Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens and Orioles were unable to come to an agreement to move the baseball game to earlier in the day so there will be no football game in town that night. However, the NFL has announced that the Ravens will participate in the Thursday kickoff, they will just have to do so as the road team.

One of the teams on the Ravens’ 2013 road slate of games is the Detroit Lions. Could Detroit host the 2013 season kick off?

I suppose since the Tigers are off that day and on the road anyway. However, it is likely the NFL will view other options as more appealing.

An AFC opponent, for instance. The Bengals have a baseball conflict so they are out of the running. The Broncos or Steelers would be ideal opponents for a big opening matchup, although that puts the Ravens in a tough spot having already been booted from their home. The Dolphins are another interesting option considering they have been one of the most active teams in free agency and will surely bring a buzz into the season.

The NFL has just a few weeks to figure it out. The 2013 schedule is set to be released in mid-April.

Here are five reasons Detroit Lions fans should be rooting for the Baltimore Ravens over the San Francisco 49ers. Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Another Super Bowl is upon us and like the 46 that preceded this year’s edition, the Detroit Lions will not participate. So who is a Lions fan to root for? Some could take the “who cares” or “I just want to see a good game” approach, but games, particularly big games, are much more fun with a rooting interest. Here are five reasons Detroit Lions fans should want the Baltimore Ravens to beat the San Francisco 49ers.

5. Rust Belt Rivalry
Detroit fans and Cleveland fans tend to not like each other very much. The former Cleveland Browns never made it to a Super Bowl, but this would be the team’s second championship since Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens after the 1995 season. Another Ravens Super Bowl win is another twist of the knife in Cleveland sports fans’ back.

4. Underdogs
Detroit Lions fans don’t know what it is like to have a team in the Super Bowl, but we know a little something about being an underdog. We’re not front-running fans, so why would we root for the favorite? In the absence of a vested interest, fans should always root for the upset and that means cheering on the Ravens on Sunday.

3. They’re Coming to Town in 2013
The Baltimore Ravens are one of eight teams that will make a trip to play the Lions at Ford Field during the 2013 season. Entering as the defending Super Bowl champs would give that game a little extra panache.

2. World Series Payback
The thought of a championship going to San Francisco should still make Detroit sports fans queasy. The last championship in major American sports was won by the San Francisco Giants after they swept the Detroit Tigers to earn the right to celebrate in the center of the Comerica Park diamond. It was a gut punch for Detroit sports fans, a Ravens win allows San Francisco sports fans to feel the same way.

Oct 16, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh (left) fights with Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz after the game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber- USA TODAY Sports

1. Watching the 49ers Lose Would Be a Back-Slapping Good Time
The Jim Harbaugh-Jim Schwartz handshake/back-slap incident following the 2011 meeting between the Lions and 49ers has outlived its shelf life as a compelling storyline when the two teams meet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hold it against Harbaugh as he seeks football’s biggest prize. Harbaugh and the 49ers got a road win over the previously unbeaten Lions back on that October day and the effect was apparently so intoxicating he acted like he won the Super Bowl that afternoon. May he never know football joy again.

Are you convinced?

August 17, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell (35) runs past Baltimore Ravens safety Amari Spievey (42) at M

Although the Lions pulled out a 27-12 win over the Baltimore Ravens Friday night, there were a lot of concerns regarding the play of the special teams, penalties and misguided turnovers. Let’s dive into it, and much more, with the daily news bullets:

• Anwar Richardson wrote early Saturday Morning about the special teams woes the Lions faced Friday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Coach Jim Schwartz was not too pleased and mentioned that the quality of practice will not be improving this week; it will be the quality of the players on the roster that will be improving this. It is unfathomable to think Schwartz is going to shake up the roster THAT much, but it is in the realm of possibility that he cuts a few guys who did not show flashes of brilliance on special teams.
• It is sad to see that Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and former Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy are no longer romantically together. That would have made for great bulletin board fodder for when the Lions play against the Bears this season had the power couple stayed together until Oct. 22.
• Safety John Wendling is starting to earn that three-year, $2.75M ($750K signing bonus) contract he signed in 2011 after recording two pass breakups and a sack during Friday’s game against the Ravens.
• Rookie wide receiver Ryan Broyles (ACL) who has struggled to practice much during training camp saw his first preseason action Friday night and he recorded two catches for 24-yards.
• Despite defensive end Willie Young blocking on punt on special teams, the rest of the squad looked lackluster at best. Too many players were taking the wrong angles to the returners, other were over-perusing the tackles and a fair amount of the rest just blatantly missed tackles or tried to get away with arm tackles. Kicker Jason Hanson nailed two long field goals and rookie kicker Derek Dimke also kicked one true through the uprights. As John Kreger pointed out, if it wasn’t for a pair of penalties by the Ravens’, Detroit would have allowed two huge kick returns, one of which that went for a touchdown.