Quick Thoughts On The Super Bowl: Michael Crabtree, The Lights, And The Clydesdale

Last night, the light were shut off on the 2012-2013 NFL season, both literally and metaphorically. After the power surge, the Super Bowl turned into a pretty decent contest that left plenty to talk about this week. So without wasting anymore time in this introduction, here are Ramblin’ Fans’ quick thoughts on last night’s championship game:

1. The Italian looking man doing the signing/interpretive dancing during the “Star Spangled Banner” was quite possibly the best part of the Super Bowl, at least for me. He should be at every game, like a “Where’s Waldo” of prime time.

2. The first half of the game was, quite simply, a stunning showcase of Joe Flacco’s arm talent and the potential dominance of the Balitmore Ravens’ offense. There was no answer for the Boldin-Flacco connection on the outside, and Joe was moving around the pocket and avoiding tackles like he was… well, a 2012 rookie quarterback. The play in the second quarter when he broke to the outside and threw a rope to Boldin right on the out of bounds line had to be the most impressive play of the game. Accuracy is important, but arm strength was the victor in this game.

3. With that being said, Jacoby Jones, who was a free agent out of Houston a couple of seasons ago, was easily the MVP through the first 32 minutes of the game. His double move on Culliver on his only reception of the game was exceptional, only to be topped by the moves he made after getting back up after the catch. Many, myself included, thought that would be nail in the coffin, having put the Ravens up 21-6. However, as if that play wasn’t enough, he runs back the second half opening kickoff for a touchdown! The play should have stopped the show, and did, in way, with the lights cutting off right after…

4. The light fiasco was entertaining for all of 10 minutes before boredom started to set in, having to listen to the constant update that it would be “15 minutes” until the lights were back up. I genuinely believe that the Baltimore Ravens would have had a viable case against the league had the San Francisco 49ers been able to pull off the comeback. The extended delay obviously benefited the much younger 49ers squad, and seemingly lulled the Ravens defense into near submission. The Super Bowl, unlike any other game of the year, should be a battle of talent on the two opposing teams.; no external factors should have any influence, whatsoever, on the game. That is why the game is played at a neutral site… and why the league should have never OKed the outdoor game next season.

5. Luckily, the Super Bowl will not be remembered for the lights randomly shutting off during the game, and will instead be remembered as the end of a legacy, and the potential start of another. The term “elite” is widely overused, with no clear semblance to the characteristics that define it. However, a player that manages 1,140 yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions during the ultimate four-game stretch in American sports has to fit that bill.  I am not, nor will I ever be a fan of Joe Flacco, but no one can deny that he has something special with this Baltimore team.  I don’t know what “elite” means, but his performance certainly seem to fall in that category.

6. Michael Crabtree looked like a Top 5 receiver in this game, breaking tackles, making tough catches across the middle, and gaining significant yards after nearly every reception. It says something about a player when the game is on the line and the coach calls in a play where you, and only you, are responsible for making the play. Jerry Rice should be proud!

7. Randy Moss…

8. If I took a shot every time Phil Simms uttered the phrase “aside from that one interception” (in reference to Kaepernick’s performance), I would have been blacked out before the halftime show. I have never heard the announcer so animate about convincing the viewers that a player is a top talent in my life. Kaepernick definitely turned on the burners late, playing spectacular football once the lights came back on in the dome. However, the early interception and his seemingly confused dive in the first half that led to a field goal, and the miscommunication in the second half that led to a wasted time-out may have been the deciding factors in the game yesterday. The kid is essentially a rookie, so maybe those will get ironed out as he progresses in the league. However, he was is a big reason that the 49ers’ offense was so stagnate for a majority of the game yesterday.

9. At the end of the day, the better team won the football game. People will complain about the “missed” holding call at the end of the regulation, or about any number of other calls that were not in favor of the particular team they were rooting for to win. For what it is worth, the officials made a solid “no-call” at the end of the game. Michael Crabtree, as much as he was being held, also had his hands all over the defender throughout the entirety of the play. Crabtree initiate contact off the line of scrimmage and full extended his right arm against Justin Smith at the end of the play. If San Francisco wants to be upset about that call, then Baltimore could be equally upset about the hold on Torrey Smith by Chris Culliver earlier in the game that wiped away a likely touchdown grab. In fact, for as much as Culliver seemingly dislikes the ideas of touching other guys, he sure was grabbing onto Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith for most of the night! Zing…

10. If you did not tear up during that Budweiser commercial with the Clydesdale, you are not a human being! Don’t know which one I am talking about? Shame on you…