Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) and offensive lineman Marshal Yanda (73) celebrate their team's 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS —
The Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions of the U.S. National Football League, winning a thrilling 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a game that produced surprises throughout.
The contest at the Superdome in New Orleans was a tale of similarities on opposing sidelines, highlighted by two brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, as the head coaches. Baltimore’s 22-point lead nearly evaporated in the second half Sunday before John’s team prevailed.
“I just knew with Jim Harbaugh being on the other sideline and all those years we have been together, that that game was going to be a dogfight right to the end," said older brother John. "That those guys were coming back. What they have done the last two years in the National Football League is unprecedented. And they showed it today the way they battled back and fought right to the end.”
Super Bowl XLVII
1/12San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh (L) congratulates his brother, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, after the Ravens won in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013.
2/12Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) and offensive lineman Marshal Yanda (73) celebrate their team's 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans.
3/12Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) runs the second-half opening kickoff back for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans.
4/12San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) scores a third quarter touchdown against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Graham (24) in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013.
5/12Baltimore Ravens fans cheers for their team after they scored the first touchdown against Sand Francisco 49ers, as they watch the game at local pub in Baltimore Md. on Sunday Feb. 3, 2013.
6/12The NFL logo for Super Bowl 47 is seen on the field, in New Orleans, February 3, 2013. (VOA / J. Stevenson)
7/12San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) carries the ball past Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans.
8/12Beyonce performs during the half-time show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013.
9/12Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) dives for a touchdown past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown during the second quarter in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013.
10/12Players mill around the field after half of the lights went out during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013.
11/12A man hold a sign looking for tickets ahead of Super Bowl 47 in New Orleans, February 3, 2013. (VOA / J. Stevenson)
12/12Fans file into the Superdome ahead of Super Bowl 47 in New Orleans, February 3, 2013. (VOA / J. Stevenson)
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Baltimore owned a solid 21-6 lead at halftime, and opened the second half with Jacoby Jones running for a Super Bowl record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Then the lights went out. A power failure stopped play for about 30 minutes. San Francisco regrouped and came within two points of Baltimore at 31-29 in the fourth quarter. A Ravens field goal and an impressive goal-line defensive stand in the final two minutes held off what would have been the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco said, “We are a tough blue collar city and that is the way our games tend to come down to. We were up 28-6. I’m sure a lot of people were nervous. But we were kind of like this is going to be pretty easy. And the next thing you know the (Forty) Niners get right back into it and play great football and we just had to grind one out.”
The win also sent veteran star linebacker Ray Lewis into retirement with wins in both Super Bowl championships for the Ravens, the first in 2001.
For over 35 years, Jim Stevenson has been sharing stories with the world on the radio and internet. From both the field and the studio, Jim enjoys telling about specific events and uncovering the interesting periphery every story possesses. His broadcast career has been balanced between music, news, and sports, always blending the serious with the lighter side.
