Who wins the Super Bowl today

This is as difficult a super bowl to handicap as there ever has been. The funny thing is why? On paper the San Francisco 49ers have a better team than the Baltimore Ravens. On a 54 or 47 man roster, the 49ers have 17 players who have either been voted to a pro bowl or played in the game at some point. They have the better running game, passing game, rushing defense, and passing defense. They have the premier defensive linebacker's in the game. They have the future superstar pass rusher  on their team. They can maul you on the offensive line, finesse you with the pistol offense, embarrass you with the deep pass. This year clearly, the NFC is far more talented than the AFC. Did you see the Pro Bowl? Did you see how the Packers mauled the Texans? 49ers beat the Patriots? Redskins beat the Ravens. This game shouldn't be close. Right?
The only reason people think this will be a competitive game is people think that there has to be some magic to what the Ravens have done.  They have beaten the Colts, who had their old defense coordinator. They went to Denver and finally beat Peyton Manning in a meaningful game. They beat New England in Foxboro. The Ravens were the only AFC team to defeat the Patriots this season. The Ravens in most people's eyes are an older version of the 49ers on the defensive side of the ball. The Ravens can run the ball and stretch a defense with their passing attack. Joe Flacco can throw a ball from end line to end line. They have so many compelling story lines. The death of the owner Art Modell. The retirement of Ray Lewis. The inspiration of O.J. Brigance and his physical battles. Tory Smith and his brothers untimely death. Is Joe Elite? So many typical cliches to make a team want to overcome. If they did not have all of this baggage  I wonder what the true spread would be. We know that paper doesn't win titles execution does.
The 49ers just simply have been brilliant.  Colin Kaepernick has shown he can win with his arm and he can win with his legs. He ran circles around Green Bay. He set a rushing record by a quarterback in that game. Against the Falcons he rallied his team with his arm and savvy to victory. He could be a trailblazer today if he can win this game. Everyone is ready to see a different style quarterback win the big game. We have seen Steve Young do it as a dual threat guy. Jeff Hostetler do it as dual threat guy. They threw it more in the Super Bowl game. Young threw 6 touchdown passes and could thrown more.
Hoss ran to keep drives alive.
I am taking 49ers to win. Too much offense. Too much defense. 34-17. Sorry Ray

Ray Lewis

For the past months we have been a witness to the proper way a great athlete should go out of a game. We have watch people hang on and win rings, we have watched athletes get knocked out, make the game winning shot, and even get injured crossing finish lines. Ray Lewis is getting his chance today to have a Michael Phelps or Micheal Jordan type ending to his extraordinary career. He makes you laugh. He fires you up. He makes you scream at the television when he makes a play to prevent you from scoring or when makes a big hit. For a decade or more, he has been a thorn in everyone's side at some point. He ripped my team apart in the Super Bowl and won the games most valuable player award. Is he the best linebacker to play the game? For me that honor belongs to Lawrence Taylor. Taylor revolutionized the way defensive football was played. Lewis, Seau, Singletary are probably this generations best linebackers and it is hard to distinguish them. All three were ball hawks and their impact on games were different. Singletary was the brains of the greatest defense of all time. He lead by example and seemed to be in on every tackle. Seau made all of the pays for the Chargers in his hey day. He sacked the quarterback, could cover tight ends and running backs, physical at the line especially at the goal line. He was intense.
A super bowl would have cemented his legacy but the 49ers and Giants did not allow that to happen.
Ray Lewis is probably considered better than those guys because of his performance in the super bowl against the Giants. He is the only player in NFL history with 30 sacks and 40 interceptions. I have watched him injure players with legal hits, intimidate players into dropping sure first downs and touchdowns.  He has the same impact as Seau. He was expected to make every tackle. He hasn't disappointed on the field.  He off the field has left us wondering who the real Ray Lewis is. The extremely rude comments by the wife of Wes Weller let's us know that not everyone is drinking the Ray Lewis kool aid. People criticize him for being amongst people involved n a murder case, deer antler spray and of course his sharing of God with the world. Some people think he is phony and playing for the cameras.
He is a performer in every sense of that word some may say. He delivers on the field and plays it up after  the game. You can what you want about Ray Lewis but if they win today, he will be called champion and no one can take that away from him...

Is Joe Flacco this years Eli

Before last season started, Elk Manning was asked whether or not he was an elite quarterback. He said he was and promptly went out an had an incredible season. He had moments last year that drove me crazy, with frustrating losses in the regular season. Some how he discovered how to win in the fourth quarter and in the post season and lead the New York Giants to a title. Well Joe Flacco has had more of a frustrating regular season and is in position to duplicate Eli's feat. Flacco does things in the regular season that makes you scratch more than your head. He has games that defy logic and give his detractors ammunition. The Ravens were 1-4 in their last five games and it could have been worse. Their one win was against the Giants. You either love Joe or you ask Joe to let the defense win games for you. In the regular season, the Ravens were hard to watch after week 10 but somehow, Joe has channeled his inner Eli Manning and has been brilliant in the post season.  He has beaten, Andrew Luck, Peyton, and Tom Brady end route to the big game. He has thrown 8 touchdowns and no picks so far and has outplayed those three qb's in the postseason. The throw he made to tie the Broncos is the stuff if legend. Outplaying Brady in Foxboro and getting redemption for last year is big contract worthy. He must pull off the finale in order to have an Eli Manning storybook, finish. The 49ers don't lose these games. They have had their ordinary Joe take them to the promise land. Multiple times... The Eli comparison from last year is a good one. He must finish however what he started...

The final two divisions are..Afc North and NFC East

I am sorry that is has been a while since my last post.  Life truly is a blessing, but extremely difficult to maintain. I realize that most people will disagree that the two best divisions in football are the NFC East and the AFC north.  I think that the NFC north is quite good. The Packers, Bears, and Lions have a shot to go to the big game and really make noise in the NFC. The AFC West could be good as well, but we don't know what we are going to get from those teams.  The Chiefs have a lot of people coming back, the Chargers are trying to build new chemistry, the Raiders have a new coach and Carson Palmer throws way too many interceptions, and then there is Peyton Manning.  He looked brilliant in his last pre- season game. Too many questions and not enough answers.  The NFC east is loaded (when healthy).   The Giants are the defending Super Bowl Champs and they look to prove that last year was not a case of catching lightning in a bottle.  The Eagles have stars everywhere.  So do the Cowboys. The Redskins are looking forward to a fresh start.  The AFC north is solid with the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals who all played in the post season last year.  The Browns. like the Redskins are starting a new quarterback, and have high hopes for an improved season. lets analyze shall we.
The AFC North could have had the SuperBowl representative last year if it had not been for a dropped pass and a missed chip shot field goal.  Joe Flacco says he is an elite qb, and it is hard to to disagree since he has been in the post season every year of his career.  He may not be flashy as Brady or Brees and yes he has had brain cramps with horrid performances( see Jacksonville game last year). He does not have to do much. He has a quality running game with Ray Rice. He has quality receivers to throw to.  Anquan Boldin is a matchup nightmare.  The defense is getting a bit older and that may be the liability this season.  Terrell Suggs is out for a while with an injury and he is not someone easily to replace.  Ed Reed is unhappy with contract situation but he will perform.  This teams' only weakness may be covering receivers in this new pass happy league.  Could be a big year for this team if Flacco lives up to his own hype.  Eli said the same thing last year and won his second ring..
The Pittsburgh Steelers too are dealing with injuries and angry players.  Mike Wallace returned to the team finally.  The Steelers have a new offensive coordnator so Wallace is going to need some time to get in to football shape and learn the new plays. The Steelers like the Ravens are smarting from a post season loss that no one still can believe happen.  The Steelers always seem to find a new defensive stud and discover a running back to replace one from the previous year who is hurt or traded away.  This team will start the year without a couple of key cogs in Harrison and Mendenhall.  What I love about the Steelers is that they make no excuses and just play.  I expect no less this season. I don't see glory this year but they will be heard from from every corner of the planet.
The Bengals shocked the world last year and made the post season with a rookie qb.  They can really play some defense and coach Zimmer can really inspire.  Adding Terrence Newman may not be wise but maybe he can reinvent Newman he could be the piece that pushes them ahead of the Steelers. NOT!!!! They let Cedric Benson go.  Why? He was an off field catastrophe we all no that but on the field he was a security blanket for Dalton.  Who does he turn to now?  A.J. Green is quite good but still raw. This team will be in every game they play this year.  You are going to have to play 4 physical quarters of football to beat them.  Without a running game though, they may take a step backwards.They do every other year.  Check out their recent history..
The Browns have a lot to look forward to.  They have two young quarterbacks who can play and are tough.  They drafted Richardson who is really tough. They need help everywhere else.  They have young raw players all over the field.  They have no receivers worth a darn. They have a rugged tough linebacking core but their secondary couldnt cover me. They have a new owner.  thats a bout it.. Cleveland Brown football this year will be a year of wait and see. Josh Cribbs may be enough for me to watch.
The NFC East will be scrutinzed and watch as ever.  The Philadelphia Eagles seem to be the trendy pick. Why? Yes on offense they have a dynamic duo at receiver, a running game that gashes you at least once a game.  They have a tight end who can it all.  The defense is out to prove that last year was a fluke and that the last four games last year are who they really are. They had a guy almost break the sack record and I am sure NNamdi wants to prove he is worth all of the money spent on him.  The key for the Eagles this and every year is the quarterback.  Mike Vick has to stay healthy for 16 games.  If he does the Eagles go to the big game.  If he doesn't Andy Reid will be fired..
The Dallas Cowboys are another trendy pick.  They have a solid running game. A game breaking receiver and tight end. A super stud defensive end who wreaks havoc everywhere. They backup players who are as talented as most starters.  The word that has to describe the Cowboys is Soft.  They are the most injured talent laden team I have ever seen.  Felix Jones always hurt, Miles Austin always hurt, Tony Romo always hurt, Dez Bryant hurt or in trouble with the law. They have no secondary whatsoever.  They got torched by every team in the league last year.  This year, the drafted Claiborne to replace Newman and he is raw.  Mike Jenkins is too small.  I don't know why we talk about this team so much.  They really are all fluff no substance..
The Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III and veryone is all excited that they may have found their qb of the future.  He had a prolific college career but never really won any significant games. Yes he can run and he is wicked fast.  He is truly going to have to be because he is going ot be running for his life in this league and division.  The Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys are licking their chops at the opportunity to smash mr. Griffin. The Redskins have a good line but need a running game to help Griffin.  They 4 backs but none of them are anything special.  Helu and Hightower can go the distance against anyone, Torrain is tough.  When you have 4 backs that means you have none right? Defensively they will be great one week, but can't stop anyone the next.  The swept the Giants last year quite easily. No one know what to expect.  The redskins hope for improvement.
The Giants are my team and I am disgusted with how the world has thrown them under a bridge as a lucky team.  I have never heard of a team that gets no credit for winning a title.  they literlly had to win 6 games in a row against playoff quality teams and palyoff teams to get the big prize and they did.  Eli Manning is crafting a Hall of Fame career and the Giants are out to prove that last year was no fluke.  Defensively they will be better.  They have several d-linemen who fill the roles needed to make them a title contender again.  Yes they lost Manningham and Jacobs on offense but they believe in Barden and Ware to replace those pieces,  The Giants are hungry to knock the Jets off the back page.  I expect great things this year.
AFC North: Ravens 12-4, Steelers 10-6, Bengals 7-9, Browns 4-12
NFC East: Giants: 11-5, Eagles 10-6, Cowboys 9-7, Redskins 6-10
Player To watch AFC North: Joe Flacco.. It is your time to shine
Player to watch NFC East: Mike VIck: If you are Haelthy for regular season, could be special year.