After all the waiting, the NFL forlornly, yet eagerly, comes down to this, the Super Bowl. The season is almost over with a colossal occasion like no other sporting event in the world. The Baltimore Ravens play the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL championship, all season long; the Ravens have been that team that was decent, but not considered a huge threat. The Niners have done what we have been waiting for, progressed into the title game that eluded them last season.

Let’s take a look at the teams and see where the advantages lay. QB

Baltimore Ravens; Joe Flacco has been anything but Fluke-O, yet again. With a career high of 3817 YDs, 22 TDs, an inconsistent 59.7 % completion rate, He is a steady low turnover, big arm guy. His leadership is virtually unnoticed, with 4 game winning drives this season, he has proven a lot.

GRADE: B

San Francisco 49ers; Colin Kaepernick has come a long way indeed. 2012 was a remarkable season for the 25 year old QB. With 1814 YDS, 10 TDs, with a full season, he could be a 25 TD guy; Kap has proved he is not only a good QB, but a definite asset for their future. You don’t get bigger than the Bowl. We all know what Kap can do with his arm and his feet.

GRADE: B+

RBs Baltimore Ravens; the Ravens have a monstrous dual threat guy in Ray Rice to pound the ball. Ranking 11th in the NFL rushing the ball, Rice carried the ball 257 times, and also caught 4/ game, which is 20 total touches/game. Its evident Rice is an offensive force to deal with both running the ball and catching it from the backfield. GRADE: B+

San Francisco 49ers; With the Niners running game hammering away with 1214 YD rusher, Frank Gore, they cause pain repeatedly for opponents. Gore, picking up 4.7 YPC is a load to deal with, and he gets plenty of touches. The Niners also have speedy LaMichael James to also run the rock, and they are good for another 4.6 YPC from him as well. GRADE: B

Receiving Corps Baltimore Ravens; With Torrey Smith and his mere 49 catches but big-play 855 YDs and 8 TDs along with Anquan Boldin and his 65 grabs bringing him another 921 YDs and 4 TDs on the season, they can take the top off with speed, or bruise away with over the middle plays. But as we all know Dennis Pitta has been vital to the teams’ success as well, with 7 TDs on the season. GRADE: B

San Francisco 49ers; The Niners receivers are amusing to watch. With veteran role player, Randy Moss, sudden slot star, Michael Crabtree, at WR is giving the Niners legit weapons. The TE slot is rock solid with Vernon Davis, only getting 41 catches and 5 TDs, although still the receiving commander on this team. GRADE: B

Defense line Baltimore Ravens; Led by underrated Paul Kruger as their keystone on the defensive line with a team leading 9 sacks, the Ravens amassed 37 sacks on the season. Which put them 15th in the NFL; they do get some pressure on the opposing QBs, with many different players who can get passed the O-line GRADE: B

San Francisco 49ers; 38 sacks on the year, 11th highest in the league, there is no question about it, led by Aldon Smith and his 19.5, and Justin Smith, you are going to be a problem for opposing O-lines to defend against. With only 2 players with 6 or more sacks they are truly danger as long as Aldon Smith gets his chase on; it opens things up for others. GRADE: A

Secondary Baltimore Ravens; The Ravens gave up only 15 TD passes through the air, and only 228 passing YPG, 8 times during the season, including playoffs, they allowed 267 or more passing YDs to opposing QBs. The Ravens don’t allow a lot of big yards in the air, or even better many scores. GRADE: B+

San Francisco 49ers; the Niners have also been excellent with the pass coverage. Ranking 4th in the league giving up just 200 yards/game to teams through the air, it still comes down to LB play as well, where the Niners are outstanding as well, because the middle is always blanketed. GRADE: A

Coaching Baltimore Ravens; John Harbaugh has proven yet again how great a coach he is. Every season, since being with the Ravens, for 5 years, he always has led his team to a winning record, 54 career wins and 3 division championships. GRADE: B+

San Francisco 49ers; The fiery Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh seems to be on the fence of madness as the coach always brings incredible tenacity, and he leads his guys the same way. With a 24-8 record in just 2 seasons with his team, he has shown how brilliant he is as well, with a huge call in switching QBs midway through the season, to better his teams’ chances of being more of a threat on the offensive side, he has guts, and he was correct in his decision. GRADE: B+

Written by TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com