Across the world, people will open presents on Christmas Day.
And NFL fans will open their Christmas present – a big and good one, the league hopes – on Christmas night, about 7:15 p.m. Central time, when the San Francisco 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens (The 49ers host the Ravens in a possible Super Bowl preview).
The 49ers are 11-3, and except for a head-scratching three-game losing streak that nobody seems to be able to figure out (except that maybe receiver / wide-back (his words) Debbo Samuel and offensive lineman Trent Williams were both out). They lead the NFC.
The Ravens are 11-3 and have the best record in the AFC.
When people say it could be a possible Super Bowl preview, this one really could,
As it says in the Associated Press preview that we’ve linked, it’s only the second time in league history that teams with sole possession of the best record in the NFC and the AFC played so late in the season. The only other time it happened was in week 16 of the 2005 season, when Seattle beat Indianapolis.
Incidentally, there have been 14 Super Bowls that have featured a rematch from the regular season.
And this one also features a matchup of potential most valuable player candidates, not just between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (Ravens) and Brock Purdy, but 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, as well.
Don’t slight the defenses, with players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on the 49ers, and Justin Madubuike and Kyle Hamilton on the other.
But don’t tell Jackson about the Monday hype. He knows it’s important, that this game is important, but that both teams still have plenty of football after Christmas night.
“(The) Super Bowl is in February,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “We’re in December right now. We have to focus on Monday night. I’m not worried about what people are saying.”
