The 49ers are small but clear favorites to win the Super Bowl.
They have a better defense, a better offense, and a hotter quarterback.
But it's not going to be a blowout, and the game will come down to a handful of micro battles.
We picked out the 11 keys that will decide they game. They involve Joe Flacco's deep ball, Kaepernick's inexperience, and the Ravens' one secret weapon.
The 49ers need to defend against the one thing Joe Flacco does well — throwing deep
Joe Flacco's deep ball is what makes him an above-average QB.
The 49ers secondary has been shaky in the playoffs, but the Ravens entire offense relies on the ability to make two or three big plays a game for instant points. So plays like these will be key:
Ray Rice needs to get at least 15 carries
Rice averages ~19 carries in Ravens wins this year. He averages 12 carries in losses.
He's their best offensive weapon.
The Ravens only have one advantage — special teams — and they need to make it count
Dancing return man Jacoby Jones is going to be huge in the return game.
The Ravens are outclassed on both sides of the ball. But they rank #1 in special teams, and the 49ers rank #20. If there is one area where they have a chance to gain an edge, it's here.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
