Super Bowl 2013: Top Possible Storylines for Big Game

We still don't know who the participants will be in the 2013 Super Bowl, but that's no reason not to get excited anyway. No matter who the participants are, the big game will be sure to feature several fascinating storylines.

We could have a Harbaugh bowl. Who doesn't want to see that? 

There is also a very good chance we will have a first-time Super Bowl winner at quarterback. Joe Flacco, Colin Kaepernick and Matt Ryan have never led their franchises to the big game, let alone a championship. They have a great chance to do so this year.

There is also a good chance that we will see the NFL's establishment, the New England Patriots, take on one of the up-and-coming franchises in the NFL in the 49ers or the Falcons. 

Here are some storylines to watch for in the big game.

Harbaugh Bowl

John and Jim Harbaugh are both alive in the playoffs, making a Harbaugh Bowl a distinct possibility. How awesome would that be?

Both Harbaughs are known for their fiery sideline demeanor and their willingness to stand by their players through the toughest circumstances. Both are highly-regarded, and both would make sure their team plays at a high level in the big game.

The media would have a field day with this matchup, with plenty of fascinating interviews heading up to the big game. Who would their parents root for? Will they be able to focus against one another?

These questions and more would guarantee an exciting matchup in a Harbaugh Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.

Ray Lewis Leaves on Top

With only four teams remaining, a lot of the NFL will be behind the Ravens for the purpose of seeing Ray Lewis leave the NFL with another ring. 

The Ravens have been the most emotional team in these playoffs by far, and Lewis has been the catalyst. The pure joy he feels at playing the game of football is infectious, and the Ravens have been the beneficiaries of that passion.

No matter if your team wins or loses, seeing Lewis retire on top would be a great story for the NFL and the Ravens.

Experience versus Youth

No matter the matchup, Super Bowl XLVII will feature part of the NFL's establishment versus one of the up-and-coming franchises. 

Both the Patriots and the Ravens have dominated on a near yearly basis. The Ravens have made the playoffs for five straight years while the Patriots have made it four in a row. Both are popular Super Bowl picks on a yearly basis.

The Falcons and the 49ers, meanwhile, struggled for much of the past decade. Like the Ravens, though, the Falcons have broken out with a bright young quarterback drafted in 2008 and a new head coach the same year. The 49ers, meanwhile, have changed their fortune much more recently, making the playoffs two years straight. 

The matchup of a new power versus the old guard will be fascinating, and deciding who exactly is more motivated will be a difficult task.