NFL (00/01) Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens vs New York Giants

[Exe Gesis]

RAVENS 34 d. GIANTS 7​

Game summary

Both defenses dominated early in the first quarter as the first five possessions of the game ended in punts. On the 5th punt, Ravens kickoff/punt returner Jermaine Lewis returned the ball 33 yards to the New York 31-yard line. Although a holding penalty on the return moved the ball back to the 41-yard line, Baltimore took only 2 plays to score on quarterback Trent Dilfer's 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley.

Then early in the second quarter, a holding penalty against the Giants nullified linebacker Jessie Armstead's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown that would have tied the game. Later in the period, Dilfer completed a 44-yard pass to receiver Qadry Ismail to set up a 47-yard field goal by Ravens kicker Matt Stover to extend Baltimore's lead, 10–0. With the aid of a 27-yard run from running back Tiki Barber, the Giants advanced all the way to the Ravens' 29-yard line on their ensuing drive, but Baltimore defensive back Chris McAlister intercepted a pass from Kerry Collins to keep New York scoreless by halftime.

The Giants then forced the Ravens to punt on the opening drive of the second half. But 5 plays later, Baltimore safety Kim Herring intercepted Collins at the New York 41-yard line. The Ravens then advanced to the 24-yard line, but the drive stalled and Stover missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.

After an exchange of punts, Baltimore defensive back Duane Starks intercepted a pass from Collins and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, setting off a chain of events unseen before in Super Bowl history: three touchdowns on three consecutive plays in just 36 seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, Ron Dixon returned the ball 97 yards for the Giants' first score of the game. But Jermaine Lewis returned the next kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, making the score 24–-7 for the Ravens. It was the first time in history two kickoffs were returned for touchdowns in the same Super Bowl game, and on back-to-back kickoffs.

But by that point, the game was already over. The Giants gained only 1 first down on their final four possessions, and was never able to move the ball into Baltimore territory. Meanwhile the Ravens added 10 more points to their lead, making the final score 34-7. A few possessions after Lewis' touchdown, New York punter Brad Maynard's short 34-yard punt from his own 4 to the 38-yard line and tight end Ben Coates' 17-yard reception set up a 3-yard touchdown run by running back Jamal Lewis run early in the fourth quarter. Then Dixon fumbled the ensuing kickoff to Baltimore defender Robert Baily, setting up Stover's 34-yard field goal with 5:27 left in the game.

[edit] Scoring summary

* BAL- TD: Brandon Stokley 38 yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Matt Stover kick) 7-0 BAL
* BAL- FG: Matt Stover 47 yards 10-0 BAL
* BAL- TD: Duane Starks 49 yard interception return (Matt Stover kick) 17-0 BAL
* NYG- TD: Ron Dixon 97 yard kickoff return (Brad Daluiso kick) 17-7 BAL
* BAL- TD: Jermaine Lewis 84 yard kickoff return (Matt Stover kick) 24-7 BAL
* BAL- TD: Jamal Lewis 3 yard run (Matt Stover kick) 31-7 BAL
* BAL- FG: Matt Stover 34 yards 34-7 BAL

[edit] Statistics

Dilfer threw for 153 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Jamal Lewis rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown (only the second rookie to rush for 100 yards in the Super Bowl, joining Timmy Smith in Super Bowl XXII), and caught a pass for 4 yards. Stokley was the top receiver of the game with 3 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Jermaine Lewis recorded 152 total offensive yards (111 kickoff return yards, 34 punt return yards, 7 receiving yards, 1 rushing yard) and a touchdown.

Collins threw four interceptions (tying a Super Bowl record that has since been surpassed by Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon's five INTs in Super Bowl XXXVII) and completed only 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards. Barber was the Giants' leading rusher with 49 yards, also catching 6 passes for 26 yards and returning 2 punts for 13 yards, while Dixon tallied 6 kickoffs for 154 yards and a touchdown with a 16-yard pass catch. While Giants punter Brad Maynard set an undesirable Super Bowl record with 11 punts, Baltimore punter Kyle Richardson had 10 punts, which would have set the record ceteris paribus.

Overall, both teams combined for only 396 total yards, the lowest in Super Bowl history. The Ravens joined Super Bowl XVIII's Los Angeles Raiders in the record books as the only teams to score offensive, defensive and special teams touchdowns in the same Super Bowl.

All the main contributors for the Ravens on offense, defense, and special teams were Lewises. Jamal Lewis was the top rusher of the game, Jermaine Lewis notched 145 yards and a touchdown on special teams, and linebacker Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl MVP. In addition, the Ravens defense was coached by Marvin Lewis. The Ravens defense has since been considered among the greatest of all time.