Super Bowl 2013, 49ers Vs. Ravens: Preview & Capsule

It all comes down to this.

On Sunday, February 3, the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers will meet in Super Bowl XLVII (6:00 PM ET, CBS) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The game will mark the first time in any of the four major professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL) that brothers – Baltimore’s JOHN and San Francisco’s JIM HARBAUGH – will match up against one another as head coaches in a postseason game.

"I guess it’s pretty neat," says John Harbaugh, who has eight postseason wins in his first five seasons, tied with TOM FLORES for the most since the 1970 merger. "It’s pretty cool. But it’s really about the team. It’s about the players. That’s what it’s about. It’s about those guys. The more we focus on those guys, the better it is for everybody."

The 49ers (5-0) and Ravens (1-0) are a combined 6-0 in the Super Bowl. San Francisco won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX. Baltimore won Super Bowl XXXV. This is the 49ers’ first Super Bowl appearance since the 1994 season. The Ravens’ lone Super Bowl appearance came during the 2000 season.

Super Bowl XLVII will be the second Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXX between Dallas and Pittsburgh) in which each team lost its Conference Championship Game the previous year. In 2011, the 49ers lost to the New York Giants in the NFC title game and the Ravens were defeated by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

"It’s an unbelievable feeling to be in the Super Bowl," says 49ers Pro Bowl linebacker PATRICK WILLIS, who leads the team with 19 tackles in the postseason. "I’m really grateful for this."

During Championship Game weekend, the Ravens and 49ers became the first set of road teams to win the Conference Championships since 1997 (Denver and Green Bay). In the second halves of their games, the Ravens (21-0) and 49ers (14-0) outscored their opponents 35-0. The AFC (47.7 million viewers) and NFC (42.0 million viewers) Championship Games ranked as TV’s most-watched programs since Super Bowl XLVI.

"This is a great moment for our team, for the city of San Francisco and the whole Bay Area," says 49ers Pro Bowl safety DONTE WHITNER. "Now for the big one in New Orleans. We’re going to be ready."

The Ravens defeated New England 28-13 at Gillette Stadium in the AFC Championship Game. It marked the first time that the Patriots lost a home game in which TOM BRADY started and New England led at halftime; the Patriots had been 67-0 (including postseason). In the victory, quarterback JOE FLACCO threw three touchdown passes, including two to wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN.

"Joe Flacco has been great at playoff time," says NFL Network analyst and former quarterback KURT WARNER. "That’s when he plays his best football."

With the Ravens playing in the Super Bowl, this is the seventh time in the past eight seasons in which a team that played in the Wild Card round has advanced to the Super Bowl.

The win at New England marked the sixth road playoff victory for Flacco, the most in NFL history. His eight postseason wins are tied with BEN ROETHLISBERGER for the second-most in a quarterback’s first five NFL seasons, trailing only Brady (nine).

"This is just one of those things you dream of when you are a little kid," says Flacco about advancing to the Super Bowl. "You watch JOE MONTANA and those guys in the Super Bowl. So to be here at this point is pretty special."

Flacco leads the NFL in the playoffs with a 114.7 passer rating, which includes eight touchdowns and no interceptions. In NFL postseason history, the only quarterbacks to finish a postseason with at least nine touchdowns and no interceptions are former 49ers quarterbacks and Pro Football Hall of Famers STEVE YOUNG (nine touchdowns; 1994) and Montana (11 touchdowns; 1989).

Veteran linebacker RAY LEWIS – who was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV – has led the Baltimore defense. The Ravens joined the 2010 New York Jets as the only teams to defeat both PEYTON MANNING and Tom Brady in the same postseason. Lewis, who will retire after the season, leads the NFL with 44 tackles in the playoffs.

"Ray Lewis is a guy who has been here since the beginning of this franchise," says Baltimore safety BERNARD POLLARD. "He’s a guy who is ‘The Raven.’ We all respect him. When he speaks, everybody stops, everybody hears him. He’s kept the team together. He’s kept this organization together in so many ways. We’re all in this together. We want to go win this thing."

The 49ers erased a 17-0 deficit in the NFC Championship Game to defeat Atlanta 28-24. San Francisco is one of only three teams to win a postseason game on the road after trailing by as many as 17 points.

"We fought hard," says 49ers running back FRANK GORE, who rushed for two touchdowns in the win over Atlanta. "We fought and we deserved it."

San Francisco’s COLIN KAEPERNICK, who took over as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 11, has guided the team to a 7-2 record (.778) in his starts, including a pair of postseason victories. In those nine starts, he has a 101.2 passer rating (13 touchdowns, four interceptions) and has rushed for 440 yards with four TDs.

In the NFC Championship Game, he completed 16 of 21 passes (76.2 percent) for 233 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and a 127.7 passer rating. His 11.1 yards per pass mark was the highest in 49ers postseason history, besting the previous club record of 10.7 held by Joe Montana.

"He’s made great plays for us and stepped up big for us all season," says 49ers Pro Bowl tackle JOE STALEY about his quarterback. "I’m excited to go into this next game with him."

Kaepernick will be the fourth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start the Super Bowl in the same season as his first career NFL start, joining TOM BRADY, KURT WARNER and VINCE FERRAGAMO.

Kaepernick’s seven career regular-season starts are the third-fewest for a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl, trailing only JEFF HOSTETLER (four) and Ferragamo (five).

"If Colin Kaepernick plays well in the Super Bowl, he is going to change the face of the quarterback position," says NFL Network analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer DEION SANDERS.

In the postseason, Kaepernick has a 105.9 passer rating and has rushed for 202 yards. No player has ever posted a 100+ passer rating and rushed for at least 200 yards in a single postseason.

"Winning the George Halas Trophy is a huge accomplishment," says Jim Harbaugh. "It’s another flag. You want to get as many trophies and flags as you can. We said at the start of this there are three Super Bowls to win. We have won two so far and have one more coming up."

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

RAVENS : Club will make 2nd SB appearance in franchise history – defeated NYG, 34-7 in SB XXXV…Ravens (.650, 13-7) have highest postseason win pct. of any team…With win JOHN HARBAUGH will surpass TOM FLORES (8) for the most postseason wins by a head coach in his 1st 5 seasons in NFL history…QB JOE FLACCO has 8 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 114.7 passer rating in ’12 postseason. Flacco registered 6th career playoff road win last week, surpassing ELI MANNING (5) for most in NFL history by QB. Tied NFL single-game postseason record for most touchdown passes of 30+ yards (70, 59, 32) in Divisional round vs. Den. Flacco is 1st QB in Super Bowl era to win postseason game in each of his 1st 5 seasons. Flacco has 8-4 postseason record. With win, Flacco would tie TOM BRADY (9) for most playoff wins by QB in 1st 5 seasons of career all-time. Had career-best 3,817 passing yards in ’12, 2nd-most in season by Raven. Incl. postseason, Bal. is 32-3 (.914) when Flacco has 100+ passer rating. In only career meeting vs. 49ers, Flacco posted 100.1 passer rating…RB RAY RICE is averaging 105.3 scrimmage yards per game in ’12 postseason. Rice (1,621) reached 1,600 scrimmage yards for 4th season in row. Led AFC RBs with 61 catches in 2012. Rookie RB BERNARD PIERCE is averaging 6.3 yards per carry in postseason (27 att., 169 yards)…WR TORREY SMITH has 9 receptions for 198 yards (22 avg.) with 2 TDs in 2012 postseason. Smith averages 22.2 yards per catch in 5 career postseason games (13 receptions, 289 yards). Smith had career-best in receiving yards (855) & TDs (8) in ’12. WR ANQUAN BOLDIN is averaging 92 receiving yards per game in 3 playoff games in 2012. Had career-best 2 TD receptions in AFC Championship vs. NE. Since ’10, Boldin has 5 postseason TD catches, tied for most in NFL during span (VERNON DAVIS, 5). 14 of Boldin’s 16 receptions in ’12 postseason have been for 1st downs. For career in postseason, Boldin has 46 receptions for 702 yards (15.3 avg.) with 6 TDs. Registered 8 receptions for 84 yards in SB XLIII with Cardinals. Has 7 TD receptions in reg. season vs. 49ers, most against any opponent…KR-WR JACOBY JONES had 2nd-longest postseason TD reception in franchise annals in Divisional Playoffs vs. Den. (SHANNON SHARPE, 96). Ranked 1st in NFL with 30.7 KR avg. in 2012. Tied league-high with 3 kick-return TDs (2 KO, 1 PR) this season. Attended Marion Abramson HS in New Orleans, LA…TE DENNIS PITTA had TD reception in only career meeting vs. 49ers. Has 2 TD catches in 3 postseason games this season. Pitta (7) tied TODD HEAP (7 in ’05) for most TD receptions by TE in franchise history this season…Defense tied franchise regular-season record with 9 sacks in last game vs. SF…Defense has forced 8 turnovers (5 INTs, 3 fumbles) in 3 postseason games in ’12…LB RAY LEWIS has played in 20 career postseason games (13-7, .650). Lewis has NFL-best 44 tackles in ’12 playoffs. Was named MVP of SB XXXV…S ED REED has 8 career postseason INTs, tied for 4th-most in NFL history. Reed attended Destrehan HS in St. Rose, LA. S BERNARD POLLARD had team-high 98 tackles in ’12…CB COREY GRAHAM became 4th Raven to register 2 INTs in playoff game vs. Den. Graham & CB CARY WILLIAMS have 2 INTs apiece in ’12 postseason…LB TERRELL SUGGS has 12 career postseason sacks, tied for 3rd-most since sacks became official statistic. Tied career-best with 3 sacks in last game vs. SF. LB PAUL KRUGER led team with career-best 9 sacks in ’12… K JUSTIN TUCKER made 47-yard game-winning FG in OT vs. Den., in Divisional Playoffs, tied for 3rd-longest OT FG in NFL postseason history & longest ever by rookie …Club had 6 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (KR Jones, FB VONTA LEACH, DT HALOTI NGATA, S Reed, RB Rice, G MARSHAL YANDA)… 4 players on Ravens’ active roster have played in Super Bowl – Ray Lewis, BRENDON AYANBADEJO, Anquan Boldin, JAMES IHEDIGBO.

49ERS : Have won 5 Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXIX), 2nd most in NFL history (Pit., 6). Are 5-0 in SBs, outscoring opponents 188-89. This is team’s 1st SB appearance since 1994 season (XXIX, 1/29/95). 49ers won SB XXIV (1/28/90) over Den. 55-10 in New Orleans. SF has 28 playoff wins, 4th most in NFL history. Team is 28-18 (.609) in postseason all-time...Head coach JIM HARBAUGH is 27-8-1 (.764) in 1st 2 seasons (incl. playoffs). His 27 wins are tied for 3rd most all-time in 1st 2 NFL seasons (incl. postseason). Harbaugh is 8th head coach since 1970 to win division title in each of 1st 2 NFL seasons…49ers led NFL with 9 players selected to original Pro Bowl team: LB NA VORRO BOWMAN (1st), S DASHON GOLDSON (2nd), RB FRANK GORE (4th), G MIKE IUPATI (1st), LB ALDON SMITH (1st), DT JUSTIN SMITH (4th), T JOE STALEY (2nd), S DONTE WHITNER (1st) & LB PATRICK WILLIS (6th)…49ers advanced to SB XLVII with 28-24 win at Atl. SF overcame 17-point deficit & is 1 of 3 teams to win postseason game on road after trailing by 17+ points…QB COLIN KAEPERNICK is 7-2 (.778) as starter (incl. playoffs). In those 9 starts, has 101.2 passer rating with 13 TDs vs. 4 INTs & 440 rush yards with 4 TDs. With 7 career regular season starts, would have 3rd fewest career regular season starts for a starting QB in SB. Can be 4th QB to start SB in same season as 1st NFL start (TOM BRADY, KURT WARNER, VINCE FERRAGAMO). In NFC Champ, Kaepernick completed 16 of 21 (76.2 pct.) for 233 yards with 1 TD, 0 INTs & 127.7 rating. Averaged 11.1 yards per pass, highest for any starting QB in 49ers postseason history. Broke club record held by HOFer JOE MONTANA (10.7) in 1988 NFC Champ (1/8/89). In 2 postseason games, has 105.9 rating & has rushed for 202 yards (101 per game) & has scored 5 TDs (3 pass, 2 rush)…RB Gore rushed for 1,214 yards, his team-record 6th 1,000-yard season. Is franchise leader with 8,839 career rush yards & 51 career rush TDs. Rushed for 90 yards & 2 TDs in NFC Champ, his 1st career postseason game with 2+ rush TDs. In 2012 playoffs, has rushed for 209 yards (104.5 per game) & 3 TDs. 49ers have NFC’s top 2 postseason rushers: Gore (209) & Kaepernick (202). Rookie RB LA MICHAEL JAMES had 1st career postseason rush TD in NFC Champ (15 yards)…TE VERNON DAVIS has 16 catches for 442 yards (110.5 per game) & 5 TDs in 4 career playoff games. In playoffs, averages 27.6 yards per catch. In 3 of 4 career playoff games, has 100+ yards & 1+ TD. Since 2009 (incl. playoffs), leads NFC TEs with 36 TDs. WR MICHAEL CRABTREE had career-high 85 catches, 1,105 yards & 9 TDs. In playoffs, has 15 catches for 176 yards & 2 TDs. In past 5 (incl. playoffs), has 34 catches for 520 yards (104 per game) & 6 TDs. WR RANDY MOSShas 10 rec. TDs in playoff career, tied for 3rd most in NFL postseason history. Needs 2 rec. TDs in playoffs to tie HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH (12) for 2nd…49ers led NFC in total defense (294.4 yards per game) & pass defense (200.2). Ranked 2nd in run defense (94.2). LB Aldon Smith’s 33.5 sacks are most by player in 1st 2 seasons. Led NFC with team-record 19.5 sacks. Has 15 sacks in past 12 (incl. playoffs). Has sack, FF or FR in all 4 career playoff games. LB Bowman led team with 144 tackles. LB Willis ranked 2nd on team with 120 tackles. Has been selected to Pro Bowl in each of 1st 6 seasons. Willis leads team with 19 tackles in postseason. CBs TARELL BROWN & CHRIS CULLIVER have each recorded INT in 2012 playoffs. Culliver had 1st career postseason INT in NFC Champ. DT ISAAC SOPOAGA had 1st career postseason sack in NFC Champ.