Ebony Bird round table: Super Bowl LIV edition
Super Bowl LIV is here. The Baltimore Ravens fanbase isn’t getting the Super Bowl they wanted. Let’s have fun with it anyway. Consider this a Super Bowl program for the Ravens Flock. Each member of the Ebony Bird will give his prediction for the game, share his favorite Super Sunday memories and his favorite big game food:
Site Expert, Chris Schisler makes his pick:
The big game is going to be a good one this year. You have strength vs. strength in this battle. The Kansas City Chiefs have a high-flying offense led by Patrick Mahomes. The 49ers have the best pass defense in football and a defensive line that is almost too good. I’m going with the 49ers. I think they will be able to run the ball and shorten the game. We’ve seen teams have success against the Chiefs doing this. The Tennessee Titans tried this in the AFC Championship game. They got off to a good start, they just couldn’t keep it up. The difference is that the 49ers will be able to put the ball in the end zone enough to win the game.
I strongly believe that defenses win championships. I’m going with the 49ers with that in mind. I think a big game, with extra time to prepare for both teams, tends to be more of a defensive battle. Both teams have time to focus on their game plan and on their opponents. I’d be willing to bet if the Rams and Patriots played in the regular season last year, it would have been a high scoring affair. In the big game it was a chess match with two ready defenses. The 49ers have the defense to slow down the Chiefs. They won’t dominate them, but slowing them down and frustrating them will be all the 49ers have to do. Give me a big day for the 49ers run game. Give me a big day for the 49ers defensive line. Give me the 49ers 28-24.
Favorite Ravens Super Bowl:
I probably appreciate the second Super Bowl more than anything, because it took so long to get there. That being said, I was 10 years old when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in the 2000 season. It was my first season being a real football fan from the beginning to the big game. My team won it all and I became obsessed with the game. Winning the Super Bowl is exciting and back then it allowed a crazy emotional kid to fall in love with football to a level most people can’t match. Nothing beats a hungry and young Ray Lewis. Nothing beats the best defensive line in franchise history with Rob Burnett, Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa and Michael McCrary. That game was just too much fun. The Giants got rocked, the lights stayed on and the Ravens hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with very little stress.
Favorite Non-Ravens Super Bowl:
So nine-year old me hadn’t caught the football bug until Super Bowl XXXIV. Mom made me watch the Super Bowl with the family instead of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was the St. Louis Rams against the Tennessee Titans. It took a while, but the game hooked me. It was such a competitive game and the drama was off the charts. Steve McNair and the Titans had an incredible drive that fell just short at the end of the game. That got me into football. That got me ready to become a Ravens fan that summer. So for the importance of the game in my life I will go with that one. The non-Ravens Super Bowl I enjoyed the most after I really got into the game would probably have to be the New Orleans Saints beating the Indianapolis Colts. That onside kick was crazy.
Favorite Super Bowl food:
It’s starting to become a tradition. My Mom makes the best cheese steak subs. She melts the Gouda and Cheddar right in with the meat. Add some awesome sautéed onions, a little more cheese on top and some mayo and you are in Super Bowl heaven. Is it tonight yet?