This one could come down to the defenses, though, especially if the AFC and NFC championship games were any indication. The 49ers allowed 24 points to Atlanta in the first half of the NFC contest, before pitching a second-half shutout to rally for the win. The Ravens also held their opponent off the scoreboard over the final two quarters, as they turned a 13-7 deficit into a comfortable 28-13 win.
Two weeks of rest could pay dividends for both units — San Francisco’s Justin Smith and Baltimore’s Ray Lewis are each playing through painful torn tricep muscles, while Terrell Suggs is dealing with a similar injury to his bicep. The 49ers’ Aldon Smith, meanwhile, seemingly has hit the wall in his second season and might be a force with some extra time to recuperate.
Baltimore may have to attack San Francisco much as it did Denver and New England: by taking the shackles off Flacco.
The Falcons sprinted out to their 10-point halftime lead on the 49ers by stretching the field with Jones, White and Gonzalez. San Francisco adjusted after halftime, but the Ravens may find matchups against the likes of Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown appealing.
That may be especially true if the 49ers’ top-5 run defense gets the job done, as it did Sunday in holding the Falcons to 81 yards on the ground.
Despite Tom Brady’s Sunday meltdown, the Ravens can be passed on, as well — Baltimore finished 17th in the league against the pass. But San Francisco may have more success against the run, where the Ravens’ defense ranked just 20th during the regular season.
Baltimore saw an offense similar to San Francisco’s Kaepernick-heavy attack just once this season, in a Week 14 overtime loss to Washington. Robert Griffin III totaled 276 yards in that game, before leaving with an injury. His backup, Kirk Cousins, helped the Redskins tie the game late and win it in overtime.
The Ravens’ only other real exposure to a truly mobile QB this season came in Week 2: Baltimore lost, 24-23, to Michael Vick and the Eagles.
The numbers trend in San Francisco’s direction, on paper — as evidenced by early lines favoring the 49ers by four or so points. Being the underdog would be nothing new for the Ravens, who shocked the world on back-to-back weekends by winning at Denver and New England.
The only certainty here is that there will be plenty to discuss between now and kickoff on Feb. 3.
Article Appeared @http://nfl.si.com/2013/01/20/nfl-playoffs-early-look-at-super-bowl-xlvii-ravens-49ers/?sct=uk_wr_a1