving Touchdowns Leader (2001, 2002, 2006)
2nd All-Time in Seasons with 13+ Touchdown Receptions with 7 (J. Rice- 8)
Nine Seasons with 1,000+ yards w/five consecutive (2000-2004)
Third Player to reach 150+ Touchdowns
6th Player to reach 1,000+ Receptions
Consecutive Seasons with at least 5 or more Touchdown Receptions (11, 2000-2010)
49ers All-Time Leader in Single Game Receptions: 20 (12/17/00)
Eagles All-Time Leader in Single Season Touchdowns: 14 (2004)
Eagles All-Time Leader in Single Season Receiving YPG: 109.0 (2005)
Cowboys Leader in Most Consecutive Games with at least 1 Touchdown: 7 (2007)
Cowboys All-Time Leader in Single Game Touchdown Receptions: 4 (11/18/07)
15k Receiving Yards Club
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team




















4. Cris Carter- 16 NFL Seasons
1,101 Receptions (4th)
13,899 Receiving Yards (9th)
131 Touchdowns (4th)
Pro Bowls: 8
All-Pro Selections: 3 (2- 1st Team, 1- 2nd Team)
Vikings All-Time Leader in Career Receptions (1,004)
Vikings All-Time Leader in Career Receiving Yards (12,383)
Vikings All-Time Leader in Career TDs (110)
1st player with 120+ receptions in back to back seasons. (122-1994 & 1995)
Most 12+ reception games in a single season in 1995 (4)
Most consecutive seasons with 5 or more TDs (11)
Most consecutive games with 2 TD receptions (4)
Finished the '90s decade with 835 receptions, only second to Jerry Rice (860)
1 of 2 receivers to have 150 yard receiving games in 3 different decades (Jerry Rice)
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (2013)



















5. Marvin Harrison- 13 NFL Seasons
1,102 Receptions (3rd- 2nd among WRs)
14,580 Receiving yards (6th)
128 Receiving Touchdowns (5th)
Pro Bowls: 8
All-Pro Selections: 8
Super Bowl XLI Champion
Colts All-Time Leader in Receptions (1,102)
Colts All-Time Leader in Receiving Yards (14,580)
Colts All-Time Leader in Career TDs (128)
Most Receptions in a single season- 143 (2002)
4th Most TD Receptions in a decade- 95 (2000-2009)
Consecutive Seasons with 100+ receptions- 4 (1999-2002)
Consecutive Seasons with 1,400+ receiving yards- 4 (1999-2002)
Most average receptions per game in a career- 5.8 (1996-2008)