by Brandon Richard | Feb 4, 2013 | All, Football
words // Brandon Richard
A journey that started in September came to its end on Sunday night. It was Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh. It was Ray Lewis’ final game. It was a rookie quarterback attempting to do the impossible. In the end, it was the Baltimore Ravens who stood alone, beating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII.
Super Bowl XLVII can essentially be broken down into two parts; pre-power outage and post-power outage. With a little more than 13 minutes left to play in the third quarter, the Superdome went dark and play was suspended for 34 minutes. Prior to the outage, sheer Baltimore dominance.
The Ravens jumped out to an early 21-3 advantage, starting with a 13-yard Joe Flacco touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin in the first quarter. Flacco threw two more TD passes in the second quarter, including a 56-yard bomb to Jacoby Jones, who made a highlight reel spin move to find paydirt. Two David Akers field goals were all the 49ers could manage and Baltimore went into halftime the big lead.
Then, more of the same when play resumed after Beyonce’s much talked about halftime performance. Jacoby Jones received the opening kickoff and broke free for a 108-yard touchdown return, putting Baltimore ahead 28-6. Things were clicking on all cylinders for the Ravens — then came the blackout.
After more than a half hour of inactivity, the 49ers returned to the field focused and Baltimore’s momentum was stalled. San Francisco rolled off 17 straight points to close out the third quarter, highlighted by Colin Kaepernick’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree. Frank Gore also punched in a run to help the 9ers climb within 5 points entering the final quarter.
The two teams battled back and forth in the final frame, Baltimore striking first with a 19-yard Justin Tucker field goal. However, Kaepernick responded by capping off a 5-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, but the 49ers failed the potential game-tying two-point conversion. Tucker connected again later in the quarter, successfully booting a 38-yarder that sealed a nearly six minute drive. Baltimore led 34-29 and Kaepernick had a little more than 4 minutes to go to work.
As they had for most of the second half, the 49ers steadily moved the ball down the field. A 33-yard Gore run set San Francisco up with 1st and goal on the Baltimore 7 with 2:40 to play. Then, as they have for years, the Ravens defense answered the call. Four 9ers plays, four Ravens stops, all but wrapping up the team’s second Super Bowl victory.
There’d be no late game heroics — Baltimore’s eruption in the first half explosion was enough to outlast the 49ers…and faulty electricity. They are your Super Bowl Champions. With 287 yards and 3 touchdowns, Flacco took home MVP honors.
With the final game of the season in the books, one last NFL Watch showcasing the football cleats worn in the Super Bowl.
images courtesy of Yahoo
Joe Flacco rolls out to pass in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro.
Vernon Davis runs after making a catch in the Nitro III Under Armour football cleats.
Torrey Smith makes a catch in the upcoming Nitro Icon Low Under Armour football cleats.
Michael Crabtree catches a pass in PE Retro 9 Jordan football cleats.
Ed Reed picks off a pass in Nitro III Under Armour football cleats.
Colin Kaepernick finds paydirt in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.
Ray Rice dodges a tackle in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro.
Jacoby Jones returns a 108-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite Low.
Frank Gore stiff arms a defender in the adidas adizero 5-Star.
Anquan Boldin makes a touchdown catch in Nitro II Under Armour football cleats.
Bernard Pierce tries to avoid a Patrick Willis tackle in the Under Armour Highlight.
Dennis Pitta catches a pass in Alpha Pro Nike football cleats.
Ray Lewis celebrates his final goal line stand in Fierce III Under Armour football cleats.
by Brandon Richard | Feb 4, 2013 | All, Football
words // Brandon Richard
They came. They saw. They conquered. The lights went out and the 49ers rallied, but the veteran Baltimore Ravens withstood all challenges to become your Super Bowl XLVII Champions. Now Ravens fans can celebrate the return of the Lombardi Trophy to Maryland by picking up the official celebration gear by Nike and New Era.
First, there’s the official cap by New Era and Nike Locker Room T-Shirt worn by Ravens players following their triumphant victory. You can also show off championship glory with the “Trophy In Hand” or incredibly ironic “Stadium Lights” tees.
Super Bowl styles and other Baltimore Ravens fan gear available here now.
by Brandon Richard | Feb 1, 2013 | All, Football
words // Brandon Richard
This Sunday, the top linebacker of this generation will call it quits one way or the other following Super Bowl XLVII. After 17 seasons as the heart and soul of the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis has announced his retirement from the NFL. To commemorate this occasion and a possible second championship ring for the 13-time Pro Bowler, Under Armour has created a special golden commemorative Renegade cleat for him to wear in the game.
The cleats feature an all-over tonal Maryland flag print and “RL52” across the tongue. Medial toe reads ‘Psalms 91,’ honoring the t-shirt worn by Ray under his pads during his final home game as a Raven. Custom insoles acknowledge Ray’s career accomplishments, his regular season numbers appearing on the left and postseason on the right.
A closer look at Ray’s Super Bowl Renegades below. Look for these Under Armour football cleats to release as part of the brand’s Fall/Winter 2013 lineup.
via Under Armour Football
by Brandon Richard | Feb 1, 2013 | All, Football
words // Brandon Richard
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Under Armour previews the Nitro Icon Low cleats that will be worn by Baltimore Ravens Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith in Super Bowl XLVII.
The special edition cleats feature a deep royal purple upper with a gradient purple-to-gold wrap. Below sits a championship-ready metallic gold speed plate.
Under Armour debuted the Nitro Icon Low in last weekend’s Pro Bowl. The model will be included in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2013 range.
Super Bowl XLVII kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
via Under Armour Football
by Brandon Richard | Jan 21, 2013 | All, Football
words // Brandon Richard
With 20 weeks of NFL football now in the books, we finally have our two Super Bowl XLVII participants. On Sunday, February 3, the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens will take on the NFC’s San Francisco 49ers at the Superdome in New Orleans.
To get there, the Baltimore Ravens beat the odds, traveling to Foxborough and erasing a halftime deficit to upset Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Often criticized Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco shined on the big stage, completing 21 of his 36 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. On the receiving end of two of those passes was Anquan Boldin, who caught 5 balls for 60 yards. However, enough can’t be said about the storied Ravens defense, which limited New England’s top-ranked offense to 13 total points and forced three second half turnovers. Prior to Sunday, Brady was a perfect 67-0 when the Patriots held a halftime lead at home.
Also overcoming a deficit on Sunday was the San Francisco 49ers, who trailed by as much as 17 points in their NFC Championship match-up against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Once again, rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick showed great poise, leading a rally for the ages. Kap went 16 for 21 and 233 yards, including a touchdown pass to Vernon Davis before the half. Just like the Ravens, the Niners pitched a highly impressive second half shutout and running back Frank Gore punched in two ground TDs to give San Francisco the win and a trip to New Orleans.
In two weeks, brothers will coach against one another in the Super Bowl for the very first time — but the storylines don’t end there. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed may be playing in the final games of their Hall of Fame careers. Randy Moss has been relatively quiet all season, but his leadership may help the Niners win and land him the first Super Bowl ring of his legendary career. Speaking of legendary, there’s the 49ers franchise, which is seeking a record-tying sixth Super Bowl win.
We’ll find out how it all plays out in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, take a look at some of the football cleats worn in the Conference Championship games in today’s NFL Watch.
images courtesy of Yahoo
Joe Flacco drops back in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro.
Tom Brady passes in custom turf Under Armour football cleats.
Bernard Pierce drags Rob Ninkovich in the Under Armour Highlight.
Wes Welker makes a catch in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite Low.
Ed Reed flies in to make a tackle wearing Nitro III Under Armour football cleats.
Stevan Ridley runs through a pile in the Under Armour Nitro Diablo.
The Baltimore Ravens celebrate in the New Era NFL Conference Champions Cap.
Colin Kaepernick passes in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.
Roddy White extends to make a grab in custom Reebok football cleats.
Michael Crabtree runs after making a catch in Retro 9 Jordan football cleats.
Matt Ryan eyes a target in the Nike Alpha Talon Elite 3/4.
Tony Gonzalez with perhaps his final “slam dunk” in Zoom Flyposite Nike football cleats.
Frank Gore high-steps into the endzone wearing the adidas adizero 5-Star Low.
Frank Gore holds up his Nike NFL Conference Champ T-Shirt.
