NFL (12/13) Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers

[Exe Gesis]

RAVENS 34 d. 49ERS 31​

Background

Per convention as an odd-numbered Super Bowl, the NFC-representative 49ers will have home team designation.

This will mark the first Super Bowl in which both of the teams have appeared in, but not yet lost, a previous Super Bowl: the 49ers have won all five of their previous Super Bowls while the Ravens won in their only previous Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants. This will mean that the winner of the contest will become the only remaining team in the NFL to have appeared in multiple Super Bowls without losing a Super Bowl.

This will also be the first Super Bowl in which both teams can trace their lineage to the All-America Football Conference, as the Ravens are descended from the Cleveland Browns franchise, which joined the NFL along with the 49ers when the AAFC collapsed after the 1949 season.

Teams

Baltimore Ravens

Main article: 2012 Baltimore Ravens season

After going 12-4 and reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2011, only to lose to the New England Patriots when Billy Cundiff missed a potential game winning 32-yard field goal, the Ravens advanced further in 2012 to the Super Bowl after recording a 10–6 regular season record. Under head coach John Harbaugh's fifth season with the team, Baltimore upgraded their roster with players such as defensive backs Sean Considine and Corey Graham, and wide receiver Jacoby Jones. In December 2012, the Ravens fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, who was previously the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2011, as the successor.[12] With new weapons and leaders on both sides of the ball, they finished the season ranked 10th in points per game (24.9), and 12th in fewest points allowed (21.5)

In command of the offense was five year veteran Joe Flacco, who finished the season with a career high 3,817 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, with just 10 interceptions. His top targets were receivers Anquan Boldin (65 receptions, 921 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Torrey Smith (49 receptions, 855 yards, 8 touchdowns), along with tight end Dennis Pitta (61 receptions, 669 yards, 7 touchdowns). Their backfield featured two pro bowl selections, halfback Ray Rice and fullback Vonta Leach. Rice rushed for 1,143 yards and 9 touchdowns, while also hauling in 61 receptions for 478 yards and another score. Leach served effectively as his lead blocker and a receiver out of the backfield, catching 21 passes. The Ravens offensive line was led by pro bowl guard Marshal Yanda.

On special teams, Jones returned 38 kickoffs for 1,116 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a whopping 30.7 yards per return average. He also gained 341 yards and another touchdown returning punts, and caught 30 passes for 406 yards and a score. Rookie kicker Justin Tucker ranked 7th in the NFL in field goal percentage (90.9), kicking 30/33 field goals and making all 42 of his extra point attempts.

Baltimore's defensive line was anchored by pro bowl defensive end Haloti Ngata, who compiled 51 tackles and 5 sacks, along with defensive tackle Arthur Jones (47 tackles, 4.5 sacks). The Ravens also had an excellent set of linebackers, such as Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Jameel McClain, and Ray Lewis. Kruger led the team in sacks with 9, while Ellerbe added 92 tackles and 4.5 sacks. McClain had 79 tackles. Lewis, a 17-year veteran and 13-time pro bowl selection, had missed most of the season with an arm injury, but still managed to rack up 57 tackles in just 6 games. Then shortly before returning for the playoffs, he announced his plans to retire after the postseason, and promptly went on to amass a staggering 44 tackles in Baltimore's three playoff games.

The Ravens secondary featured pro bowl safety Ed Reed, the NFL's all time leader in interception return yardage. Reed had another superb season in 2012, recording 58 tackles and 4 interceptions. Cornerback Cary Williams was also a big contributor with 4 interceptions and 75 tackles.

The team dedicated their 2012 season to former owner and founder Art Modell, who died on September 6, 2012, four days before the first regular season game.[13]

San Francisco 49ers

Main article: 2012 San Francisco 49ers season

The 49ers had recently emerged as a dominant team after nearly a decade of ineptitude. During the 80's and 90's, they had been one of the NFL top contenders, playing in nine conference championship games and winning five Super Bowls. But after a strong 2002 season, San Francisco went into a dismal slump in which they failed to make the playoffs every year all the way to 2010. Following the end of the 2010 season, the 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh as their head coach. Harbaugh, who played 14 years in the NFL, joined the team after an impressive 12-1 season as the coach of Stanford, and in his first season with San Francisco he managed to turn their fortunes around. Aided by breakout seasons from quarterback Alex Smith and receiver Michael Crabtree, high 49ers draft picks who had taken years to emerge, San Francisco improved from a 6-10 2010 season to a 13-3 2011 record and an appearance in the NFC title game.

Smith entered the 2012 season as the starting quarterback, but missed two starts mid-season after suffering a concussion, and second-year backup Colin Kaepernick successfully filled in. A quarterback controversy then began because Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 19–5–1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength.[14][15] After Smith was fully recovered, Harbaugh chose Kaepernick as the starter for the 8–2–1 49ers, but also stated that the assignment was week-to-week and not necessarily permanent.[16] Kaepernick ended up being the starter for the rest of the season and led the team to an 11-4-1 record, throwing for 1,814 yards and 10 touchdowns, with just 3 interceptions and a 98.4 passer rating, while also rushing for 415 yards and five touchdowns.

San Francisco's top receiver was Crabtree, who caught 85 passes for a career high 1,105 yards and 9 touchdowns. Other key contributors to the passing game included tight end Vernon Davis (41 receptions for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns) along with offseason acquired receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss. Manningham had been signed away from the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, while Moss, the NFL's second all time leader in receiving yards, had been signed out of retirement after missing the previous season. The 49ers backfield featured pro bowl running back Frank Gore, who rushed for 1,214 yards and 8 touchdowns, while also catching 28 passes for 234 yards and another score. The team also had a strong offensive line with two pro bowl selections, guard Joe Staley and Tackle Mike Iupati.

On special teams, punter Andy Lee led the NFL in net yards per punt average (43.2) and ranked 5th in total (48.1). He planted 36 punts in the 20, with just five touchbacks. Also, receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. averaged a solid 10.2 yards per punt return, gaining 326 total yards in that category.

But the 49er's main strong point was their defense, which ranked 2nd in fewest points allowed per game (17.1) and sent 6 of their 11 starters to the pro bowl. Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Smith led the line with 66 tackles and 3 sacks. Behind him, three of the team's starting linebackers, Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, and Patrick Willis made the pro bowl. Smith set racked up a franchise record 19.5 sacks (accounting for over half the total of the team's 38), while Brooks compiled 6.5 sacks and forced two fumbles. Willis ranked second on the team with 120 tackles and picked off two passes. Even their one starting linebacker who didn't make the Pro Bowl, NaVorro Bowman still had a good season, leading the team with 149 tackles and ranking second in the NFL. The 49ers secondary was led by Pro Bowl safeties Dashon Goldson who intercepted 3 passes, and Donte Whitner, who had 83 tackles.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Full Game Statistics (PDF file)

Game summary

First half

San Francisco was hurt by penalties and turnovers early in the game as the Ravens built a 21–6 first-half lead. On their first play of the opening drive, tight end Vernon Davis' 20-yard reception was called back by an illegal formation penalty.[84] The team ended up punting after three more plays, and Jacoby Jones returned the ball 17 yards to the Ravens 49-yard line.[84] Baltimore then drove 51 yards, scoring on Joe Flacco's 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Anquan Boldin.[84] Flacco had previously thrown a third-down incompletion, but an offsides penalty against linebacker Ahmad Brooks gave him a second chance.[84]

San Francisco responded on their next possession, moving the ball 62 yards in a 12-play drive, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick completing a 19-yard pass to Michael Crabtree and a 24-yarder to Davis.[84] David Akers finished the drive with a 36-yard field goal to cut the score to 7–3.[84] Baltimore responded with a drive to the 49ers 37-yard line, featuring a 30-yard catch by Boldin.[84], but came up empty after Flacco was sacked on third down for a 5-yard loss by defensive tackle Ray McDonald, pushing the Ravens out of field goal range.

Five plays into the 49ers next drive, linebacker Courtney Upshaw forced a fumble from running back LaMichael James, and Baltimore's Arthur Jones recovered it on the Ravens 25-yard line.[84] Baltimore drove 75 yards on 10 plays, 42 of those came from a 23 yard and a 14 yard pass to tight end Ed Dickson, the second followed by a 15-yard facemask penalty on Donte Whitner.[84] Dennis Pitta caught a 1-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the drive and the extra point made the score 14–3.[84]

On the first play of the next drive, Ed Reed intercepted a pass by Kaepernick and returned the ball 6 yards to the 49ers 38-yard line.[84] This was the first interception thrown by San Francisco in any of their six Super Bowl appearances.[85] Unnecessary roughness charges were called after the play on players from both teams so the charges offset.[84] Baltimore reached the red zone on their next drive, but was unable to score. Following a one yard run by Bernard Pierce and two incomplete passes, rookie kicker Justin Tucker was tackled 1 yard short of a first down while running the ball on a fake field goal play.[84]

San Francisco was forced to a three-and-out on the drive.[84] Jones muffed the punt, but recovered the ball and returned it 11 yards to the Ravens' 44-yard line.[84] Two plays later, Jones made a falling catch deep down the field, then got back up and eluded two 49ers defensive backs en route to a 56-yard touchdown reception, making the score 21–3 with less than two minutes to go in the first half. On the second play of San Francisco's next drive, Delanie Walker caught a 14-yard pass from Kaepernick, which was extended by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Haloti Ngata.[84] After an incomplete first down attempt, Walker received another 28-yard pass, putting San Francisco on the Baltimore 17-yard line.[84] San Francisco reached the 9-yard line, but were unable to convert on three plays.[84] On the last play of the half, Akers kicked his second field goal to cut their deficit to 21–6.[84]

Second half

On the second-half kickoff, Jones received the ball in the back of the end zone and raced down the field untouched for a 108-yard touchdown return, increasing the Ravens lead after the extra point to 28–6.[84] It was the longest kickoff return in the history of the Super Bowl, it broke the previous 104-yard record for the longest kickoff return in the playoffs (set by Trindon Holliday of the Denver Broncos in the divisional playoff game earlier that year against Baltimore,[86]) and it tied an NFL record already held by Jones and shared with Ellis Hobbs and Randall Cobb for the longest kickoff return.[87][88]

Shortly into the 49ers next drive, a power outage due to equipment failure at the stadium caused play to be suspended for 34 minutes.[89][90]

After play resumed, both teams punted once. Then San Francisco drove 80 yards, with Kaepernick rushing for 15 yards and completing an 18-yard pass to Davis before finishing the drive with a pass to Crabtree, who broke through two potential Ravens tacklers on the way to a 31-yard touchdown reception. Then Baltimore was forced to punt from their own 9 yard line following Brooks' 8-yard sack of Flacco on third down, and Ted Ginn, Jr. returned the ball 32 yards to the 20 before being shoved out of bounds by punter Sam Koch. Kaepernick completed a 14-yard pass to Davis on the next play, and Gore followed it up with a 6-yard touchdown run, cutting the score to 28–20.[84]

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Baltimore committed their first turnover when defensive back Tarell Brown forced and recovered a fumble from Ray Rice on the Ravens 25-yard line. Three plays later, Akers missed a 39-yard field goal attempt, but Baltimore's Chykie Brown was penalized for running into the kicker, and Akers' second attempt was good from 34 yards, trimming the lead to 28–23.

The Ravens responded on their ensuing possession, moving the ball 77 yards and scoring to the San Francisco 1-yard line, with Boldin catching two passes for 39 yards. But they were unable to get into the end zone and settled for Tucker's 19-yard field goal to put them back up by 8 points, 31–23. San Francisco stormed back, scoring in just five plays. Following a 32-yard reception by Randy Moss and a 21-yard burst by Gore, Kaepernick took the ball across the goal line on a 15-yard run, the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in Super Bowl history. However, the two-point conversion failed, so the 49ers were unable to break the deficit, still trailing at 31–29.[84]

On the Ravens ensuing drive, Boldin caught two passes for 22 yards and Rice rushed for 11 yards as the team moved the ball 55 yards and scored on Tucker's 38-yard field goal, making the score 34–29 with 4:19 left in Regulation. San Francisco used up two timeouts on their next drive, but managed to move the ball to a first and goal on the Ravens 7-yard with with a 24-yard catch by Crabtree and a 33-yard run by Gore.[84]

With four chances to take the lead, San Francisco started out with a 2-yard run by James to the 5-yard line. Then Keapernick threw two incompletions, bringing up fourth down. On their last chance, Kaepernick tried to throw the ball to Crabtree in the end zone, but it was too far ahead and the pass fell incomplete. Defensive back Jimmy Smith had made contact with Crabtree prior to the ball arriving, but no penalty was called and the 49ers turned the ball over on downs with 1:46 left in the game.[84]

San Francisco managed to force a three-and-out on the Ravens next drive, but having only one timeout remaining, the Ravens were able to run the clock down to 12 seconds. After the Ravens then called a timeout of their own, punter Sam Koch fielded the snap in his own end zone, and then ran around in the end zone until he gave up an intentional safety by running out of the end zone, leaving just 4 seconds remaining. On the ensuing free kick, Ginn returned the ball 31 yards, but was tackled at midfield as time expired.[84]

Boldin was the Ravens leading receiver with 6 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. Jones returned 5 kickoffs for 208 yards and a touchdown, two punts for 28 yards, and caught a 56-yard touchdown pass. He was the first player ever to score a touchdown on offense and special teams in the Super Bowl, and his 290 all-purpose yards were also a Super Bowl record. Paul Kruger had three tackles and two sacks, while Reed had five tackles and an interception. Reed's interception gave him 9 career postseason picks, tying the NFL record. Dannell Ellerbe had nine tackles, while Ray Lewis had seven tackles in the final game of his 17-season career.[84]

For San Francisco, Kaepernick finished 16/28 for 302 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, while also rushing for 62 yards and another score. His 62 rushing yards were the second highest total by a quarterback in the Super Bowl, behind Steve McNair's record of 64. Gore rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown. Crabtree caught 5 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, while Davis caught 6 passes for 104 yards. His 104 receiving yards tied Dan Ross' record for most the ever by a tight end in a Super Bowl. Patrick Willis was the top tackler of the game with 10, while Brooks had five tackles and a sack.[84]

Statistics and records


Jacoby Jones tied an NFL league record and set a Super Bowl record for longest kickoff return in a Super Bowl with a 108-yard return to open up the second half.[87][88] He also set the record for most combined yards in a Super Bowl game with 290, and tied the record for most touchdown plays of 50 yards or more, with 2.[91]

Colin Kaepernick set a Super Bowl record for the longest rushing touchdown from a quarterback for his 15 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.[92] This beat the previous 6 yard record held by Joe Montana achieved in Super Bowl XIX.[92]

The Ravens scored the same amount of points (34) in both of their Super Bowl appearances. Meanwhile, the 49ers became just the second team to lose the Super Bowl and score more than 30 points[93] after the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII; in both cases, the losing team scored 31 points. The two Super Bowls are also the only two times in NFL history (including both pre-Super Bowl and post-Super Bowl eras) where both teams scored over 30 points in a Championship game.[91]

Both teams combined for 312 kickoff return yards, a Super Bowl record.[91]

Because of the power outage in the third quarter, the game set a Super Bowl record long running time of 4 hours and 14 minutes.[91]

Twitter announced that a record 24.1 million tweets were sent the night of the game.[94]

 

[raskolnikov]

As a Bengals fan I hate the 49ers with a passion. Want the Ravens to win but think that San Francisco will win quite comfortably unfortunately.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Niners to win.

Kaepernick to run amok.

 

[raven echo]

Going for Baltimore. My loathing of Kaepernick and Jim Harbaugh outweighs my dislike of Ray Lewis.

Expect 49ers to win, though. Either way I'll be blind drunk at the end of the game

 

[Dirty Bird]

Only going for San Fran due to the fact I want the run of whoever beats Matt Ryan in playoffs is up with 1:00 left in the super bowl to continue.

 

[drd23]

Kinda obvious who I'm going for

 

[bangbang]

Win win situation for me, $850 for a Balt win and $960 for a San Fran win. I much rather Baltimore win due to generally liking them better and for rays story but I guess to atleast say that Green Bay lost to the Super Bowl team is I guess a little comforting. Think San Fran will win though but baltimore showing the grit they did today when not many expected seems like the recurring theme these playoffs

 

[drd23]

The last 3 SB winners played Philly in the Eagles home opener. Guess who played them in their home opener this year?

 

[Dirty Bird]

The last 3 SB winners played Philly in the Eagles home opener. Guess who played them in their home opener this year?

and the 49ers are undefeated in Super Bowls....

 

[catters078]

which defense was more impressive in the 2nd half today when shutting out their opponent?

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Expecting the 49ers to get up. I would prefer to see the Ravens win.

 

[drd23]

and the 49ers are undefeated in Super Bowls....

As are the Ravens

 

[happydude]

Go ravens 1 more game

 

[Dirty Bird]

You got me there
How I wish I reworded it NFL Championship games.
Then I could've (probably stupidly) argued the Browns' 50s stuff

 

[Broken]

Going to be a painful two weeks. Two weeks of Harbaugh hype, two weeks of Ray Lewis' last game hype, plus CBS covering the game.

I'm finding it hard to pick a clear winner at this point. At this point I'm going with the 49ers, just, but my kids have had me thinking the Ravens are an omen pick - my 2 y.o. keeps asking if the Ravens are playing when the NFL is on TV. Then the other night I asked my almost 4 y.o. if he wants me to buy him some Redskins stuff for his birthday and he said "Maybe the Ravens"

 

[happydude]

I'm not understanding all the love for the 49ers but that's ignorance on my part.

I have only seen their last 2 games and while they have looked good I don't see why they would be clear favourites to a few people.

What aspect of their game gives them an advantage in people's minds?

 

[Exe Gesis]

There'll be a newly crowned elite young qb. Kaepernick assed his way into a super bowl dream after only starting last month. While Flacco's been toiling for a few years to get here.

Remember, Alex Smith last year got them as far, and almost into the Super Bowl in a game just as tight, but some bad luck costing them.

 

[Dagless]

9ers just because I've only been home a week and I'm already sick of listening to the murderer.

And I want Moss to get a ring.

 

[catters078]

I'm not understanding all the love for the 49ers but that's ignorance on my part.

I have only seen their last 2 games and while they have looked good I don't see why they would be clear favourites to a few people.

What aspect of their game gives them an advantage in people's minds?

IMO san frans O line is better than baltimores D line and will win that battle
San frans D line is better than Baltimores O line

For me, if you win in the trenches, you win the game.

if flacco can find smith like ryan used jones, that will be baltimores biggest weapon. 49ers secondary must play better.

 

[MarcusP2]

9ers just because I've only been home a week and I'm already sick of listening to the murderer.

And I want Moss to get a ring.

Pretty much my same reasons. GOD'S LINEBACKER is the most annoying personality in the NFL.

 

[Starburns_]

9ers just because I've only been home a week and I'm already sick of listening to the murderer.

And I want Moss to get a ring.

^^Both of these.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Obvious bias but I just think the Niners bat deeper than the Ravens do. If the Niners can close down Rice Bolden and Smith it will be a comfortable win.

Just think with the game being at the Dome on a fast track the Niners will have too many options for the aging Ravens D to cover

 

[crownie]

i think playing in the dome may help the 49ers a little more.

they should win but i will put money on the ravens if they blow out to over $2.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I was hoping Gonzo would get into the SB, but alas, it's not to be. Very happy the Pats fell short this year, but I get the feeling that the Ravens have already played their SB in avenging their loss last year to the Pats. Given the last US city I visited was San Francisco, I think all signs are pointing to the 49ers for me.