A Look Back at Our Super Bowl XLVII Predictions

Before Sunday's big game, we made a few bold predictions about what would happen in Super Bowl XLVII. It's pretty obvious there were more bold calls than we thought. We put an X for every wrong answer, an X (half) indication for when at least part of the prediction came true and put a big ole C next to what we correctly predicted. The predictions are in italics and our analysis is in plain text. You won't see too many other (if any) media entities putting their claims on review like this. Enjoy!

X, X, X The San Francisco 49ers will win Super Bowl XLVII by beating the Baltimore Ravens 24-21 on Sunday in New Orleans. Vernon Davis will be the Super Bowl MVP with a pair of touchdown receptions.

The Ravens won, the score was 34-31 and Joe Flacco garnered the MVP. We'll take any brownie points you're offering by having the ones digits correct in scoring. If only we had those Super Bowl squares!

49ers Offense vs. Ravens Defense

X (half) Baltimore won't have a problem stopping the Niners' running game, but will give up plenty of yards through the air. The Baltimore secondary will dare Colin Kaepernick to beat them with his arm, and he will be up to the challenge. Other than a few scrambles on broken plays and read-option runs, Kaepernick will produce the most by giving the ball to his receivers. Michael Crabtree and the tight end Davis will have a similar number of catches, with Davis getting the ball more in the red zone.

San Fran's rushing attack was fantastic, and the passing yards didn't come quite as easily (although it was still a good day on that front). Kaepernick didn't run much, and targeted both Crabtree and Davis frequently throughout the game.

Ravens Offense vs. 49ers Defense

X The Niners' defensive line will be one of the best adversaries the Baltimore O-line has faced all season. Joe Flacco won't have quite as much time as usual to throw, but will have enough for a few well-timed middle-distance gains and the shots downfield his team is planning to take. Ray Rice faces one of the toughest running defenses in the league, but will be able to pick up decent yardage.

I underestimated the ability of Baltimore's o-line and ironically also over-estimated Ray Rice's performance.

Special Teams

X Despite his recent struggles, David Akers will make all the kicks required of him. Justin Tucker will do the same. Jacoby Jones will give the Ravens a slight advantage in the return game, but there won't be any big plays in between the teams' possessions.

I really couldn't have been any more wrong here. Akers missed a field goal (although it was done over because of a penalty), and Jacoby Jones had the longest kickoff return in Super Bowl history.

Team Predictions

X The 49ers will gain more yards and force two turnovers.

The Niners had just one turnover, which was a Ray Rice fumble. It happened during the midst of San Fran's comeback, with a touchdown right before it and a field goal on the ensuing drive.

X (half) The Ravens will score first, but be unable to hold the lead.

The Ravens did score first, but were able to hold their lead for the entire game. The 49ers came within four points in the first and two points late the in fourth, but never led the game.

X (half) Neither team will score on its first possession.

Anquan Boldin proved me wrong on the Ravens' first possession, as an offside penalty gave Baltimore second life on third down. In the do-over, Boldin caught a 13-yard pass from Flacco in the end zone. The Niners had been held scoreless on their first drive.

Individual Predictions

San Francisco Offensive

C Kaepernick won't have a huge day on the ground, but will put up solid passing numbers.

Kaepernick didn't run often, though he did average 8.9 yards per carry. His 302 passing yards were impressive, but his one-to-one TD-to-pick ratio was not.

X (half) Frank Gore will not break 100 yards rushing, but will pick up some key first downs, especially in the second half.

Gore reached the century mark in rushing yards and had a TD. He had 33- and 21-yard runs for first downs in the fourth quarter.

X Davis will earn the Super Bowl MVP Award for a big day receiving, including two touchdown receptions. 

Although Davis had 104 yards on only six receptions, he was kept out of the end zone, his team didn't win, and he was not the MVP.

C Crabtree will have one touchdown catch and some big yardage.

Crabtree had over 100 receiving yards and exactly one touchdown. He was targeted in each of the last three offensive plays for San Francisco, but couldn't come up with a go-ahead catch.

Baltimore Offensive

X Flacco will have a decent night with two passing touchdowns and one interception, but a late sack will kill the final Ravens drive.

Flacco wowed the crowd at the Super Dome with three touchdown passes and no interceptions and ended up the Super Bowl XLVII MVP. He was sacked twice, though neither time was groundbreaking.

X Rice will out-gain Gore and have one rushing touchdown.

Ray Rice mustered only 59 yards on 20 carries and was kept out of the end zone. The Ravens had only 93 rushing yards as a team.

C Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta will each have receiving scores for Baltimore.

Boldin led Baltimore in receiving yards (104) and receptions (6), scoring the first TD of the game for either team. Pitta's touchdown catch put the Ravens up by a lead that has never faltered in a Super Bowl game (11 points).

X Torrey Smith will be the team leader in receiving yards, including a big play on a touchdown drive.

Smith was a non-factor in the game, netting 35 yards on two catches and a handful or targets.

San Francisco Defensive

X Aldon Smith will have at least one sack in the game.

Aldon Smith had only two tackles (one of them solo) and hit Joe Flacco once.

X Dashon Goldson will have the only interception.

The Niners had exactly 0 interceptions, and Ed Reed had the only one of the game for the Ravens.

Baltimore Defensive

X (half) Ray Lewis will not lead his team in tackles for the first time in this year's playoffs. Bernard Pollard will instead.

Lewis was second on the team in tackles, but Dannell Ellerbe had two more than any other player for Baltimore. Pollard had only two.

X Dannell Ellerbee will have the only sack of Kaepernick.

Paul Kruger sacked Colin Kaepernick twice, and Arthur Jones added one of his own. Ellerbe had none during the game.

**********

Total: 15 1/2 wrong, 5 right. As they say for every team except the winner, better luck next year.