Super Bowl Sunday

One night, One, game, One name … Super Bowl XLVII

More than 300,000 visitors are expected to visit The Sin City for the championship game of the US National Football League – The Super Bowl, undoubtedly the biggest sporting spectacle in the United States.

Baltimore Ravens battle San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Feb. 3 at 6:30 pm ET at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, in New Orleans, Louisiana

Adding to the festivities on Super Bowl Sunday will feature a rendition by pop diva Beyonce who had confirmed her involvement in the epic game as far back as October.

Tonight’s game marks the 10^th year the Big Easy is hosting the big game and the 1^st time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when the Superdome suffered damage.

Family affair: Jim (R) and John pose for a picture with father Jack

This year’s edition will be special and will go down in history as the battle of the brothers; the sibling rivalry will feature the older John Harbaugh coaching the Baltimore Ravens clash with younger brother Jim Harbaugh coaching the San Francisco 49ers. The brothers are not distracted by the fact that the same blood runs within their veins and also know that just one of the Harbaugh’s will taste glory on the big night. They come from a rich background of football history with their father, Jack Harbaugh, being a successful college coach and Jim’s son Jay currently working with John as a member of the Ravens bench. 

At a recent press conference when if the brothers will one day work together on the same team. Jim said “Definitely, I would work for him.” This year also saw a first; when the customary press conference allowing each coach meet separately with media two days before the Super Bowl was altered on Friday to allow a joint press conference because of the family dimension.

Almost everyone predicts the Ravens to have the upper hand over the 49ers and key battles will be on how Jon Harbaugh and his charges decide to suppress the running bursts of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who will likely make sure the 49ers average more yards per carry, and running back Frank Gore who carried the ball 21 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns during the 49ers win over over the Falcons. But we might have to stay glued and see how both teams decide to play the offensive and defensive lines. Stats show that the 49ers offensive and defensive lines are superior. While the Ravens are better at converting on 3rd Down the 49ers are better at converting on 4th Down.

"Whoever wins the battle of the trenches will go a long way towards determining who wins this game" said an elated Matt Birk, a former Baltimore Ravens veteran center. 

"Both teams are physical upfront, their defensive line is a as good as I've seen. I said this last (in 2011) after we played them on Thanksgiving. It starts with their physicality."