Ravens set for Super Bowl rematch between two very different looking teams

Even if Justin Forsett does play through is injury, Buck Allen could be set for a huge work load against the San Francisco 49ers.

By: Corey Johns

It was three years ago when the Ravens and 49ers squared off in one of the most action-packed Super Bowls in recent history. But boy are both teams in a different place now. Neither roster looks anything close to what they looked like back then and instead of fighting for a Super Bowl both teams are fighting to not have the worst record in the NFL.

The Ravens just don’t have the stars on the defense to have the shutdown unit they once had and right now their offense has been ransacked with injuries, leaving them with virtually no playmakers.

Steve Smith might play, but has four broken bones in his back. Even for a guy as tough as he is that is hard to play through. Justin Forsett might play as well but his ankle injury is leaving him as a game-time decision. Even if both guys do see the field, how effective can they actually be with the injuries they would be playing through?

The Ravens are going to have to be creative with their offense. They’ll have to figure out ways to work with a good but not great tight end group and a mediocre at best wide receiver corp that could potentially be headed by Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown. With Lorenzo Taliaferro being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury, rookie fourth round pick Buck Allen might be set for his biggest workload yet. He’s more of a change of pace back than a lead back but the Ravens could be forced to work with him back there nearly every play.

With the offense as banged up as it is the defense is going to have to take advantage of a matchup against a struggling Colin Kaepernick. The quarterback who once looked like he was the future of the position when he played against the Ravens in the Super Bowl has fallen hard fast, makes bad decisions and has horrible mechanics. Combined with Carlos Hyde playing with a foot injury, there will never be a better time than now for the Ravens defense to step up.

All four losses have come after the Ravens gave up the lead in the final three minutes. The biggest reason for that has been the inability to stop their opponents on third down, leading to long drives that wears the defense down. In the final minutes they are completely gassed.

What will be very interesting is seeing the performances of both Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, the receiver duo who helped win a ring for the Ravens. Boldin plays with so much passion and anger that this could be a huge game for him, even despite his age and recent struggles. The bad Ravens defense might make things easier for him anyway.

But still, the Ravens have to prove they are at least better than a 49ers team that has been falling apart lately. Don’t they?

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