I am killing two birds with one stone with the arrival of the NFL Conference Championships.
TITLE: The Emergence of Joe Flacco and the End of an Era in Baltimore.
The source that I am using in which I am writing this Current Connection about is http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/61372/ravens-flacco-super-through-postseason... close enough. The Ravens have followed in suit the paths laid before them by the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers of yesteryear. They have accomplished an inconceivably wondrous post season run and capped that off with a victory in Super Bowl 47. The article that I have addressed you to describes one of the, if not THE, main factor pushing the Ravens past such great challenges.
The Baltimore Ravens, whose head coach happens to be brother to the head coach of San Francisco (John Harbaugh), have also reached the doorstep of the Super Bowl, a game that they, like San Francisco, have reached the previous year and a game that they, like San Francisco, lost in heartbreaking fashion. But this year's Baltimore Raven's team has not played at the level of excellence, particularly their once vaunted defense, that they have been known for. Instead, they have stumbled into the NFL playoffs, losing 4 of their last 5 games prior to playoff time. The situation seemed hopeless for the Ravens with the poor ball distribution of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the inconsistency of their quarterback, Joe Flacco, and their heavily injured defense who has had maybe their worse defensive year since the team moved from Cleveland to Baltimore and changing their name from the Browns to the Ravens in '95.
The situation seemed hopeless, until the Raven's long time Inside Linebacker, Ray Lewis, famous for his incredibly high level of play and his outstanding leadership skills, announced that he will retire after the end of the Raven's season this year. Ray Lewis has been with the team since the Raven's first draft in their first year of existence. Ray was drafted 26th overall in the 1st round of the 1996 NFL draft and would go on to reach 13 pro bowls and a record 10 all pro selections. Ray would cement the Ravens as a contender and inspire thousands will his speeches on and off of the field. Ray's announcement of retirement had obviously sparked a fire within that locker room, a locker room that revolves around their undisputed leader in Ray. The team faced the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The Colts were hated inside the city limits of Baltimore and much or Maryland because the Indianapolis Colts were once the Baltimore Colts before they moved in 1983. Although the Colts were a 2-14 team the previous year, they have rebounded in impressive fashion under the outstanding play of first year quarterback Andrew Luck, earning 11 wins and only 5 loses, and were challenging their former city for the opportunity to continue walking the road to the Super Bowl. The Colts were actually favorites over the Ravens prior to Ray Lewis announcing his retirement, in which many analysts changed their picks to favor the Ravens in the midst of an inspired locker room. The Colts ran into a brick wall when they drove into Baltimore and were held to only 6 points in a blowout loss to the Ravens. Ray Lewis' last dance in Raven's Stadium came with a win and a chance to play the #1 seeded Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.
Even though the Raven's have returned to winning form with the trampling of the Colts, they were a 10 point underdog against the overwhelmingly favored Broncos, a team that was seen to have the potential to win it all this year after the signing of former Colts superstar, Peyton Manning. Manning's presence had brought an immense shift in play calling. From the triple-option offense perfected by Tim Tebow, to the pass heavy Indianapolis offense. Peyton led his team to a 13-3 record and the first seed in the AFC title contention. The Manning led Broncos were prepared to host a limping Raven's team at Mile High Stadium. What they were not prepared for, however, was a team with fire burning in their hearts, a fire fueled by the impending retirement of Ray Lewis. The Broncos were extremely fortunate (and unfortunate at the same time) for just reaching overtime against the Ravens. Denver scored two easy touchdowns off of a kick and punt return to keep up with the rampaging Ravens. The Ravens would have lost if it were not for a long bomb from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones for a 70 yard score, leaving only half a minute in regulation. The Broncos played conservatively with Manning kneeling to force overtime. The Ravens and the Broncos would continue to duke it out and eventually force a second overtime. This time, however, Manning would once again succumb to the playoff pressures and throw a costly interception, deep in Bronco territory. This stupendous field positioning allowed Baltimore's rookie kicker, Justin Tucker, to boot a 49 yard game winning field goal to send the Ravens to Foxborough, MA and the AFC Championship game.
Baltimore had time and time again defy the odds and continue their playoff push. This time against an old foe, The New England Patriots, who knocked them out of the 2011 playoffs to reach the Super Bowl. Baltimore had defeated New England in week 3 of the 2012 season but were once again the underdogs. Led by Tom Brady, the Patriots seemed to be destined at another Super Bowl berth. Both teams started the game sluggishly, ending the first half with New England having a 6 point advantage. New England's high powered offense that placed 3rd in all time scoring, was shut down in the second half. Baltimore tightened up and it was all Ravens there on out. Joe Flacco would put up another phenomenal game to finally lead the Ravens to the long desired Super Bowl. This is were it gets interesting.
As you may already know from reading my previous posts, the NFC's Super Bowl representative, the San Francisco 49ers, has a head coach by the name of Jim Harbaugh. The Baltimore Ravens' head coach just so happens to be his brother. This sets up the first and maybe only time that two brothers will coach against one another in the game to end all games. The two teams are identical when it comes to defense. Star players inhabit nearly every position on each level of the two defenses. The Ravens, whose defense terrified opposing offenses for a decade since their legendary 2000 defensive giant, have become a more offensively orientated team, no longer relying on their defense. The 49ers, once one of the most efficient and offensive teams in the history of the National Football League, have now become one of the most stingiest defensive teams in the league. The two teams set the stage for a promising Super Bowl full of juicy story lines. And once again, the Baltimore Ravens are the underdogs.
I can connect to this event due to the fact that I am a strong fan of both franchises and a football fan in general. UPDATE: Super Bowl merchandise has been flooding the market both online and physical stores. The news has also been rocked by America's homegrown holiday, the Superbowl. Bye!
Source: NFL.com
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