'49ers Will Dismantle The Ravens!' PFT's Mike Florio Makes SNF Pick
The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers will meet in what is the true definition of a heavyweight fight in Week 16. Both teams are the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences and on both sides of the ball, have Pro Bowl talent.
The Ravens rank 4th in points per game (27.4) and are the best in points allowed (16.1) while the 49ers are 3rd in points per game (30.4) and are second for points allowed (16.7), so there isn't too much to separate them based on those stats.
The Ravens and 49ers are both No. 1 in their conference and are on a collision course on Sunday.
But despite that, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio thinks that the Ravens are going to get beaten, and beaten easily in Santa Clara.
“As long as their key players are healthy, the 49ers are gonna kick the s— out of everybody they face," Florio wrote. "The quest is for second place. … The 49ers kick the s— out of the Ravens on Monday night. I’m sorry. I know that’s disrespectful to the Ravens, but let’s be realistic. They’ve gotta fly across the country, on Christmas night, and the 49ers are waiting. And the 49ers are going to dismantle the Ravens. If it’s a Super Bowl preview, the Super Bowl is gonna suck.”
So Florio thinks it will be a walk in the park for the 49ers, but if we look at some of the stats, it might not be as lopsided as some think.
The Ravens are first in rushing yards per game (163.8), fifth in third down stops (35.4 percent), eighth in converting third downs (42 percent), 14th in takeaways (21), and first in sacks (50).
While the 49ers rank third in rush yards per game (139.9), 22nd in third down stops (40 percent), third in converting third downs (47 percent), equal first in takeaways (25), and seventh in sacks (43).
Pass yards are where the teams go separate ways as Baltimore (201.4 per game) and the 49ers (262.6) are a fair way apart.
So with both teams having Super Bowl intentions and have been playing as such this season, this could loom as a potential Super Bowl preview.
Florio thinks it will be a cakewalk for the 49ers, and while yes, the Ravens haven't faced a team like San Francisco yet, Kyle Shanahan hasn't faced a quarterback like Lamar Jackson and a defense like Mike Macdonald's.
Buckle up, this one won't be for the faint-hearted.
