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SUPER BOWL 2001

It's The Talent, Stupid
The Ravens Will Win Because They're Better

Here is an amazing stat about the Ravens, courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Dr. Z: When they scores at least 7 points this season they’re 15-0. So, if form holds, all the Ravens anemic offense needs is a measly touchdown or three field goals. They’ll get at least that.

This game does not have the look of a blowout and I won’t be shocked if the Giants win. Neither of these teams has ‘‘dynasty’’ written on it. But I still see a convincing Raven win for these reasons:

Baltimore’s defense has been playing at an amazingly high level. In the playoffs they held Denver, Oakland and Tennessee (the AFC’s #1, 2 and 5 scoring teams) to a combined 16 points and only one TD. And they did it twice on the road in two of the toughest places to play. In contrast, the Giants’ defense, while also impressive, had two games before the home folks against much weaker teams than the Ravens faced.
Like him or not, Ravens LB Ray Lewis was football’s best player this year. He utterly dominates a game and makes everyone around him that much better.
The Giants have no one comparable.
The Ravens scored twice as many points as their opponents this year. The last five teams to do that in the past have all won the Super Bowl.
Cyd argued Othat hubris would bring down the Ravens. He’s wrong. Super Bowl history shows that the team with the swagger and bravado always wins. The Giants have been bit players this week, giving way to Brian Billick, Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa and Shannon Sharpe--the Jerk, the Thug, the Blob and the Mouth. You may not like them, but you can’t ignore them.
Trent Dilfer is 10-3 as a quarterback at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Ravens will move the ball better than people think and Dilfer will have his customary one long pass play for a touchdown.
The Giants will have no success running the ball, which will allow the Ravens to play the pass. Their secondary is a hell of a lot better than the sieve Collins played against in the NFC title game. And Collins is not mobile enough to evade the Raven front seven.
The Ravens are better on special teams. Matt Stover is a better kicker than Brad Daluiso and the Giants’ coverage teams are suspect. Look for Raven punt returner Jermaine Lewis to have a big game.
Outlook: This will be the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in 26 years. The Ravens’ defense continues its torrid play, Dilfer hits one big pass and Baltimore scores on some sort of special teams or defensive return. The Giants play hard but never get on track. Ravens 20, Giants 9.