Final Thoughts on 2012 NFL Season: Lights Out

What looked for a while like a game that could turn into a blowout reminiscent of the Super Bowls I had become accustomed to throughout my youth instead turned into one of the more memorable big games of all time. According to Deadspin, the seventh-best Super Bowl of all time.

Not only did San Francisco mount an amazing comeback, but the game was delayed for a little longer than a half-hour because of power failure. Many people loved Beyonce's halftime show, although I'm still inclined to believe the Prince performance at Super Bowl XLI ("Purple Rain" in the rain!!!) was the greatest. MVP Joe Flacco completed a legendary run of playoff performances that now elevates him from being viewed as a liability to now being among the elite QBs in the game.

And because all great games have an element of controversy, this year's Super Bowl was no exception. There were many 49ers players, coaches and fans who expressed their displeasure with the lack of a flag on a 4th and goal play that could've given San Fran the lead. However, the Niners did themselves no favors with some of the playcalling on that final drive. And had San Francisco completed the miracle comeback, how would the reaction have been in Baltimore, where the Ravens had complete control of the game until the inexplicable delay?

For this observer, the result was grand because the 49ers that had never lost a Super Bowl finally got to feel what it's like to lose a big game. It's not as though I know an overwhelming amount of San Fran fans, but their past success always seemed to make me loath them that much more. So I took a little extra joy in seeing them lose this year, and the anger about how the game ended is just a bonus.

All in all, it was certainly a memorable playoffs for Baltimore fans, with the miracle win over Denver probably being the most compelling game of the playoffs. That victory sold me on the Ravens this year, but we should make no mistake: this San Francisco team is very likely to be back in the final round of the playoffs very soon. Maybe as soon as next season, although I've always been a believer in the hangover for losing teams. We will see how the remainder of this off-season plays out for the rest of the NFL.

Here's the final standings for the picks of this year's "experts" during the playoffs, with the colors designating whether said expert was correct or incorrect on the Super Bowl picks they made last week:

1. (1) Mike Golic, ESPN: 10-1 
2. (3) Accuscore, ESPN: 8-3 
2. (2)  Eric Allen, ESPN: 8-3
2. (3) Les Carpenter, Yahoo: 8-3 
2. (3) Mike Freeman, CBS Sports: 8-3 
2. (3) Ron Jaworski, ESPN: 8-3 

2. (3) YOURS TRULY: 8-3 
8. (3) Jason Cole, Yahoo: 7-4 
8. (12) Tom Jackson, ESPN: 7-4 
8. (12) Clark Judge, CBS Sports: 7-4

8. (12) Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: 7-4 
8. (3) Prediction Machine, CBS Sports: 7-4  
8. (3) Adam Schefter, ESPN: 7-4 

8. (12) Mike Silver, Yahoo: 7-4 
8. (3) Seth Wickersham, ESPN: 7-4 
16. (20) Will Brinson, CBS Sports: 6-5 
16. (12) Merril Hoge, ESPN: 6-5 
16. (20) Josh Katzowitz, CBS Sports: 6-5 

16. (12) Chris Mortensen, ESPN: 6-5 
16. (12) Dave Richard, CBS Sports: 6-5

16. (12) Yahoo Users: 6-5 
22. (20) Mark Schlereth, ESPN: 5-6 

22. (20) SportsNation, ESPN: 5-6 

22. (24) Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 5-6
22. (24) Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: 5-6 

26. (24) Mike Ditka, ESPN: 4-7

And, of course, here's the two guys who had a habit of changing picks during these playoffs:

27. (27) Cris Carter, ESPN: 7-4 8-3*
28. (28) Keyshawn Johnson, ESPN: 5-6 7-4**

So concludes another NFL season. For this Bears this fan, there's certainly a little bit of anxiety about what next year could offer when there's a new coach coming in with a lot of past success ... in Canada. There will almost certainly be no shortage of things to talk about.

NOTE: Images in graphic taken from HERE, HERE AND HERE
* -Changed NFC Divisional Playoff pick
** - Changed AFC Wild Card and Championship picks