Super Bowl XLVII, As Seen By Ravens Fans (GIFs)

It’s been weeks since the Super Bowl and I’m still thinking about it. I’m still looking at my football-shaped, Ravens-logoed party balloon as it floats in my room. I’m still putting every liquid I drink into the 2012 AFC Conference Champions mug my dad gave me on Super Bowl morning. I’m still listening to the Ravens Fight Song when I’m bored. And since the whole game is on YouTube, I’ve been rewatching it and got to thinking: It deserves it own GIF post! So, here it is: Super Bowl XLVII, as perceived by Ravens fans everywhere. (Lots of images–patience por favor.)

Flacco To Boldin For A Touchdown: 7-0 Ravens

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The Niners look scary on their first play from scrimmage, a 20-yard pass completion to Vernon Davis–but, fortunately, a dumb penalty brings that back and they go three-and-out. The Ravens? All we do is continue the ungodly momentum from New England and march down the field to score a touchdown on our first possession.

Flacco To Pitta For Another Touchdown: 14-3 Ravens

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Ohhhh snap, son! Am I dreaming? Just as the Niners get some steam on offense, Upshaw and Arthur Jones make a fumble happen and we capitalize: Pitta and Dickson make four catches on our next drive, and Pitta scores on a sweet goal-line play-action. (A coordinator who knows the opposition knows we like to use Ray Rice, and then uses that against them? SORCERY.) When Ed Dickson is catching balls, you know things goin’ good. Continue reading →

Simple Thoughts On The Super Bowl Champion Ravens

Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / February 3, 2013First Thought: No Weapon

The Baltimore Ravens–who had their defense wiped out by injury at season’s start; who needed a 4th & 29 miracle to save said season; who lost four of their last five games after firing their offensive coordinator–JUST WON SUPER BOWL XLVII!! Can you believe it? DO I??? The Lombardi is coming to Lombard Street! This past month has given me the greatest collection of sports memories ever. Be proud, Baltimore, my glorious hometown. Be proud. And be happy. (And be safe, because I heard there were, like, gunshots already in some places! COME ON.) But you deserve to celebrate. We all do. Bask!

Twelve years has led to this moment. Going through Elvis Grbac and Anthony Wright and Kyle Boller has led to this moment. Losing Ed Hartwell and Bart Scott and Adalius Thomas and countless others has led to this moment. Matt Stover retiring, Brian Billick being fired. It has been turbulent, but the last five have all been building to the big silver trophy and diamond-encrusted rings that people like Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata finally have now, which no one can take away. The team that everyone counted out, over and over–all season, all playoffs–is now, historically, two-for-two in The Big Game. Nothing is impossible. No weapon. Continue reading →