Ravens hang tough in final that had the lot
In a Super Bowl that went from blowout to blackout to shootout, the Baltimore Ravens held on to edge the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31 yesterday in one of the most thrilling NFL deciders.
A power cut at the Superdome in New Orleans early in the second half stopped America’s biggest sporting event for more than half an hour and seemed to rob the Ravens of their momentum, having established a 22-point lead.
After the interruption, the 49ers stormed back, cutting the deficit to just two points, but Baltimore hung on as San Francisco came so close to the go-ahead score. The 49ers had first-and-goal in their final drive, trailing by five points, but quarterback Colin Kaepernick could not connect with a receiver.
The Ravens gave away safety to run down the clock, making it 34-31 and while San Francisco had one last chance on the subsequent kickoff return, returner Ted Ginn was quickly swallowed up by Ravens tacklers, sparking celebrations by Baltimore players and staff.
Among those pouring on to the field in delight, and relief, was Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who got the better of younger brother Jim in the first meeting of coaching siblings in a Super Bowl.
‘‘How could it be any other way? It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But it’s us,’’ John Harbaugh said.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was voted the game’s MVP, throw- ing three first-half touchdown passes, while Jacoby Jones returned the second-half kickoff 108 yards, a Super Bowl record.
Flacco’s superb first half and Jones’ return gave Baltimore a 28-6 lead, and with no team in Super Bowl history having overcome a deficit of more than 10 points, the game looked in the Ravens’ keeping.
But moments later, lights lining the indoor arena faded, making it difficult to see, and the game was stopped. For 34 minutes the showpiece event was at a halt, with some players sitting by the sideline, others on the field, while some tossed footballs and limbered up. Throughout, the cheerleaders went through their routines.
When action resumed, the momentum in the game suddenly switched. Kaepernick and the 49ers scored 17 consecutive points, getting as close as 31-29. However, they could not get ahead and lost a Super Bowl for the first time, blemishing their previously perfect 5-0 record and remaining one short of Pittsburgh’s record six titles.
The AFC champion Ravens, a franchise that moved from Cleveland to Baltimore 17 years ago, improved to 2-0 in the big game. They also won the championship in 2001, when linebacker Ray Lewis was voted the game’s MVP. Lewis was not a major factor this time, but he was centre of attention, playing in the final game of his 17-year career.
Fittingly, Lewis’ final moments were in a goal-line stand, and while he didn’t have a great game, it was the veteran who was putting the pressure on Kaepernick on his last desperate pass into the end zone.
‘‘It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my team-mates,’’ Lewis said.
‘‘And you looked around this stadium and Baltimore! Baltimore! We’re coming home, baby! We did it!’’
As well as Lewis, it was a triumph for John Harbaugh, but he still felt for brother Jim.
‘‘It’s very tough,’’ John Harbaugh said of their post-game conversation.
‘‘It’s a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. It’s very painful.’’
Almost as painful was the stress of the second half as his Ravens looked like they were going to blow their big lead.