It’s a happy time in Baltimore. The city is celebrating their second Super Bowl Championship. The Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 Sunday Night in an unforgettable game. It was must-see TV, the game was a high-scoring with a nail-biter ending plus the added drama of a power outage in the third quarter.
The win was a story book ending for Ravens’ Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis. Lewis, the 17-year veteran announced he would retire after the season. There was no better way for him to end his life-long career as a Raven than with his second championship win.
Lewis said of the win:
“It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my teammates,” Lewis said. “And you looked around this stadium and Baltimore! Baltimore! We coming home, baby! We did it!”
Quarterback Joe Flacco was named MVP. He was outstanding this postseason with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Sunday he went 22 of 33 for 287 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Wide receiver Anquan Boldlin had six catches for 104 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Jacoby Jones had one catch for 56 yards and one touchdown. He also scored a touchdown on the kickoff return at the start of the third quarter.
The Ravens dominated in the first half with a 28-6 lead at half-time. After Jones’ kickoff return for a touchdown, there was a power outage and some of the lights went out in the Superdome causing a 34 minute delay of game.
The break in play deflated the Ravens’ momentum while the 49ers come out firing when the game resumed. They fought hard to come back, scoring 17 points to make it 31-29, then another field goal.
The Ravens’ defense saved the day at the end of the fourth quarter. The 49ers made it to the Ravens’ eight yard line; the defense had to make four stops at the 7 yard line to prevent them from scoring.
Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh said of his defense:
“I think it speaks to our resolve, speaks to our determination, speaks to our mental toughness,” John Harbaugh said. “That is what wins and loses games.”
The game was the longest in Super Bowl history at 4 hours and 14 minutes. It was also the most watched in history. It was the second championship for the Ravens in 11 years.
While the win was exciting for head coach John Harbaugh, it was also bittersweet losing to his brother Jim whom he said is the best coach in the National Football League.
The Ravens will hold a victory parade on Tuesday.
I am still horse from screaming my head off after the win. I have never been more proud to be a Ravens fan. It is not easy bleeding purple; this season was a true test of determination, hard work and perseverance, one they passed with flying colors.
After losing the last four of five games in the regular season, they fought an uphill battle when they faced the top teams in the playoffs. Many people counted them out and picked against them, they were underdogs in the Super Bowl, but the Ravens thrive in that role and proved their critics wrong.
Congratulations coach Harbaugh and the entire Ravens organization with a shout out to Flacco on his MVP award. I can’t wait to celebrate with you today at the victory parade and rally.
Zennie Abraham 
Bill Carroll