Super Bowl XLII was crazy enough to turn the lights off. Literally.
After nearly blowing a 22-point lead, the Baltimore Ravens held off the San Francisco 49ers by a final score of 34-31.
Played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, the battle between brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, ended in dramatic fashion. With gutsy calls by coach John, including a fake field goal and a fake punt leading to a game-clinching safety, the Ravens captured their second franchise title, and their first since 2000.
The Ravens dominated the first half. Although scoring on a late field goal, San Francisco still trailed 21-6. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who would eventually win the Super Bowl MVP award, threw for three touchdowns in the half.
After a jaw-dropping performance by Beyoncé, the second half began with a roaring kickoff return for an 108-yard touchdown by wide receiver Jacoby Jones, his second score of the game. The return would tie an NFL record for longest kickoff return.
Shortly after the score, the 49ers, trailing 28-6, caught a lucky break. A power outage lasting 34 minutes delayed the game, which gave both teams an extra break to recuperate. It appeared as if San Fran took more advantage of the intermission.
“The power outage definitely helped the 49ers get their game together to try and make a comeback,” junior Courtney Benner said. “On the other hand, it looked as if the Ravens lost motivation.”
The Niners returned from the outage with 17 unanswered points, ending the third quarter only down 28-23.
“The power outage helped San Francisco regain some of their focus,” junior Spencer Beyer said. “It threw the Ravens out of their rhythm. It had to have been planned by Buffalo Wild Wings.”
The 49ers biggest chance to tie the game came when former backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran the ball for a 15 yard score, to decrease the deficit to only two points. The two-point conversion failed, however, and the Ravens kicked another field goal to make it 34-29.
With only 1:45 left in the game, Kaepernick could not advance the ball five yards to take a game winning score, and the Ravens took over. With the clock at eight seconds, Ravens punter Sam Koch ran the ball into the end zone, ensuring San Francisco would not be able to return the ball.
The 49ers failed to return the punt far enough, and the clock ran out with the Ravens as victors.
“I thought it was a spectacular performance by both teams,” Beyer said. “I was proud of the Niners for coming back from such a colossal deficit. I thought it was one of the more exciting Super Bowls in recent years because of the physicality of the brothers’ coaching styles, and the heart, effort and tenacity shown by both teams.”
For veteran Raven linebacker Ray Lewis, he will end his 17-year career as a champion. For many other Ravens, including Flacco and coach Harbaugh, the Super Bowl victory is their first.
