Super Bowl 2013: 49ers-Ravens QB matchup is run vs. gun

The outcome Sunday hinges on the unrelated brothers in arms, Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers and Joe Flacco of the Ravens, quarterbacks of contrasting styles, and how they handle the biggest game of their lives.

In Baltimore’s path back to the sport’s marquee game victories over Indianapolis, Denver and New England Flacco has eight touchdown passes with no interceptions.

The Ravens, with Flacco at quarterback, have gotten to the playoffs each of the last five seasons, a feat no other NFL team has accomplished.

Steve Young, the last quarterback to win a Super Bowl for the 49ers, and a Hall of Fame player who wasn’t shy about tucking the football and running, believes we’re witnessing a fascinating historical hiccup.

Flacco, whose own father describes him as “dull,” is one of the more exciting passers in football because he throws the risky passes, the ones that tickle the fingertips of defenders but ultimately rest in the hands of his receivers.

In three games this postseason, Flacco has completed 54.8% of his throws for 853 yards and a lofty overall passer rating of 114.7.

He’s not a dink-and-dunk quarterback; he’s completed 15 passes of 20 or more yards in the three playoff games.

Flacco might not be afraid to fail, but, in the NFL, the stakes can’t get any higher than Sunday’s game.

Both of these teams were turned back at the altar last season Baltimore came within a dropped touchdown pass of beating New England in the AFC championship game, and San Francisco fumbled away its NFC title chances in an overtime loss at home to the New York Giants.

“To be back in the NFC championship game, I don’t think our team took it as much for granted how hard it is to get there.