Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tough for RB to win SB MVP
By Tom Carpenter
Recent history suggests it's going to be difficult for Ray Rice or Frank Gore to secure a Super Bowl MVP award this weekend.
According to ESPN Stats and Information, the last running back to be Super Bowl MVP was Terrell Davis when his Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII in 1998. Since then, nine quarterbacks, three wide receivers and two defensive players have earned the honor.
Rice should have a tougher go of it than Gore, as the San Francisco 49ers rush defense was dominant all season and carried that right into the postseason, allowing just 92.5 rushing yards per game and a single TD in their two games. The Baltimore Ravens D was mediocre during the regular season (allowing 122.8 rushing yards per game), but they have improved during the postseason. Granted, they have given up nearly the same number of yards per game (128.3), but they haven't allowed a rushing score to any of their three postseason opponents, who have averaged 3.9 yards per carry. The Niners, on the other hand, have allowed 4.7 ypc.
There's little doubt that Rice and Gore will have to come up big in order to earn the win on Sunday.
