NFL Fact or Fiction: San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVI

With an NFL Super Bowl prediction in the making, the Baltimore Ravens are always considered among the AFC elite and can be seen in the playoffs almost every year.

On the other hand, the San Francisco 49ers has been the laughing stock of the NFC in recent years.

However, after a 5-1 start with some decisive victories against powerful teams, saying that they could make a Super Bowl run is not so bold of a prediction anymore.

The Ravens are winners year-in and year-out while the 49ers are beginning to show the NFL they have a lot of football left to play. 

So is it possible for these two teams to meet in Super Bowl XLVI on the grandest stage?

Here are some facts about the team to help make that prediction.

Defensive Power

For the Ravens, defense is the staple of their team. 

They hold their opponents to 14.1 points a game, which is tops in the NFL. The Ravens can stop a team in any situation of the game and are known to hit hard and keep the offense guessing with their defensive schemes.

Allowing a third least 286.2 yards per game to opposing teams shows the power that the Ravens have defensively.

What it comes down to for the Ravens is that they have the ability to hold down teams on the defensive end and even have the big play ability to score on the defensive side of the ball. 

The 49ers are also a defense first team as well.

They hold opponents to only 16.2 points per game which is second to only the Ravens themselves. The 49ers do not produce much offensively, so putting faith in their defensive unit is key for their victories both previously and down the road.

The defense shuts down the run as effectively as any team and they can cause turnovers also, with a +8 turnover ratio on the season.

The 49ers are certainly a defensive minded team and have a "bend but don't break" mentality that seems to have worked so far as they stand 5-1 on the season.

The defenses for both teams are prolific and each team relies on their defensive prowess to keep their offense in range to win the game.

Running Backs

The 49ers organization has been riding running back Frank Gore for many years now and he has always been the shining star in a dark, clouded offense.

Gore finally has some help with Alex Smith beginning to find his way to win, but the offense will always find their identity in the run game and specifically in former Miami Hurricane Frank Gore.

With the help of Gore, the 49ers are sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 131.5. This running attack by Gore is essential if the 49ers want any slight possibility of reaching the Super Bowl. When Alex Smith is not turning the ball over and is giving the ball to a back like Gore most of the game, the 49ers will be in good winning conditions.

The Ravens also have a star running back on their squad. Ray Rice is undoubtedly the offensive force for the Ravens this season. His dual-threat ability makes opposing defenses cringe. He can run the ball with power and speed and also leave the backfield and go out and reel in some catches.

He is second on the team in receptions this season behind Anquan Boldin, showing that he is the main force in a somewhat shaky offensive unit. 

The running backs for both squads are the most essential factor in the offensive schemes, and if they plan to make it to the promised land, expect both backs to continue their All-Star seasons.

Ravens and the Two-Faced Flacco

At points in this season, Flacco seemed to be unstoppable.

In games against Pittsburgh and St. Louis the team sees the good Flacco.

Facing their bitter rivals in the Steelers, Flacco put on a star performance. He threw for three touchdowns and did not turn the ball over once. In the decisive 35-7 victory, Flacco was seamlessly driving on a tough Pittsburgh defense.

When facing the Rams he put up a similar performance. He threw for another three touchdowns and nearly 400 yards in total. He did give the ball up once, but he blew past the Rams defense in a blowout win.

But then there's the ugly Flacco.

Putting up performances like the games against Tennessee, Houston and New York (Jets), Flacco can not be considered a top tier NFL quarterback.

In particular, when facing the Jets, Flacco put up a miserable quarterback rating of 37.4. Luckily for him, the defense bailed him out but giving the ball up twice and only completing 32.3 percent of your passes is terrible for any quarterback. 

If the Ravens want to win in the playoffs, having Flacco play average and turnover free is vital.

49ers and Strength of Schedule

The 49ers has faced some hard competition this year and came out victorious against some of the top tier teams in the NFL.

Defeating Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Detroit is a very good start to their 2011-12 campaign.

Their only loss came at the hands of a very good Dallas Cowboys squad who had Tony Romo playing very well.

The fact is that the 49ers are in the weakest division in football and have to face the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals twice each in a season.

They have some tough games coming up, but if the 49ers can pull out manageable wins against Cleveland, Washington, New York (N), and Arizona they can see themselves matched up against the Ravens on November 24th with a 9-1 record.

It is just speculation but it is fairly possible, especially with how the 49ers have been playing as of late.

The 49ers keep finding ways to win and their strength of schedule favors them in the latter half of the season.

What Can Alex Smith Do?

Alex Smith is finally showing signs of why he was picked where he was in the draft a few years ago.

It took a little bit of time for the 49ers to see the talent in Smith, but now he is the undoubted starter and leader of the offense.

Smith is not going to be a lightning performer, as shown by their NFL second worst 171 yards through the air per week, but he does do good things also.

He does one thing that the 49ers need in a quarterback to stay in games—he doesn't turn the ball over.

Smith only has eight touchdown throws on the year, which isn't too bad considering they have a 5-1 record, but he only managed to throw two interceptions, which is exactly what the 49ers need from him.

The 49ers can always rely on Gore, so Smith merely just has to be able to come up and move the chains on third downs.

Smith also finds ways to win in clutch situations. For example, last week he found a way into the end zone to seal the victory against the then-undefeated Detroit Lions.

So the 49ers judge his performance not on what he can't do, but rather on his ability to manage the game and keep possession of the ball.

The Hunger for Victory

Both teams show the hunger for victory as they have both faced let downs in previous years.

For the Ravens, they make the playoffs consistently but can't seem to get over the hump and find their way into the Super Bowl. 

They are hungry to keep their winning ways and also find a way to win in the postseason. The Ravens are always hungry to win and always will be in the playoff and Super Bowl hunt.

The 49ers are hungrier than ever. 

San Francisco is finally seeing the potential they have play out on the field. They have mustered together five wins this season and don't plan on stopping. They are as hungry as any team in the NFL at the moment because they always have something to prove.

Being a consistent underdog is a thought that the 49ers want to put way in the past and they are on the way to doing so.

49ers and Offensive Weapons

With the expected return of offseason pickup Braylon Edwards, the 49ers keep adding more firepower to their offense.

Teams have noticed that the 49ers rely heavily on the legs of Gore, and they put more and more players in the box; however, this year things have somewhat changed.

The 49ers have trust in their quarterback and now when they see that Gore is being spotlighted by every defensive player, the Niners will allow Smith to let it rip.

With the return of Edwards, it will likely free up more single coverage for Michael Crabtree, who also has the big play ability. 

The Niners are 5-1 and with the return of Edwards, they will have more offensive weapons to help Smith and the team improve the passing game and not rely too much on Gore.

They also have one of the best tight ends in the league in Vernon Davis.

49ers Special Teams

When your defense is shutting down the opposing team enough to keep it close and your offense can't move the ball for long drives, the special teams' play can prove crucial for a victory.

The 49ers are just that. They can move the ball in small amounts and their defense is shutdown. This year they finally found use for the speedster Tedd Ginn.

Ginn is an explosive force and can prove to be a factor at any moment in any game.

He already has two touchdowns by way of returns this year, one from a kick and one from a punt, and puts Smith and the offense in good positions to score.

For example, when facing the Lions, Ginn was responsible for setting up the offense with excellent field position for ultimately the game-winning drive.

The special teams play of the 49ers is crucial in their game plan.

The Harbaugh Factor

What do both the Ravens and 49ers have in common that no one else in the NFL does?

A head coach with the last name Harbaugh.

The Ravens have been lead by coach John Harbaugh since January of 2008 and have been developed a winning system ever since.

In three years as head coach, Harbaugh has led the Ravens to a 40-20 record. Harbaugh finds ways to win in tough situations and also maintains a very defensive-minded team year-in and year-out.

The 49ers are under control of first-year head coach and John's younger brother Jim Harbaugh.

Jim has brought the winning mentality that he had as coach of Stanford to the 49ers organization and seems to be turning the team around and beginning to establish a winning culture.

Jim is emotional and passionate, as a member of "Handshake Gate," but he finds a way to win for his team and utilizes the strengths and weaknesses of the 49ers in perfect ways that keep the Niners winning.

I do not know what it is about the Harbaugh's but they have an uncanny ability to perform well in the NFL and both coaches have long and bright futures ahead of them.

Final Prediction: FICTION

Unfortunately, both teams will not be able to make it to the grand stage of Super Bowl XLVI.

Both teams have very talented squads and both teams will most likely make the playoffs, but they cannot meet in the Super Bowl.

For the 49ers, it is Jim Harbaugh's first year and even though it would be a Cinderella story to be in the Super Bowl after having a losing culture in a head coaches' first year, it just doesn't seem likely.

The Niners will capitalize on their poor division and make their way into the playoffs but will falter against the NFC's best. They will have to face a team like the Saints or Atlanta and if they want to get to the Super Bowl they will have to defeat the unstoppable Green Bay Packers.

The Niners can make it to the Super Bowl, they have the talent, just not this year with the level of competition they will have to face and their playoff inexperience combined with a first-year NFL head coach at the reins.

For the Ravens, the same problem persists.

They will find a way into the playoffs but then will have to face teams like the Chargers or Steelers and ultimately find a way to defeat the Patriots.

The chances for the Ravens are higher than that of the Niners for a Super Bowl appearance, but when putting so much pressure on the defense, they have to falter once.

Also Flacco's inconsistency may prove costly in a high-stakes playoff match up.

So those of you who are looking forward to a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl, keep dreaming. You can watch the teams face each other on November 24th, but do not look for another meeting after that this season.