3. Aldon Smith (49ers)

The 20 Best Players in Super Bowl XLVII

The All-Pro outside linebacker had 33.5 sacks in his first two professional seasons. He's close to unstoppable with his rare combination of power and speed off the edge. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The 20 Best Play... By Jordan Raanan, XFINITY Sports NFL Columnist

The quarterbacks are almost aways the most important players. It doesn't mean they're the best players though.

It shouldn't be a surprise considering this is the NFL's championship game, but there is a lot of competition for the best player on the field in Super Bowl XLVII. There will be Pro Bowlers, All-Pros and even future Hall of Famers battling for a title Sunday.

But here are the 20 best players (based on their performance this season) when the Ravens and 49ers meet in Super Bowl XLVII.

(AP Photos)

Jordan Raanan has covered the NFL since 2005. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan, on Facebook or email him at jraanan@hotmail.com.

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20. Ray Lewis (R... While the 37-year-old's physical skills have eroded, he's still an asset with his guile and leadership. Plus, he can still play a little bit, although at nowhere near the same level as the last time the Ravens were in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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19. Michael Crab... The talented wide receiver blew up when Colin Kaepernick was named quarterback. With his athleticism and strength, Crabtree will be the best receiver on the field in Super Bowl XLVII. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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18. Ray McDonald... The unsung defensive end is an asset as a run stopper and pass rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, he actually graded out higher than Baltimore's Haloti Ngata this season. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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17. Ed Reed (Rav... It hasn't been your typical Ed Reed season. But the 34-year-old Ravens free safety still makes a difference with his leadership and play-making ability on the back end. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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16. Dannell Elle... Ray Lewis gets all the attention, but Ellerbe has been the Ravens' best linebacker all season. He's a star in the making with his athleticism, ability to cover and make plays. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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T14. Mike Iupati... The All-Pro left guard is as steady as they get. He's a force in the run game. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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T14. Alex Boone ... The right guard has been a sensation in his first season as a starter. He committed a remarkably low three penalties this season, plus he's dominant as a run blocker. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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13. Marshal Yand... Yanda's been one of the game's best guards for several years. He's dominant as a run and pass blocker, and has been the one constant on the Ravens' line this season. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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12. Vernon Davis The tight end's freakish athleticism and skills sometimes overshadow the fact that he's a quality blocker as well. There really isn't anything that Davis can't do. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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11. Terrell Sugg... Slowly but surely the outside linebacker is getting close to the form that earned him the Defensive Player of the Year Award last season. He's still not quite the same player yet(AP Photo/Ben Margot, file) coming off a torn Achilles.

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10. Frank Gore (... The Pro Bowl running back was supposed to be on the decline this season. I haven't seen it. Gore's still one of the game's most versatile running backs. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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9. Joe Staley (4... The stud left tackle is the best offensive lineman on the best offensive line in the NFL this season. Staley's especially dominant against the run. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, file)

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8. Justin Smith ... Without the torn triceps he's been playing with down the stretch, the standout defensive end would have likely made the Top 5. Instead, the difference-maker against the run and pass settles for a spot in the Top 10. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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7. Haloti Ngata ... The Pro Bowl defensive tackle would probably be ranked even higher if not for the nagging shoulder and knee problems that plagued his 2012 season. Nonetheless, he's still a menace on the interior, providing constant push that ruins running plays and makes quarterbacks uncomfortable. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

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6. Colin Kaepern... Kaepernick's been nothing short of brilliant since the bold move to insert him as the Niners' starter midway through the season. He's been equally as impressive in the playoffs as he was in the regular season. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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5. Joe Flacco (R... The Ravens quarterback was a bit inconsistent in the regular season, but 12 touchdown passes and one interception in his last five playoff games — including 8 TDs, 0 INTs this year — is inarguable. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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4. NaVorro Bowma... The All-Pro would be the best inside linebacker on just about any other team in the NFL. In San Francisco, he's sometimes overshadowed, although not completely. Bowman can do it all. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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3. Aldon Smith (... The All-Pro outside linebacker had 33.5 sacks in his first two professional seasons. He's close to unstoppable with his rare combination of power and speed off the edge. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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2. Ray Rice (Rav... The Ravens star running back is a major threat as a receiver and runner. He can run on the edges and between the tackles. There's really nothing Rice can't do. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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1. Patrick Willi... Willis is the best middle linebacker in the NFL. He can cover and is a force against the run. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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