(The Verge) – Superbrowl. Ray’s Last Ride. Kaepernicking. From the moment after Championship Sunday ended fans have been bombarded with these headlines concerning the rapidly approaching Super Bowl XLVII. Not since 2008, when the New England Patriots went into the game with a perfect 18-0 record, has a Superbowl featured such compelling headlines. For the first time in history 2 brothers will face off in the championship game. One of the most interesting and controversial figures in sports history, Ray Lewis, has the chance to end his career with a Superbowl title. Finally, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback who wasn’t even a starter half way through this regular season, can solidify his spot among one of the best up and coming players in the game. Each one of these stories is incredible, and without a doubt deserves to be highlighted and explored. Unfortunately, because of their appeal, other notable players and story lines have been barely touched on, or completely ignored, in the weeks leading up to Superbowl XLVII. So today let’s delve deeper, and look at three intriguing aspects, that have been overshadowed, featured in this years title game.
Randy Moss
With so much emphasis being put on Ray Lewis and his planned retirement after the playoffs end the fact that 35 year old Randy Moss may be playing his last game, has been completely overlooked. While it is not known whether Moss will look to play again when this season wraps up, it is certainly feasible that this could be his last game ever. If this does happen to be the last time he will step on the field then the NFL will be losing one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. Over the course
of his career, Moss has recorded 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. With these stats Moss ranks eighth in receptions, second in receiving yardage, and fifth in receiving touchdowns all time. This makes him a shoe-in for enshrinement in Canton one day. Even with these gaudy numbers Moss still has one blemish on his resume. He has never won a Superbowl title, and you can bet that he’s chomping at the bit to get his first ring with the 49ers. Although the six-time Pro Bowler’s production has faded in recent years he is still one of the greatest receivers and most explosive playmakers to ever live, making him someone that should not be overlooked heading into this game.
Joe Flacco
As the starting quarterback for a Superbowl bound team Joe Flacco is in no way flying under the radar. However, while there has been non stop discussion about his counterpart, Colin Kaepernick, and his dominant play since becoming the starter, no one seems to be talking about some incredible milestones that Joe Flacco has achieved in the postseason. To start, by winning two games on the road in these playoffs, Flacco now has the most road playoff wins for any quarterback in NFL history with
6. On top of this, he became the only QB in history to win at least one playoff game in his first five seasons. He has also raised his total win total from the start of the 2008 season to 62, more than any other quarterback in the time frame. Flacco has been scrutinized his whole career for not being consistent enough., However these stats seem to show the opposite. Joe Flacco has proven that he can lead a team, not only to the playoffs, but also consistently make deep playoff runs. If that isn’t enough for you then think about this amazing figure; if Flacco wins this Sunday he will have as many playoff wins, 9, and Superbowl titles, 1, as 15 year veteran, and no doubt first ballot Hall of Famer, Peyton Manning. Undoubtedly an amazing accomplishment.
Football in Baltimore
One last underlying theme of this years Superbowl has to do with the city of Baltimore. By now the heartbreak experienced by the city’s fans when their original franchise, the Baltimore Colts, relocated in the middle of the night to Indianapolis is well known. Their is also bitterness and disdain towards Colts owner Jim Irsay. For 12 years Baltimore was left without a professional football franchise until Art Modell relocated his Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996. Well, with a win in this years Superbowl, Baltimore fans will be able to exact a measure of revenge towards their former team. After the Colts move to Indianapolis in 1984, the franchise has won one Superbowl title. Since the Ravens came to be in the 1996 season the team also has one Superbowl title. This means that if the Ravens can get the victory in this years Superbowl, they will surpass the
amount of titles Baltimore’s ex-team has won since the move. So, while winning the Superbowl in itself is sweet, there is no question that having more championships than their former team will make it even more special for the city’s fans.
When the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens take the field this Sunday, there will be a lot more at stake than just deciding the best team of the 2012 NFL season. Player legacies, family bragging rights, and cities’ hopes will all hang in the balance during those 60 minutes of playing time. With all of these added elements this year’s Superbowl will be one of the most intriguing championship games in recent memory, and hopefully will result in one of the best overall games in Superbowl history.
