Super Bowl XLVII - Recap

      
Baltimore 34 San Francisco 31

Super Bowl XLVII will be remembered for many things. Ray Lewis playing his last game. Brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh coaching against one another. The blackout. The 49ers near historic comeback. When it was all said and one though, it was the Baltimore Ravens being crowned as world champions. The Ravens held off a furious 49er comeback to win 34-31. This was the second Super Bowl victory for the Ravens' franchise.

Joe Flacco ascended himself into that elite status with his performance throughout the entire postseason. It culminated with 287 yard, 3 TD, no INT performance and a Super Bowl MVP award. In the 2012 NFL Playoffs, Flacco threw 11 TDs and 0 INTs. The offense moved the ball on one of the league's best defenses. They also got help with a Super Bowl record 108 yard kick return for a TD. The defense did not play too well, but they came up big when they had to with a goal line stand that could have given San Francisco the lead in the final minutes.

The Ravens came out and punched the 49ers in the mouth, both offensively and defensively. San Francisco took the opening kick and quickly went three and out. Baltimore got the ball and marched right down the field with a TD pass from Flacco to Anquan Boldin. Colin Kaepernick answered, but the 49ers were forced to settle for a field goal to make it 7-3 after one.

Flacco struck back with another long drive that finished with him finding Dennis Pitta in the end zone. After trading possessions, Baltimore scored on a bomb from Flacco to Jacoby Jones to give the Ravens a commanding 21-3 lead. San Francisco added another field goal to make it 21-6 at the half.

Jacoby Jones wasn't done, he took the opening kick of the 2nd half 108 yards for a Super Bowl record TD and blew the gates wide open. It was lights out San Francisco. Or was it? The Superdome lost power for about 34 minutes, delaying the game and allowing the 49ers to regroup. When play resumed, it was suddenly San Francisco that seized momentum. Kaepernick hit Michael Crabtree for a TD to make it 28-13. A forced three and out and a shanked punt gave the 49ers superb field position. They capitalized with a TD run by Frank Gore and suddenly we had a game. On the next possession, Ray Rice fumbled and gave San Francisco another field goal cutting the lead to 28-23 heading into the final quarter.

Baltimore added a field goal of their own to make it 31-23. Kaepernick then marched his team down the field and capped off a drive with a rushing TD. A failed 2-point conversion kept the 49ers trailing 31-29. Flacco was calm, cool, and collected as he lead the Ravens toanother field goal giving them a 34-29 lead to set up a fantastic finish. Kaepernick again marched his team down the field only to stall out inside the 10 yard line. On 4th and Goal Kaepernick's pass sailed over Crabtree's head on a play that Jim Harbaugh through Crabtree was held on. There was no call, and following a safety that the Ravens took on purpose and a stop on the free kick, the Baltimore Ravens were officially champions.

Joe Flacco answered all of his critics. He is clearly one of the top QBs in the league now. His coach, John Harbaugh, out dueled his brother and won the "Har Bowl". The Ravens followed the recent trend, of playing poor football near the end of the regular season only to hit their stride in the playoffs and ride all the way to a Super Bowl victory. The Lombardi Trophy is headed to Baltimore for the first time since the 2000 season. And Ray Lewis can officially ride into the sunset because the Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions.