Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens, Rockville Rooting and Reading Up On the Game

Super Bowl Sunday—our unofficial national holiday—is almost here and this year’s game has a bit of local fare.

While many Rockville residents might feel it’s the wrong NFL franchise that plays in Maryland vying for the Lombardi Trophy, it’s hard to ignore the rabidity of Ravens rooters just up Interstate 95.

To get you ready for kickoff, we’ve compiled some of the best big game buildup on Patch sites from Baltimore and beyond. Let’s kick it off locally with a group of Rockville residents rockin’ out to “Tick Tock Ravens Rock,” a YouTube video that got them noticed by CBS DC:

Behind The Music: Students Produce Online Hit Honoring Baltimore Ravens

Now for the basics: When and where to see the game:

What Time Is The Super Bowl?

Where to Watch Super Bowl XLVII in Rockville and Beyond

Staying in? You can get good wings at home, with a bit of Bourbon Street flair.

Wings Soaring to New Heights

Speaking of wings, are you feeling dirty about backing the birdies? Is it OK for a Skins fan to root for the team from Charm City? Apparently, many football fans in our region are having a crisis on conscience.

Should Redskins Fans Back the Ravens in the Super Bowl?

Facebook fans in Virginia seem to have their minds made up.

Facebook: VA Backs Baltimore in Super Bowl

Maybe they’re just rooting for this Raven with ties to Maryland and Virginia.

Super Bowl 2013: Falls Church High Coach Hopes Former Player Has Good Super Bowl

Meanwhile, Baltimore backers sent their Ravens off in style this week.

Baltimore Sends Off Ravens to Super Bowl XLVII

But would they go this far to follow them to the Big Easy? 

Apparently, fans aren’t the only ones who could be out big money from a trip to the Super Bowl.

See how far some Ravens fans are going with jerseys, earrings and face paint and share photos of your purple and black here:

Ravens Pics: Use Hashtag #PatchRavens For Super Bowl XLVII

If you choose to face paint on Super Bowl Sunday, just remember the words of Ray Lewis—ahem—Keenan Thompson during this hilarious recent visit by the Ravens linebacker to Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update”:

'Ray Lewis' Makes Heavenly Promise During SNL Appearance

For those of you more interested in what the Super Bowl might be least about (at least until kickoff)—football, weigh in here:

Poll: What’s the Ravens’ Biggest Edge in Super Bowl XLVII?

And for those of you who could care less—or just want a few puppies before your pigskin—there’s always this:

Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl 2013: What You Need to Know