San Francisco 49ers

For what seems like the 17th or 18th week in a row, the Ravens will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated when it hits newsstands and mailboxes later this week. But this time, the Ravens don't have to worry about any jinxes. This week's cover commemorates the Ravens as Super Bowl XLVII champions after they beat the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, on Sunday night. The image is Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones returning the opening kickoff of the second half 108 yards for a touchdown.

"We've had adversity this year, and we've come back. We've certainly gotten rattled, but we've always seemed to have gotten back on our feet." Jerry Jones Dallas Cowboys owner, in the wake of his team's rout by the Washington Redskins "People have a right to go fishing or sunset cruising without having to witness a huge football player lifting a scantily clad woman onto a bar." Linda Robertson Miami Herald, on the Minnesota Vikings' "Sex Boat" scandal "It was ugly, but this is the NFL. It's not the BCS system, so it still counts no matter how pretty or ugly it is."

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Wander through the San Francisco 49ers' locker room and notice that something is missing.The team is 9-2, leading the NFC West and looking like a good bet to reach the Super Bowl. But there is no sense of satisfaction.Linebacker Mike Walter considers this a good thing."We've accomplished some things this year," he said. "But it doesn't end there. For me, it was a big deal to win all our division games. It was something we'd talked about."Once you get there, it's like . . . well, OK, now we've got to do this.

MIAMI -- Fourteen Miami Dolphins and 15 San Francisco 49ers have been fined between $1,000 and $2,000 each by the NFL for their involvement in a fight Dec. 6 after a 49ers touchdown.The fight began shortly after Amp Lee scored a third-quarter TD. As the clubs' extra-point teams both started onto the field, a fight began between the Dolphins' defensive team and the 49ers' offensive squad."It was something that had been building for awhile," said Dolphins nose tackle Chuck Klingbeil, who was fined $2,000.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that he spoke to his brother Jim after the San Francisco 49ers outlasted the New Orleans Saints , 36-32, Saturday evening. "We talked last night after the game," John Harbaugh said in his post-game comments. "He was pretty happy. I was happy for him. But I couldn't get quite as happy as he was. He was fired up, and I think he was really proud of his team. I'm proud of him. I'm proud of Jim. I'm proud of his staff over there.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers' 7-3 victory over the New York Giants was the most-watched Monday night game in ABC-TV's 21 years of doing "Monday Night Football," the network said yesterday.While its A.C. Nielsen rating was well off the record, the game was watched by an estimated 41 million people."It's good news," ABC spokesman Andrew Dallos said. "We're more than satisfied."The game drew a national rating of 27.0 and a share of 42. The record was set on Dec. 2, 1985, for a Chicago Bears-Miami Dolphins game, rated at 29.6 with a 46 share.

Auto racingInternational Automobile Federation -- Denied Benetton's appeal over Michael Schumacher's disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix.BaseballOrioles -- Named Walt Gutowski director of business affairs.Detroit Tigers -- Signed a new working agreement with Triple-A Toledo.Philadelphia Phillies -- Selected 1B Fred McNair from Single-A Appleton to complete the July 21 deal that sent P Shawn Boskie to the Seattle Mariners.FootballAFC -- Named Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino Offensive Player of the Week, San Diego Chargers LB Junior Seau Defensive Player of the Week and the Cleveland Browns' Eric Metcalf Special Teams Player of the Week.

WEST%Division predictionThe 49ers will use the season to prepare for their NFC title match with the Cowboys. The Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints will fight for second, and the St. Louis Rams and the Carolina Panthers will bring up the rear.1. San Francisco 49ers1994 record: 13-3, won division and Super Bowl.Coach: George Seifert (84-24)Key additions: S Marquez Pope, RB Ricky Ervins and WR J. J. Stokes.Key losses: RB Ricky Watters, RB Dexter Carter, FB Marc Logan, Dana Hall and P Klaus Wilmsmeyer.

MIAMI -- The two-week break is over. The players and coaches are ready. The game plans are set. All that's left is . . . the commercials?Seriously, it's Super Bowl XXIX, with the San Francisco 49ers going for their fifth title against the San Diego Chargers, making their first appearance in the NFL's title game.The 49ers are heavy favorites, led by superstars Steve Young at quarterback, Jerry Rice at wide receiver and Deion Sanders at cornerback.The Chargers, looking to break the AFC's 10-year Super Bowl drought, have a relatively unknown cast, with quarterback Stan Humphries and linebacker Junior Seau the team leaders.

Monday night's game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants is the most anticipated regular-season NFL matchup in some time. Both teams are 10-1 and didn't lose until last week -- the Giants to the Eagles, and the 49ers to the Rams. It's a contest many think will make this year's Super Bowl anticlimactic.We'd like to know which team you think will win.1. The 49ers.2. The Giants.To register your opinion, call SUNDIAL at 783-1800 (or 268-7736 in Anne Arundel County) today through midnight Sunday.