Press Box: CT’s Super Bowl Predictions

The regular season of the NFL has come to an end and playoffs are set to start. The CT writers chose who they think will win the Super Bowl. 

Bersabeh Kemaw, Staff Writer

I believe the Baltimore Ravens will walk away with the 2024 Lombardi Trophy. 

The Ravens were my dark horse pick earlier this season, and considering how far they have come, it’s safe to say it was a good pick. 

The Ravens are currently ranked No. 1 for scoring defense in the NFL this season, according to Fox Sports.

This defense, alongside their high level offense, has allowed the Ravens to have the most wins in the league with 13 wins and four losses, making them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, according to ESPN.. 

Quarterback Lamar Jackson has had an exceptional season and is predicted to be the MVP, according to Yahoo Sports.

Jackson currently has 3,678 passing yards and 821 rushing yards, according to ESPN.

Wide receiver Zay Flowers has been a key contributor for the Ravens, leading with 858 receiving yards, according to ESPN.

The team also welcomes back tight end Mark Andrews after he was out due to an injury, according to Fox Sports.

The return of Andrews will add to the team’s already great offense and pose a threat to their opponents.

The Ravens have a first-round bye, so it will be interesting to see which team they face off in the second round of the playoffs.

Kyler Gilliam, Contributing Writer 

I pick the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl, as they are led by MVP favorite quarterback Lamar Jackson and the number one scoring defense in the league, averaging 16.5 points allowed per game, according to Fox Sports.

The Ravens have been playing at their best against other quality opponents. The Ravens have 10 wins against teams that finished the season .500 or better. They also had huge wins over legitimate contenders such as the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

Jackson is the star of the show, totaling 4,499 combined rushing and passing yards and 29 total touchdowns, according to ESPN. 

He also has various weapons at his disposal, as the Ravens have six receivers with over 350 receiving yards this season, and three of those six having over 500 receiving yards, according to ESPN. His most reliable weapon has been Zay Flowers, a rookie receiver out of Boston College. Flowers has 858 yards and 12 receptions of 20-plus yards, according to ESPN.

The Ravens’ defense is also full of playmakers, including four All-Pro players: Linebacker duo Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, safety Kyle Hamilton and Justin Madubike at defensive tackle. This unit boasts the most sacks in the league, the number one turnover differential and is tied for second in the league for interceptions with 18, according to ESPN. Combine that with an MVP quarterback, and the Ravens have a lethal combination.

The Ravens will have a first-round bye, getting extra rest for the playoffs. It also gives time for star tight end Mark Andrews to return from injury. The Ravens activated Andrews off the injury reserve list on Jan. 12, according to ESPN. The Baltimore Ravens have too much star power on both sides of the ball to not be holding the Lombardi Trophy after the final whistle. 

Dan Elson, Contributing Writer 

 The San Francisco 49ers will win the 2024 Super Bowl. 

The 49ers are arguably the best team offensively. Running back Christian McCaffrey could easily win Offensive Player of the Year. He had a total of 2,023 yards and 21 TDs, according to CBS Sports.  

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy proved this year that the nine games he played in last season weren’t a fluke. He had 4,280 passing yards and threw 31 TDs. 

Purdy has three key weapons that will be too much for defenses to handle: Wide receivers Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle.

Sometimes, playoff experience doesn’t determine how a team does in the postseason, but in this case, Purdy will thrive in this postseason and play like a quarterback who’s been around the game for a long time. 

The 49ers largely looked unstoppable with some of their most impressive wins against the Dallas Cowboys, 42-10, and the Philadelphia Eagles, 42-19, who, right now, have problems. This is the year for the 49ers to win the Super Bowl.