Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers return to the Super Bowl for the sixth time in franchise history as they go up against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. The 49ers are on a three game winning streak and have won five of the last six games.

San Francisco will attempt to win the Super Bowl for the sixth time in franchise history and for the first time since the 1994 season on Sunday. The 49ers six trips to the Super Bowl are tied with the Denver Broncos for the 4th most Super Bowl appearances in league history. With a Niners victory they will be tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl victories in NFL history.

The 49ers earned a trip to the Super Bowl with a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, after trailing 17-0 in the first half. The 17-point comeback was the 2nd largest deficit overcome to win a conference championship. The Ravens punched their ticket to the NFL championship game by also overcoming a first half deficit against the New England Patriots and ended up winning, 28-13.

THE HISTORY

This will be the fifth-time the Ravens and 49ers have played, but the most memorable game was last years battle on Thanksgiving night. In the first edition of the HarBowl, Baltimore won, 16-6. The only time San Francisco has won in the series was the first game played in 1996 when they defeated the Ravens, 38-20.

Matchups: 4

Series Record: Ravens lead series 3-1

49ers Home Record vs. Ravens: Series tied 1-1

49ers Away Record vs. Ravens: Ravens lead series 2-0

First Meeting: November 17, 1996, 49ers won 38-20

Last Meeting: November 24/11, Ravens won 16-6

Current Streak: Lost 3

Longest 49ers Win Streak: 1 – (November 17, 1996)

Longest Ravens Win Streak: 3 – (November 30, 2003 – November 24, 2011)

Most 49ers Points Scored: 38 – (November 17, 1996), 38-20

Most Ravens Points Scored: 44 – (November 30, 2003), 44-6

Game Results

1996-49ERS 38, Ravens 20

2003-RAVENS 44, 49ers 6

2007-Ravens 9, 49ERS 7

2011-RAVENS 16, 49ers 6

THE NUMBERS

2012 Comparison

 49ERS     (rank)                     RAVENS     (rank)

11-4-1 (1st NFC West) Record 10-6 (1st AFC North)

24.8 (11th) Points Per Game 24.9 (10th)

361.8 (11th) Total Offense 352.5 (16th)

155.7 (4th) Rushing Offense 118.8 (11th)

206.1 (23rd) Passing Offense 233.7 (15th)

30:49 (10th) Possession Average 28:09 (29th)

17.1 (2nd) Points Allowed Per Game 21.5 (t-12th)

294.4 (3rd) Total Defense 350.9 (17th)

94.2 (4th) Rushing Defense 122.8 (20th)

200.2 (4th) Passing Defense 228.1 (17th)

38 (t-11th) Sacks 37 (t-15th)

14 (t-16th) Interceptions 13 (19th)

48.1 (3rd) Punting Avg. (Gross) 47.1 (8th)

+9 (t-8th) Turnover Differential +9 (t-8th)

49ERS RAVENS

PASSING YARDS

Colin Kaepernick……..1,814 Joe Flacco…………………..3,817

Alex Smith………………..1,737

RUSHING YARDS

Frank Gore……………….1,214 Ray Rice………………………1,143

Colin Kaepernick………. 415 Bernard Pierce…………..532

RECEPTIONS

Michael Crabtree………..85 Anquan Boldin……………….65

Mario Manningham……42 Dennis Pitta…………………….61

Vernon Davis……………….. 41 Ray Rice…………………………..61

RECEIVING YARDS

Michael Crabtree…….1,105 Anquan Boldin…………….. 921

Vernon Davis…………….548 Torrey Smith……………….855

INTERCEPTIONS

Dashon Goldson…………….3 Cary Williams……………………4

Three Players………………..2 Ed Reed……………………………..4

SACKS

Aldon Smith………………. 19.5 Paul Kruger…………………..9.0

Ahmad Brooks……………6.5 Haloti Ngata………………….5.0

Justin Smith………………..3.0 Two players…………………..4.5

• 1: Ray Lewis’ first career sack was on Jim Harbaugh in 1996.
• 5: The 49ers are 5-0 in Super Bowls in franchise history. The 5 victories are tied for the second most in NFL history (Pittsburgh – 6; Dallas – 5).
• 9: QB Colin Kaepernick enters Super Bowl XLVII with 9 career NFL starts (regular season and postseason). The 9 starts mark the 3rd fewest starts by a QB entering the Super Bowl in NFL history. (Jeff Hostetler, NYG – 6; Vince Ferragamo, L.A. Rams – 7)
• 2: RB Frank Gore led the way with 21 carries for 90 yards and 2 TDs against the Atlanta Falcons. This marked Gore’s first career multi-touchdown performance in the postseason.
• 20: Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers are 11-2-1 when Gore has 20 carries or more.
• 3: QB Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 21 passes (76.2 comp. pct.) for 233 yards with 1 TD and a QB rating of 127.7 in the NFC Championship Game. His 76.2 comp. pct. ranks 3rd in franchise postseason history.
• 28: The 49ers have won 28 playoff games since 1970.
• 15: RB LaMichael James registered his first-career TD on a 15-yard TD run in the win over the Falcons. James became the first 49ers rookie to register a TD in the postseason since FB William Floyd recorded a 4-yard TD reception from QB Steve Young vs. San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
• 17: The 17-point comeback against Atlanta was the 2nd largest deficit overcome to win a conference championship.
• 100: Davis registered his 3rd career 100-yard game in the postseason in the NFC Championship Game. He now ranks t-2nd in NFL postseason history for the most 100-yard receiving games by a tight end.
• 6: The 49ers will be making their sixth Super Bowl appearance which ranks second all-time.
• 110.5: TE Vernon Davis has averaged 110.5 rec. yards per game in 4 career postseason games which ranks 3rd in NFL history (min. 4 games) and is the most among tight ends.
• 10: San Francisco’s defense allowed just 157 plays of 10 or more yards this season, ranking 1st in the NFL. The defense only allowed 7 TDs of 10 or more yards, also ranking 1st in the NFL.

 49ers Super Bowl History

Super Bowls Games: 5

49ers Record: 5-0

First Game: 49ers win 26-21 over Bengals (SB XVI – January 24, 1982)

Last Game: 49ers win 49-26 over Chargers (SB XXIX – January 29, 1995)

Current Streak: Won 5

Longest SF Win Streak: 5 (January 24, 1982 – Current)

Most SF Points: 55; 49ers win 55-10 over Broncos (SB XXIV – January 28, 1990)

Most Opp. Points: 26; 49ers win 49-26 over Chargers (SB XXIX – January 29, 1995)

Total SF Points: 188

Total Opp. Points: 89

Average SF Points: 37.6

Average Opp. Points: 17.8

Largest SF Win: 45; 49ers win 55-10 over Broncos (SB XXIV – January 28, 1990)

 49ers Super Bowl Wins

 1981 (1/24) W San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21

1984 (1/20) W San Francisco 38, Miami 16

1988 (1/22) W San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16

1989 (1/28) W San Francisco 55, Denver 10

1994 (1/29) W San Francisco 49, San Diego 26

 THE CONNECTIONS

• 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh faces his older brother, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, for the second time. It marks the first time in NFL history in which siblings have faced each other in a Super Bowl as head coaches.
• Jim Harbaugh played quarterback with the Chicago Bears (1987-1993) when quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst (1991-1995) and Ravens defensive line coach Clarence Brooks (1993-1998) were on the Bears’ coaching staff.
• Jim Harbaugh was co-captain with Ravens offensive line coach Andy Moeller at the University of Michigan in 1986.
• 49ers assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Brad Seely coached with Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees with the New England Patriots from 2004-2008.
• Jim Harbaugh played quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in 1998.
• 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was on the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff as the special assistant to the head coach from 2006-2008 and in 2009 he was the linebackers coach.
• 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman was the assistant offensive line coach for the Ravens from 2006-2007.
• 49ers LB Tavares Gooden was selected in the 3rd round (71st overall) by the Ravens in 2008 and played with Baltimore until 2010.
• 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman grew up in District Heights, Maryland and attended Suitland HS (Forestville, Maryland).
• 49ers TE Vernon Davis is a native of Washington D.C. and attended the University of Maryland.
• 49ers RB Frank Gore played at Miami (FL) in 2001 with Ravens S Ed Reed and T Bryant McKinnie.
• 49ers LB Patrick Willis and Ravens T Michael Oher were teammates at Mississippi from 2005-2006.
• 49ers T Anthony Davis played with Ravens RB Ray Rice from 2006-2007 at Rutgers.
• 49ers RB LaMichael James and FB/DT Will Tukuafu played at Oregon with Ravens TE Ed Dickson from 2008-2009.
• 49ers QB Alex Smith was a teammate of Ravens LB/DE Paul Kruger at Utah in 2004.
• Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostler served as the 49ers quarterbacks coach from 2005-2006 and offensive coordinator in 2007.
• Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo is from Santa Cruz, CA.

Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

If 49ers fans thought it was tough traveling to New England to play the Patriots in December, it does not get any easier in Week 16 with San Francisco going to Seattle and facing off against their divisional rivals the Seahawks. In anticipation of the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday Night Football, Niner Noise connected with Seahawks fan website 12th Man Rising and their Editor Keith Myers to preview the matchup. Enjoy and go 49ers!

Q.  Russell Wilson has looked like a completely different player from the first half the season compared to the second half of the season. What is the number one reason for the Wilson’s emergence?

A.  He is a very different player, but only statistically. Watching the games, he doing a lot of same things he did back in the early season, except now they’re working for him. I really think he’s just gotten comfortable with the offense. He now knows where all his receivers are going to be. Early in the season he’d have wide open receivers and they wouldn’t get the ball. Now, he’s finding those guys. Add in the confusion that the read-option is creating in opposing defenses, and it seems like there’s just no way to stop Wilson right now.

Q.  Seattle’s defense is looking scarier and scarier each week and is one of the best units in the NFL. Which player(s) are responsible for the defense playing so well this season?

A.  You know the cliché “it all starts up front?” Reverse that for Seattle. Everything starts with Earl Thomas at the back of the defense. His speed allows the Seahawks to play a single high safety on most plays, which frees up SS Kam Chancellor to line up anywhere on the field where he’s needed. It’s almost like having an extra guy on the field for most plays.

There are plenty of other playmakers on this defense; Richard Sherman is probably the league’s best corner this season with Revis out, Bobby Wagner will get defensive rookie of the year consideration, Chris Clemons, KJ Wright, Brandon Mebane… but everything this defense does is keyed by the speed of Earl Thomas on the back line.

Q.  What will the Seahawks need to do on offense and defense in order to pull off a win and punch their ticket to the playoffs?

A.  On offense the Seahawks really need to establish the read-option. If they can do that, it’ll neutralize really neutralize any advantage 49ers have with their defensive front 7. The read-option has a way of making players think too much, instead of just reacting and playing like they normally do. If the Seahawks can do that, they’ll be able to move the football well enough to win this game.

On defense, it comes down to being disciplined. That’s what they didn’t so in the first matchup. Guys were getting out of position and leaving their assignments, and the 49ers made them pay for it. When everyone simply does their own job, and trusts their teammates to do theirs as well, this defense can be formidable.

Q.  While the feat of scoring over 100 points in two games is impressive, the real reason why Seattle posted 50-plus points in those games is because they were playing really weak teams in the Cardinals and Bills, right?

A.  Yes and no. Neither of those teams is particularly good, but the Seahawks could have scored 70 in each of those games if they wanted to. Lynch only had 21 carries combined (for well over 200 yards). Wilson also only played 3 halves of football total in those 2 games.  And let’s not forget that, while their offense is as bad as they come, the Arizona defense is still pretty stout. Even after giving up 58 to the Seahawks, they’re still 11th in the NFL in points given up.

But then again, it is still the Cardinals and Bills, right? We’ll see how far this offense has really come this Sunday. The Seahawks won’t put up 50 on the Niners, but if they can put up 30+ points against THAT defense, than I think it will be pretty safe to say that this offense has become one of the best in the league.

Q.  What is your prediction for the game?

A.  No one comes into Seattle and wins right now. The 12th Man is such a huge advantage. As long as Richard Sherman plays, and the Seahawks aren’t stuck with their 5th and 6th string CBs out there all game, I think the Seahawks win in a close game. Seattle 27 – 23 San Francisco

Check out Niner Noise’s answers after the jump:

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots (10-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1)

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (turf, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 5:20 p.m.PT/8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Line: Patriots by 3

Weather: Temperatures in the 30s, chance of rain

To preview the 49ers vs. Patriots game, here are five things to watch for:

Patriots No Huddle Offense

The 49ers are in the top three of best defenses in the NFL and they will face their toughest test of the season against Tom Brady and the Patriots. One of the things unique and highly successful the Patriots run in their offense is the no huddle. Other teams run the no huddle, but Brady operates it at a much higher rate and faster pace. This will be the first time San Francisco’s defense will go up against an offense that consistently runs a no huddle offense. The problem for the 49ers is they don’t have much depth on the defensive line, so Justin Smith and company will need all the rest they can get. That means the 49ers offense will need to sustain long drives to keep Tom Brady off the field and to rest the defense.

One of the things that make the Patriots no huddle offense so successful is it puts the defense in a hurry mode which exposes what they are going to do. It also allows Brady plenty of time to read the defense and call the right play based on their formations. The only way to slow down the Patriots no huddle offense is to simply stop them from making plays, which is easier said than done.

 It makes a defense kind of declare what they’re going to do. It helps us get set up and it’s tough for them to disguise things. WR Wes Welker.

Injuries

Both offenses could be without key receivers on Sunday because of injuries. The Patriots could be without tight end Rob Gronkowski who was listed as limited on the injury report for Friday’s practice. Gronknowski missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and he is questionable to play. The tight end missed last weeks game against the Texans because of a broken forearm and a hip injury. The Patriots offense will miss Gronkowski but they will still be equally as lethal with tight end Aaron Hernandez stepping in.

For the 49ers offense they will likely be without WR Mario Manningham for the second straight week. Manningham has been out with a shoulder injury and missed practiced on Friday.  What is not encouraging is Manningham practiced on Wednesday and Thursday, and then he missed Friday because of his shoulder. This gives an advantage to the Patriots defense because they will have one less receiving threat to worry about on Sunday.

Alex Boone vs. Vince Wilfork

One of the more exciting battles to watch for in the game will be between Alex Boone vs. Vince Wilfork. What makes Wilfork so dangerous on the defensive line is how explosive he is after the snap for someone his size. He has 39 tackles and two sacks this season.

Boone is in his first season as a full time starter at guard and he will likely be called on to block Wilfork for most the game. On offense, the 49ers rely much on their second ranked rushing attack to move down the field. But the Patriots defensive front seven, led by Wilfork, will be looking to slow down the running game and force the Niners to pass instead. Boone will need to have one of his best games of his career in order to keep Wilfork in check and to move the 49ers offense down the field.

49ers Pass Rush