Kind of a weird finish and SF deserved to win. Ravens were staggering the entire second half and the vaunted D were getting run over drive after drive but with SF somehow not finishing on the last drive(due to bad play calling imo) First down on the 6 and you should find a way to get in the endzone on four tries. That of course was the game.
Reason I think 49ers deserved to win is the game ended with them being the far superior squad. Its like watching a boxing match where the champ is getting pummelled in the latter rounds and barely manages to get up off the canvas enough times to stagger to the bell. Only to win on pts.
Kind of a weird finish and SF deserved to win. Ravens were staggering the entire second half and the vaunted D were getting run over drive after drive but with SF somehow not finishing on the last drive(due to bad play calling imo) First down on the 6 and you should find a way to get in the endzone on four tries. That of course was the game.
Reason I think 49ers deserved to win is the game ended with them being the far superior squad. Its like watching a boxing match where the champ is getting pummelled in the latter rounds and barely manages to get up off the canvas enough times to stagger to the bell. Only to win on pts.
Looks like the return was the difference.
for the first time in a very long time, I completely agree with you. Definitely a hold, and definitely another game decided by the zebras. SF did allow alot of bad plays against early, that kickoff was a killer, but they deserved a call down there, and four more downs to try to win.
San Francisco did deserve the win, but man... They need to make changes to the D big time. That pathetic 108 yard punt return TD was the difference. The San Fran D started the season off pretty well but got worse as the season went on, especially in the post season. That's where they just failed to get their crap together. If they make improvements in that department, i don't see why San Fran shouldn't be in the superbowl next year once again.
San Francisco did deserve the win, but man... They need to make changes to the D big time. That pathetic 108 yard punt return TD was the difference. The San Fran D started the season off pretty well but got worse as the season went on, especially in the post season. That's where they just failed to get their crap together. If they make improvements in that department, i don't see why San Fran shouldn't be in the superbowl next year once again.
Not sure how a team that was down 21-6 at half-time deserves to win.
Either way congrats Ray Lewis, never liked your team but had no issue cheering for you over the years.
Watch the whole game instead of one half then you might have an idea.
I did. Whoever holds the trophy is the one who deserved to win. You play 60 minutes in an attempt to score more than the other team. It doesn't matter how you do it.
San Francisco did deserve the win, but man... They need to make changes to the D big time. That pathetic 108 yard punt return TD was the difference. The San Fran D started the season off pretty well but got worse as the season went on, especially in the post season. That's where they just failed to get their crap together. If they make improvements in that department, i don't see why San Fran shouldn't be in the superbowl next year once again.
Okay well that's special teams and not the defense. Completely different personal and a different coach.
Who knows how banged up the 49ers defense, but Justin Smith was playing hurt. Aldon Smith has been completely ineffective the last few weeks since Smith's injury. The secondary was burned pretty often in the first half as well but they're talented players. This Ravens team also lit up a #3 ranked defense in the Broncos two games ago.
Okay well that's special teams and not the defense. Completely different personal and a different coach.
Who knows how banged up the 49ers defense, but Justin Smith was playing hurt. Aldon Smith has been completely ineffective the last few weeks since Smith's injury. The secondary was burned pretty often in the first half as well but they're talented players. This Ravens team also lit up a #3 ranked defense in the Broncos two games ago.
When a guy is able to run for 108 yards and score a touchdown without even being touched, the defense plays a part in it. Have you watched any of the 49ers games prior to the superbowl? Just curious, the game against Atlanta? No? JIM was even ranting about the gradual defensive inconsistencies. I don't think anybody expected it to be a weakness, but it has turned out to be.
When a guy is able to run for 108 yards and score a touchdown without even being touched, the defense plays a part in it. Have you watched any of the 49ers games prior to the superbowl? Just curious, the game against Atlanta? No? JIM was even ranting about the gradual defensive inconsistencies. I don't think anybody expected it to be a weakness, but it has turned out to be.
There's a difference between special teams and defense.
The guys on the field during kicks/punts are completely different than those defending runs/passes.
When a guy is able to run for 108 yards and score a touchdown without even being touched, the defense plays a part in it. Have you watched any of the 49ers games prior to the superbowl? Just curious, the game against Atlanta? No? JIM was even ranting about the gradual defensive inconsistencies. I don't think anybody expected it to be a weakness, but it has turned out to be.
How does the defense play a part in it when they are on the sideline? They are completely different units that play.
Yes I watched the 49ers, Falcons game. Jim who was ranting? The game was on fox so Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were the announcers.
The Ravens have very talented, big, fast wideouts between Boldin, Smith and Jones. They put up more points against a better ranked Broncos defense. So they are a very talented group and its not like the 49ers were just playing against chumps.
Why are you harping on everyone, asking if they watched the game? I watch them a bit closer to know the difference between defense and special teams, and don't just basis my opinions on "Jims" rants.
Maybe the niners were screwed at the end, but you can't let yourself be down by that much at half time and blame anyone but yourself. The game is 60 minutes, not 30 minutes. They put themselves in a position where their fate could be dictated by a single questionable call.
Not sure how a team that was down 21-6 at half-time deserves to win.
Either way congrats Ray Lewis, never liked your team but had no issue cheering for you over the years.
I stated why I said that. At the final whistle the Ravens had been staggering around for most of the 2nd half with the Ravens D virtually incapable of stopping Niners from rolling off drive after drive. Nor could they even contain the QB rollout. The Ravens were dead, flat, and beat at the end. Only the scoreboard betrayed that. They looked like a knocked out prizefighter still on their feet.
Hats off to Flacco though he was the one Raven that never lost focus and another excellent game by him. Both these QB's can really throw the ball and are a big part of their clubs.
Maybe the niners were screwed at the end, but you can't let yourself be down by that much at half time and blame anyone but yourself. The game is 60 minutes, not 30 minutes. They put themselves in a position where their fate could be dictated by a single questionable call.
I think a veteran squad was more prepared from the start and that the niners, having less experienced players at key positions, particularly QB, had a harder time getting locked into the game and out of the gate. But thing is once they did the niners were night and day the better squad and not even close.
Ravens won this on some experience and veteran savvy only and needed every ounce of it and barely got it done with that. The better football club lost.
I think a veteran squad was more prepared from the start and that the niners, having less experienced players at key positions, particularly QB, had a harder time getting locked into the game and out of the gate. But thing is once they did the niners were night and day the better squad and not even close.
Ravens won this on some experience and veteran savvy only and needed every ounce of it and barely got it done with that. The better football club lost.
I would agree if this was the first time the 49ers fell behind in the first half, they have been unprepared to play quite often this year and in caught up to them in the biggest game of the year! This was a game of two halves, both teams had their moments...I don't know how you can say the better club lost, when the 49ers secondary was super weak, they were too passive and overplayed so many balls. It was a close game in which Baltimore clearly did enough to win the game!
I stated why I said that. At the final whistle the Ravens had been staggering around for most of the 2nd half with the Ravens D virtually incapable of stopping Niners from rolling off drive after drive. Nor could they even contain the QB rollout. The Ravens were dead, flat, and beat at the end. Only the scoreboard betrayed that. They looked like a knocked out prizefighter still on their feet.
Hats off to Flacco though he was the one Raven that never lost focus and another excellent game by him. Both these QB's can really throw the ball and are a big part of their clubs.
I think the inexperience of Kaepernick really showed with the burning of the two 2nd half timeouts. I didn't watch everyone of Kaepernick's starts this year but back in December it was very noticeable at times that he struggled with calling audibles in time. Or even just recognizing how time was left on the play clock. I can recall a lot of times of him rushing back to behind the line to get the ball off in time.
I would agree if this was the first time the 49ers fell behind in the first half, they have been unprepared to play quite often this year and in caught up to them in the biggest game of the year! This was a game of two halves, both teams had their moments...I don't know how you can say the better club lost, when the 49ers secondary was super weak, they were too passive and overplayed so many balls. It was a close game in which Baltimore clearly did enough to win the game!
Good point. I'm less of a regular viewer of the NFL so Ill defer to this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsho
I think the inexperience of Kaepernick really showed with the burning of the two 2nd half timeouts. I didn't watch everyone of Kaepernick's starts this year but back in December it was very noticeable at times that he struggled with calling audibles in time. Or even just recognizing how time was left on the play clock. I can recall a lot of times of him rushing back to behind the line to get the ball off in time.
Flacco vs Kaepernick just illustrated the relative experience. Flacco was unflappable and Kaepernick was inconsistent.
I'll be clear here, Flacco was a big hero because he's the one guy on the Baltimore sidelines that wasn't losing his head and that still had the composure. For a vet squad it was uncanny how quickly and thoroughly the Ravens unravelled. The D gave up 17pts in 4minutes of 3rd quarter play. I think even given the niners struggles in the first half this was the darkest moment for either club and shouldn't happen to a veteran squad. Without Flacco resolutely saving the day with some drives to keep the niners off the field this one wasn't even going to the bell. The Ravens D was flat broke and busted. Kaepernick was getting big yards anytime he simply rolled out.
Niners fault though they don't bust it into the endzone off a first down on the 6. No way should you not convert that in 4 down football against an exhausted D. If you're passing in those situations you tell Kaepernick to make the exhausted D chase and buy time until somebody is open/and or run it in. One thing that was very odd is the amount of times Kaepernick rushed the pass with one rush pressure. jebus, you're the fastest guy on the field, just run and buy time.
I thought Baltimore's defense actually did a really good job with all things considered. The 49ers offense is a match-up nightmare for them and, imo, they were only going to be able to slow them down and be lucky to stop them.
It's tough to contain when you don't really have any speed on the line or at linebacker. Even harder when arguably your best defensive player, Ngata, is sidelined.
A guy with an arm like Kaepernick is going to eat up zone defenses too and with the Ravens primarily playing Cover 2, it's no wonder he threw for 300+.
The Ravens' D let it get away from them for a bit, but overall they did their job.
I watched every SF game this season, because I have been a Niner fan for years. I will say this, they were inconsistant in many games, especially the big ones. They didn't even show up for the Seattle game, and almost lost second place in the conference, they needed alot of help because of it. Yes, they didn't show up for the first half, but I agree with the assessment that Baltimore didn't play 60 mins. either. My main complaint, is, Baltimore got a pass interference call that led to more points, and I thought the pass interference was mostly offensive. It was a judgement call. How can a ref, on the play of the game, not make that call? I know if your relying on a call, you didn't dominate, but, SF deserved to get that call, and four more downs to try to punch it in.
The Ravens were a team of destiny, it just wasn't meant to be for the Niners. I don't know how the Niners failed on that last drive that would of clearly won the game for them had they just scored on a play like that in which they normally would. Four tries, and NOTHING to show for it. It was just painful watching them blow that last drive because i really thought they rallied back hard enough to earn the win.
