Baltimore: Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Jacoby Jones
San Francisco: David Akers, Andy Lee, LaMichael James, Ted Ginn
Most people think that this is going to be a close game. If that is indeed the case, special teams will likely play a pivotal role in who wins. In the last nine Super Bowls, six of them have been decided by a TD or less, increasing the importance of strong special teams.
Baltimore has been good on special teams all year. Remember that John Harbaugh was the Special Teams Coordinator in Philadelphia before he became the Head Coach of the Ravens. They have a dangerous return man in Jacoby Jones. Jones is as dangerous as they have come this season. He returned 3 kicks for TDs for the year. Their kicking game has been ultra-reliable. After a missed FG cost the Ravens a spot in the Super Bowl last year, Baltimore went out and signed undrafted rookie Justin Tucker. Tucker has been money all year. He made 30 of 33 FGs. Sam Koch was just as automatic at punter. Jones, Tucker, and Koch are as good as they come as a group of special teams guys.
San Francisco was perceived to be one of the top special teams units in the league coming into the year. It didn't turn out that way. David Akers missed more FGs than any other kicker in the league. The strong-legged Andy Lee went from the top of punters to the middle of the pack. And burners LaMichael James and Ted Ginn have failed to return a kick to paydirt all year. This is a capable bunch, they just haven't proved to be reliable throughout this season.
The special teams could decide who wins Super Bowl XLVII. Baltimore has been outstanding in this regard all year. San Francisco has failed to live up to expectations as a unit. We are talking about the current season, and at the moment the Ravens have a clear advantage in special teams.
Advantage - Baltimore
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