NFL: Super Bowl glory for Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens held on for a 34-31 victory over San Francisco 49ers at an eventful Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans yesterday.

The Ravens shook off a Superdome blackout and an astonishing second-half comeback by the San Francisco 49ers to hold on and capture one of the greatest, and certainly wildest, Super Bowls yet.

The Ravens led 28-6 early in the third quarter, riding the momentum of a 108-yard Jacoby Jones kickoff return for a score before the Superdome lost power, casting the field in darkness, shutting off the air conditioning and delaying the game for more than half an hour.

As the power was restored, the game got back into full flow, with a 31-yard Michael Crabtree reception, a 6-yard Frank Gore run and a 34-yard David Akers field goal.

After Baltimore answered with a field goal, San Francisco scored again on Kaepernick’s 15-yard sprint. After a failed two-point conversion, Baltimore clung to a 31-29 lead.

Flacco, who finished 22-of-33 for 287 yards and three touchdowns, led the Ravens on a time consuming field-goal drive, allowing a gassed defense a bit of rest and a five-point cushion.

Kaepernick responded only to stall out on downs inside the Ravens’ 5-yard line, the vaunted Baltimore defense making red zone yards so difficult to attain.

In the end, it may not have been pretty, but it was enough to take the title.

Flacco, who completed 22-of-33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, took MVP honours – the fourth year in a row a quarterback has won the award.

Speaking after the game, QB Joe Flacco said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. Crazy. Unbelievable.

“It’s tough to put into words because it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t even think that it has sunk in that we’re here. Pretty cool.”