4th and Long

A Tale of 5 Yards

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.christianpost.com

After 10 seconds in the second half, the score was 28-6.  Then, the lights went out.  This is literal; the lights did physically go out in the stadium.  But for the Ravens, this is so metaphorical as well.  I can’t tell you how many people told me they turned the game off at the point, thinking the game was over.  But, for myself, Caleb and anyone else who knows anything about momentum and the San Francisco 49ers, we knew things were just getting started (that is, in addition to the lights).

After reviewing Caleb’s arguments for the 49ers, and taking a look at their keys to victory, it would appear San Francisco did everything they had to in order to win the Super Bowl. 

Photo Cred www.edition.cnn.com

Caleb said that Colin Kaepernick needed to play within himself.  And, for the most part, he did exactly that.  The kid threw for 302 yards and a touchdown.  In the second quarter, the Ravens allowed him to run, so he did just that; 62 yards and a touchdown.  The first half was rough, but Jim’s top choice at QB found himself in the second half, almost pulling out an improbable defeat.

Another key was getting Vernon Davis the ball.  I knew this, saying the Ravens had to keep him in check.  Well, they didn’t, as Davis went for 104 yards on 6 catches.  Somehow though, this didn’t come back to bite them, as the Ravens were able to contain Davis in the fourth quarter for zero catches.

Photo Cred www.nydailynews.com

Kickers were supposed to be big in this game, and Akers couldn’t miss.  He didn’t, but the 49ers still lost the game.

So what went wrong?  Caleb highlighted a fourth key in the game: The Smith Brothers needed to pressure Flacco.  San Francisco could not get to Joe.  The defense recorded one sack in the game.  Flacco, the game’s MVP, had all day in the pocket, and was able to find his receivers downfield all day long.  Yes, Carlos Rogers held Torrey Smith to 2 catches for 35 yards.  Unfortunately, he couldn’t cover two guys at once, as Chris Culliver got burned repeatedly by Anquan Boldin and once on a huge 56 yard touchdown to Jacoby Jones at the end of the second quarter.   The D-line could not get to Joe Flacco, and the secondary paid big time. 

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

Almost Caleb, so so close to being right this time.  I knew, even when the game seemed out of reach, that it was nowhere near over.  I wasn’t about to pop open my victory bottle of sparkling cider until the clock struck zero.  Baltimore lost all of their momentum when the lights went out, and San Francisco capitalized like no other team could.  It’s a shame for one of these teams to lose, but that’s the truth in the matter; there can only be ONE winner.  The Black Out Bowl will go down as an Instant Classic.

It came down to 5 yards in the end.  It was a controversial call, and I agree, San Fran should have had four downs from the goal line to win the game.  But seriously guys, you blew so many shots earlier in the game, and let up too many big plays.  The 49ers were the better team, but they didn’t play well enough to win.  Don’t blame the refs.