The Legacy of Peyton Manning

Recently, Future HOF QB Peyton Manning announced his official retirement. Just like former Broncos QB legend and current VP John Elway, Manning left on top after winning the Super Bowl in his last NFL Game. Peyton and John have certain similarities in their careers. Both were drafted first overall by the Colts (Elway- 1983, Manning- 1998). However, John's draft rights were traded to the Broncos were he created his legacy, while Peyton made most of his legacy in Indianapolis. Both ended their careers in Denver as Super Bowl Champs.

Overall, Peyton has left an indelible mark on the NFL. Manning may not have had the same arm strength like a Brett Favre or the aforementioned Elway or the rocket release like Dan Marino. However, Peyton's greatest strength was his mind. He was a very cerebral Quarterback that knew how to read a defense better than perhaps any other QB in NFL History. Peyton's timing and football IQ have been second to none as he has found ways to decimate defenses. Manning's throws had incredible precision to them.

It is funny these days to think that there was an argument between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf over the 1st Overall Draft Choice. When Peyton was drafted by the Colts, he was chosen to take the Colts back to prominence for the first time since the Johnny Unitas Era. Manning became the heir apparent to Unitas. After having a rough start as a rookie (326-575, 3,739 yards, 26 TD's, 28 INT's 3-13), Peyton and the Colts turned things around and became for the most part. In 1999, Peyton started his streak of 6 straight seasons with 4,000+ passing yards.

That season, Indy went 13-3. In 2000, Peyton led the league in Pass Completions (357) and Passing Yards (4,413) and TD's (33) with a QB Rating of 94.7. After a disappointing 2001 Season, the Colts hired Tony Dungy as the new Head Coach to turn things around. The Colts bounced back in 2002 at 10-6. Peyton completed at that time a career high 392 completions for 591 attempts, 4,200 yards and 27 TD's. Over time, Manning would also minimize the number of Interceptions that he threw. In 2003, Peyton won his first of a record five NFL MVP Awards. Manning led the league in Completions (379-566), Completion % (67.0%), and Passing Yards (4,267) to lead Indy to a 12-4 record. Peyton would repeat his MVP Success by leading the NFL in Touchdowns (49) which was at that time a new record. During the Manning-Dungy Era, the Colts were a perennial 12+ win team. He also recorded a QB Rating of 121.1. This would be the first of three straight seasons where Peyton had a QB Rating of 100 or higher. He also topped his previous career-high for passing yards by throwing for 4,557. However, those numbers were not enough in the Postseason as the Colts fell short to Tom Brady's New England Patriots twice.

In 2005, the Colts went 14-2 with Manning leading the NFL in QB Rating again with 104.1. He also received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The Colts lost to the Wildcard Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. In 2006, Peyton Manning finally got the monkey off of his back as he led the Colts to a Super Bowl Season. Manning went 362-557 for 4,397 yards with a league leading 31 Touchdowns and a QB Rating of 101.0. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI with Peyton winning Super Bowl MVP Honors. Manning would win back to back MVP Honors in 2008 and 2009. During the 2009 Season, the Colts would return to the Super Bowl only to lose to the New Orleans Saints. 2010 would be Peyton's last active season with the Colts as he led the NFL in Completions/Attempts (450-679) for 4,700 yards and 33 Touchdowns. The last QB to complete that many passes before Manning was Drew Bledsoe in 1994. Since then, Drew Brees has broken that record (468, 2011). Peyton Manning would have to sit out for the entire 2011 Season due to his neck injury and surgery that would be required. When Peyton was injured, his team suffered severely. It was clear that this illustrious chapter in Peyton's Career was over with the Colts.

However, a new chapter would start for Manning when he signed with the Denver Broncos. In 2012, Peyton did not miss a single beat. That season, he was named NFL "Comeback Player of the Year". That season, Manning went 400-583 for 4,659 yards and 37 Touchdowns. He also led the NFL in Completion % with 68.6. His QB Rating was also at 105.8. The Broncos received a resurgence with Manning's presence. Denver would fall to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos would reach the next level as Peyton Manning had an incredible record-breaking and record-setting NFL Season. Manning went 450-469 for an NFL-Record 5,477 Passing Yards and another NFL-Record 55 Touchdowns along with a QB Rating of 115.1. This season was phenomenal and transcendent, especially for a player that was on the very tail end of his career. Peyton was awarded his fifth and final NFL MVP Award. The Broncos would go 13-3 once again. Unfortunately, the Broncos were slaughtered by the Seattle Seahawks 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII thanks to their Legion of Boom Defense. Following the loss, the Broncos would boost their Defense and add more pieces to their team such as Future HOF'er Demarcus Ware. In 2004, Manning would cement himself as the NFL's All-Time Leader in Touchdowns surpassing Brett Favre. In Peyton's final season, the Broncos would return to the Super Bowl. This time, their Defense carried the load instead of Peyton. This past season, Manning became the NFL's All-Time Leader in Passing Yards. In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos Orange Crush Defense crushed Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers 24-10. Manning left on a very high note with his second Super Bowl victory.

Peyton leaves behind an outstanding legacy that stands the tests of time. He has rewritten the NFL record books like few other QB's before him. Manning has the most MVP's in Pro Football and ranks among the leaders in most MVP's in any sport. Peyton has more than Wilt Chamberlain (4). He is tied with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell who also have 5. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Gordie Howe (6), Barry Bonds (7), and Wayne Gretzky (9) have more MVP honors than Manning. Peyton sits atop the QB Mountain for Regular Season statistics. He ranks second in Completions (6,125 and Attempts (9,380), first in Passing Yards (71,940) and Touchdowns (539) with a QB Rating of 96.5 (5th). Manning has revolutionized the game by how Quarterbacks study their opponents and read Defensive Schemes. Their was a Science to the way that Peyton played the game. When all is said and done, their is no question that Peyton is among the Top 3-5 Quarterbacks in NFL History. His Resume says it all. Manning has carved a very special place for himself in NFL History. Mr. Peyton Manning is a True Legend and Future First-Ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Super Bowl Golden Team

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl, I have decided to create my own All-Time Super Bowl Team comprised of the Greatest Players in Super Bowl History. These are the players that brought their very best on the Game's biggest stage.

Offense:

QB: Joe Montana

RB: Emmitt Smith

RB: Franco Harris

FB: Larry Csonka

WR: Jerry Rice

WR: Lynn Swann

WR: Michael Irvin

TE: Jay Novacek

Offensive Tackle: Art Shell

Offensive Tackle: Forest Gregg

Offensive Guard: Larry Allen

Offensive Guard: Gene Upshaw

Center: Mike Webster




Defense:

Defensive End: Charles Haley

Defensive End: Reggie White

Defensive Tackle: "Mean" Joe Greene

Defensive Tackle: Randy White

Outside Linebacker: Lawrence Taylor

Outside Linebacker: Jack Ham

Middle Linebacker: Jack Lambert

Middle Linebacker: Ray Lewis

Cornerback: Deion Sanders

Cornerback: Mel Blount

Strong Safety: Ronnie Lott

Free Safety: Jake Scott



Special Teams:

Kicker: Adam Vinatieri

PR/KR: Desmond Howard

Punter: Ray Guy

Coach: Chuck Knoll

Super Cam's Journey to the Super Bowl

Cam Newton has been the Central Storyline for the 2015 NFL Season. Newton has become a rather polarizing figure to say the least. He is loved, respected and admired by not only his team, but many fans across the league because of how unique his personality is.

They have learned to embrace Cam for who he is and how he is not willing to change for anyone. That is a quality that is worthy of admiration. On the other hand, you have his skeptics and critics who perceive him as "brash, arrogant" and even as much as a "thug" because of how he carries himself.

No one expected the Panthers to dominate the way that they have this season, as Carolina finished the Season 15-1. The Panthers led the NFL in PPG with 31.2. Cam Newton has been the quintessential catalyst for his team with a unique form of leadership. Newton has matured in many ways not just as a player, but as a person. His impact has the potential to transcend the NFL in the way that others before him have. Cam has been the surge of energy that this Panthers team needed. The athleticism that Newton has for a man his size at the QB position is something that is revolutionary.

After plowing through the Regular Season, the Panthers defeated defending NFC Champions the Seattle Seahawks in a game that went down to the wire at home in Charlotte. The Panthers had the Seahawks in the palm of their hand by halftime with a 31-0 lead. Suddenly, QB Russell Wilson rallied the troops for 24 unanswered points before the Panthers clamped down to hold the lead for the victory. In the NFC Championship, the Panthers slaughtered the Arizona Cardinals 49-15.

Now, Cam's next challenge takes place on the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl. This is the Greatest Stage of All, as Super Cam and the Newtons face General Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Peyton himself has something to prove in his own way after his 2013 MVP Season went up in flames at the hands of the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8. Manning is at the twilight of his career, and it has been evident this entire season. The Broncos Defense has carried the team to cover for Manning's decline.

On the other end, Carolina's Defense is just as lethal as Denver's Defense. The Panthers pouncing Defense has caused some to draw parallels to the 1985 Chicago Bears. It just so happens that Panthers Coach Ron Rivera played for that historic Bears Defense. He has definitely instilled that toughness and aggressiveness into his players as the results speak for themselves.

As a QB, your job is to make players around you look better and to cover up as many holes as you possibly can. I believe that Cam has done that this season as he is without question the Most Valuable Player in the NFL.

With the world on his shoulders, Cam Newton looks to finish business and continue to prove his skeptics wrong. I cannot think of a better way to leave a mark on the league than to defeat the consummate Golden Boy of the NFL, Peyton Manning. Peyton is the prototypical image of a traditional QB and leader on the field. Newton defies tradition with his counter culture attitude.

This will definitely be an atmosphere where a torch will be passed, and Cam is ready to carry it. Cam is a General that marches to the beat of his own drum.

Top 5 Super Bowl Wide Receivers

1. Jerry Rice
Super Bowl Appearances: 4 (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX, XXXVII)
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Receptions: 33
Receiving Yards: 589
Touchdowns: 8
Super Bowl XXIII MVP
Holds Super Bowl Career Records for Receptions, Receiving Yards, and Touchdowns
Most Receiving Yards in Super Bowl History (215- Super Bowl XXIII)
Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single Game (3- XXIV vs. Denver, XXIX vs. San Diego)
Super Bowl Career-High in Receptions: 11 (XXIII)

2. Lynn Swann
Super Bowl Appearances: 4 (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
4x Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Receptions: 16
Receiving Yards: 364
Touchdowns: 3
Super Bowl X MVP

3. Michael Irvin
Super Bowl Appearances: 3 (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Team: Dallas Cowboys
3x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Receptions: 16
Receiving Yards: 256
Touchdowns: 2

4. Deion Branch
Super Bowl Appearances: 3 (XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLVI)
Team: New England Patriots
2x Super Bowl Champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX)
Receptions: 21
Receiving Yards: 276
Touchdowns: 1
Super Bowl XXXIX MVP

5. Isaac Bruce
Super Bowl Appearances: 2 (XXXIV, XXXVI)
Team: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl Champion (XXXIV)
Receptions: 11
Receiving Yards: 218
Touchdowns: 1

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.