From the box
It seemed as though the ghost of Katrina was determined to make a winner out of San Francisco, but Baltimore overcame a never-before-seen obstacle to hold off a late charge from the Colin Kaepernick-led 49ers, 34-31.
This was the second meeting between head coaches and brothers John and Jim Harbaugh. In their first matchup, older brother John Harbaugh won 16-6, Nov. 24, 2011. The San Francisco 49ers Kaepernick had the fewest starts ever (nine games) to start a Super Bowl. This was also Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis’ last ride as an NFL player.
Fast forward to the game. John Harbaugh and his Ravens could not have beaten up his little brother and the 49ers more than they did. Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco continued his flawless streak, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half and no interceptions.
I, for one, have been critical of Flacco, especially since he wants to be called an elite quarterback. He did, however, make a case Sunday night.
For the entire postseason, Flacco had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. I guess now he may consider himself an elite quarterback.
After Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child’s electrifying performance and reunion, receiver Jacoby Jones made a Super Bowl record 109-yard kick return. Then everything went dark. I presume it was from the halftime show, but whatever caused it, mercy was given to the 49ers.
After a 30-minute delay, the 49ers mounted a comeback that mirrored what they did against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game. Down 28-6 with 13 minutes left in the third quarter, the 49ers started to erase a 22-point deficit. An overwhelmed Kaepernick regained his poised and led his team to outscore the Ravens 17-0 in the quarter.
But the Ravens defense, anchored by Lewis, stood tall.
Super Bowl XLVII was a classic. It was not all about the 30-second commercials that were not up to par this year. It was about the game, the storyline of sibling rivalry with a trophy on the line. It was about Lewis, a man who had turned his life around 13 years ago to become a model citizen and leader of men. At the age of 37, he decided to give up something that he loved, and what a way for Lewis to go out as a world champion.