Ravens 34, 49ers 31
These Ravens won’t go down as the best team of all time or anything, but one of the best players to every take the field was able to win his second Super Bowl ring on his final ride. Ray Lewis, who was the center of attention for the early part of the week because of the deer antler spray revelation, told his team that he was going to retire after this season. This seemed to inspire Baltimore during its magical run to the Super Bowl. Lewis did not play well physically, but he was instrumental mentally and inspired his team like no one else could. In the triumph, Lewis became the first player in NFL history to claim consecutive Super Bowl rings 12 or more seasons apart.
It was also nice to see the other Ravens win the Lombardi. Contrary to popular belief, Ed Reed was not part of the stalwart 2000 Baltimore defense, so this was his first championship. Terrell Suggs, Bryant McKinnie, Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Marshal Yanda and others served as great players in this league over the years, so they deserved this trophy as much as anyone.
Of course, the person primarily responsible for making this happen was Joe Flacco, who claimed the MVP trophy – and rightfully so. There have been arguments for Jacoby Jones, but one of Jones’ two scores came via a Flacco bomb. Granted, it was underthrown, and Jones had to juke two 49ers to reach the end zone, but without Flacco, there’s no chance Baltimore would have won the Super Bowl. If Jones wasn’t on the roster, the Ravens would have definitely still had a legitimate chance, so it would be very contrarian to state that Jones deserved the award.
Flacco was outstanding. He went 22-of-33 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He was unreal on third down, converting 9-of-16 attempts. He was hot in the first half, torching a helpless San Francisco secondary with his monstrous arm. He was barely able to do anything in the third quarter after the infamous blackout because the 49ers held all of the momentum, but he made enough clutch throws to lead his team to field-goal drives of 71 and 59 yards in the fourth quarter, occupying nearly 11 minutes of the clock on those two possessions.
Colin Kaepernick was awful early on. CBS analyst Bill Cowher even suggested that the 49ers should bench Kaepernick in favor of Alex Smith. This was a completely ridiculous notion at the time, and it proved to be so as Kaepernick finished 16-of-28 for 302 yards, one touchdown and an interception along with seven carries for 62 rushing yards and a second score on the ground. Kaepernick wasn’t very good in the red zone, however, thanks to Baltimore’s No. 1 red-zone defense. However, 49er fans may point to poor officiating as a reason for that. They certainly have some beef – Michael Crabtree was clearly held in the end zone on San Francisco’s final offensive play, but the refs’ whistles were silent.
The officiating was putrid throughout. The Ravens benefited from most of the calls, though they were screwed over by a phantom running-into-the-kicker penalty on a David Akers miss. However, San Francisco has only itself to blame for this defeat. The team committed too many mental errors. The first play of the game, a 20-yard completion to Vernon Davis, was wiped out by illegal formation. The 49ers also wasted two crucial timeouts in the second half, and the play-calling in the red zone on the final offensive drive was abysmal. If it wasn’t for the blackout, Baltimore may have run away with a victory of at least two touchdowns.
For more thoughts, check out my updated NFL Power Rankings, which will be posted Tuesday morning.
|
NFL Picks - Dec. 13
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
2024: 2024 NFL Week 1 Recap
2024 NFL Week 2 Recap
2024 NFL Week 3 Recap
2023: 2023 NFL Week 1 Recap
2023 NFL Week 2 Recap
2023 NFL Week 3 Recap
2023 NFL Week 4 Recap
2023 NFL Week 5 Recap
2023 NFL Week 6 Recap
2023 NFL Week 7 Recap
2023 NFL Week 8 Recap
2023 NFL Week 9 Recap
2023 NFL Week 10 Recap
2023 NFL Week 11 Recap
2023 NFL Week 12 Recap
2023 NFL Week 13 Recap
2023 NFL Week 14 Recap
2023 NFL Week 15 Recap
2023 NFL Week 16 Recap
2023 NFL Week 17 Recap
2023 NFL Week 18 Recap
2023 NFL Playoffs Recap
2022: Live 2022 NFL Draft Blog - April 28
2022 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 9
2022 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 16
2022 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 23
2022 NFL Week 4 Recap - Sept. 30
2022 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 7
2022 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 14
2022 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 21
2022 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 28
2022 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 4
2022 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 11
2022 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 18
2022 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 25
2022 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 2
2022 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 9
2022 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 16
2022 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 23
2022 NFL Week 17 Recap - Dec. 30
2022 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 7
2022 NFL Playoffs Recap - Feb. 13
2021: Live 2021 NFL Draft Blog - April 25
2021 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 13
2021 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 20
2021 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 27
2021 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 4
2021 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 11
2021 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 18
2021 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 25
2021 NFL Week 8 Recap - Nov. 1
2021 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 8
2021 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 15
2021 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 22
2021 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 29
2021 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 6
2021 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 13
2021 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 20
2021 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 27
2021 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 3
2021 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 10
2021 NFL Playoff Recap - Jan. 17
2020: Live 2020 NFL Draft Blog - April 25
2020 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 11
2020 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 18
2020 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 25
2020 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 2
2020 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 9
2020 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 16
2020 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 23
2020 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 30
2020 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 6
2020 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 13
2020 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 20
2020 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 27
2020 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 4
2020 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 11
2020 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 18
2020 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 25
2020 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 3
2020 NFL Playoffs Recap - Feb. 3
2019: Live 2019 NFL Draft Blog - April 25
2019 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 9
2019 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 16
2019 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 23
2019 NFL Week 4 Recap - Sept. 30
2019 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 7
2019 NFL Week 6 Recap
2019 NFL Week 7 Recap
2019 NFL Week 8 Recap
2019 NFL Week 9 Recap
2019 NFL Week 10 Recap
2019 NFL Week 11 Recap
2019 NFL Week 12 Recap
2019 NFL Week 14 Recap
2019 NFL Week 15 Recap
2019 NFL Week 16 Recap
2019 NFL Week 17 Recap
2018: Live 2018 NFL Draft Blog - April 30
2018 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 7
2018 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 14
2018 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 21
2018 NFL Week 4 Recap - Sept. 28
2018 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 5
2018 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 12
2018 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 19
2018 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 26
2018 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 2
2018 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 9
2018 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 16
2018 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 23
2018 NFL Week 13 Recap - Nov. 30
2018 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 7
2018 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 14
2018 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 21
2018 NFL Week 17 Recap - Dec. 31
2018 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 6
2017: Live 2017 NFL Draft Blog - April 30
2017 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 12
2017 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 19
2017 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 26
2017 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 2
2017 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 9
2017 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 16
2017 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 23
2017 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 30
2017 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 6
2017 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 13
2017 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 20
2017 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 27
2017 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 4
2017 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 11
2017 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 18
2017 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 25
2017 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 1
2017 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 8
2017 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 15
2017 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 22
Super Bowl LII Recap - Feb. 5
2017: Live 2017 NFL Draft Blog - April 30
2017 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 12
2017 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 19
2017 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 26
2017 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 2
2017 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 9
2017 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 16
2017 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 23
2017 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 30
2017 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 6
2017 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 13
2017 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 20
2017 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 27
2017 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 4
2017 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 11
2017 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 18
2017 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 25
2017 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 1
2017 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 8
2017 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 15
2017 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 22
Super Bowl LII Recap - Feb. 5
2016: Live 2016 NFL Draft Blog - April 30
2016 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 12
2016 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 19
2016 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 26
2016 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 3
2016 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 10
2016 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 17
2016 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 24
2016 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 31
2016 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 7
2016 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 14
2016 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 21
2016 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 28
2016 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 5
2016 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 12
2016 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 19
2016 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 26
2016 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 2
2016 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 9
2016 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 16
2016 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 23
2016 NFL Week 21 Recap - Feb. 6
2015: Live 2015 NFL Draft Blog - April 30
2015 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 12
2015 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 17
2015 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 24
2015 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 1
2015 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 8
2015 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 15
2015 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 22
2015 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 29
2015 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 5
2015 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 12
2015 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 19
2015 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 26
2015 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 4
2015 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 11
2015 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 18
2015 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 25
2015 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 4
2015 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 11
2015 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 18
2015 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 25
Super Bowl 50 Recap - Feb. 8
2014: Live 2014 NFL Draft Blog - May 8
2014 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 5
2014 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 12
2014 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 19
2014 NFL Week 4 Recap - Sept. 26
2014 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 3
2014 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 10
2014 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 17
2014 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 24
2014 NFL Week 9 Recap - Oct. 31
2014 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 6
2014 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 13
2014 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 20
2014 NFL Week 13 Recap - Nov. 27
2014 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 5
2014 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 12
2014 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 19
2014 NFL Week 17 Recap - Dec. 29
2014 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 4
2014 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 11
2014 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 18
Super Bowl XLIX Live Blog - Feb. 1
Super Bowl XLIX Recap - Feb. 2
2013: Live 2013 NFL Draft Blog - April 26
2013 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 10
2013 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 17
2013 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 24
2013 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 1
2013 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 8
2013 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 15
2013 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 22
2013 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 29
2013 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 4
2013 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 11
2013 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 18
2013 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 25
2013 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 2
2013 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 9
2013 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 16
2013 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 23
2013 NFL Week 17 Recap - Dec. 30
2013 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 6
2013 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 13
2013 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 20
Super Bowl XLVIII Recap - Feb. 3
Super Bowl XLVIII Live Blog - Feb. 2
2012: Live 2012 NFL Draft Blog - April 26
2012 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 10
2012 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 17
2012 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 24
2012 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 1
2012 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 8
2012 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 15
2012 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 22
2012 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 29
2012 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 5
2012 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 12
2012 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 19
2012 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 26
2012 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 3
2012 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 10
2012 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 17
2012 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 24
2012 NFL Week 17 Recap - Dec. 31
2012 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 7
2012 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 14
2012 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 21
Super Bowl XLVII Recap - Feb. 4
Super Bowl XLVII Live Blog - Feb. 4
2011: Live 2011 NFL Draft Blog - April 28
2011 NFL Week 1 Recap - Sept. 12
2011 NFL Week 2 Recap - Sept. 19
2011 NFL Week 3 Recap - Sept. 26
2011 NFL Week 4 Recap - Oct. 3
2011 NFL Week 5 Recap - Oct. 10
2011 NFL Week 6 Recap - Oct. 17
2011 NFL Week 7 Recap - Oct. 24
2011 NFL Week 8 Recap - Oct. 31
2011 NFL Week 9 Recap - Nov. 7
2011 NFL Week 10 Recap - Nov. 14
2011 NFL Week 11 Recap - Nov. 21
2011 NFL Week 12 Recap - Nov. 28
2011 NFL Week 13 Recap - Dec. 5
2011 NFL Week 14 Recap - Dec. 12
2011 NFL Week 15 Recap - Dec. 19
2011 NFL Week 16 Recap - Dec. 26
2011 NFL Week 17 Recap - Jan. 2
2011 NFL Week 18 Recap - Jan. 9
2011 NFL Week 19 Recap - Jan. 16
2011 NFL Week 20 Recap - Jan. 23
Super Bowl XLVI Live Blog - Feb. 6
2010: Live 2010 NFL Draft Blog - April 22
2010 Hall of Fame Game Live Blog - Aug. 8
2010 NFL Kickoff Live Blog - Sept. 9
2010 NFL Week 1 Review - Sept. 13
2010 NFL Week 2 Review - Sept. 20
2010 NFL Week 3 Review - Sept. 27
2010 NFL Week 4 Review - Oct. 4
2010 NFL Week 5 Review - Oct. 11
2010 NFL Week 6 Review - Oct. 18
2010 NFL Week 7 Review - Oct. 25
2010 NFL Week 8 Review - Nov. 1
2010 NFL Week 9 Review - Nov. 8
2010 NFL Week 10 Review - Nov. 15
2010 NFL Week 11 Review - Nov. 22
2010 NFL Week 12 Review - Nov. 29
2010 NFL Week 13 Review - Dec. 6
2010 NFL Week 14 Review - Dec. 13
2010 NFL Week 15 Review - Dec. 20
2010 NFL Week 16 Review - Dec. 27
2010 NFL Week 17 Review - Jan. 3
2010 NFL Week 18 Review - Jan. 10
2010 NFL Week 19 Review - Jan. 17
2010 NFL Week 19 Review - Jan. 24
Super Bowl XLV Live Blog - Feb. 6
2009: Live 2009 NFL Draft Blog - April 25
2009 Hall of Fame Game Live Blog - Aug. 10
2009 NFL Kickoff Live Blog - Sept. 10
2009 NFL Week 1 Review - Sept. 14
2009 NFL Week 2 Review - Sept. 21
2009 NFL Week 3 Review - Sept. 28
2009 NFL Week 4 Review - Oct. 5
2009 NFL Week 5 Review - Oct. 12
2009 NFL Week 6 Review - Oct. 19
2009 NFL Week 7 Review - Oct. 26
2009 NFL Week 8 Review - Nov. 2
2009 NFL Week 9 Review - Nov. 9
2009 NFL Week 10 Review - Nov. 16
2009 NFL Week 11 Review - Nov. 23
2009 NFL Week 12 Review - Nov. 30
2009 NFL Week 13 Review - Dec. 6
2009 NFL Week 14 Review - Dec. 13
2009 NFL Week 15 Review - Dec. 20
2009 NFL Week 16 Review - Dec. 27
2009 NFL Week 17 Review - Jan. 4
2009 NFL Week 18 Review - Jan. 11
2009 NFL Week 19 Review - Jan. 18
2009 NFL Week 20 Review - Jan. 25
Super Bowl XLIV Live Blog - Feb. 7
2008: Live 2008 NFL Draft Blog - April 26
2008 NFL Kickoff Blog - Sept. 4
NFL Week 1 Review - Sept. 8
NFL Week 2 Review - Sept. 15
NFL Week 3 Review - Sept. 22
NFL Week 4 Review - Sept. 29
NFL Week 5 Review - Oct. 6
NFL Week 6 Review - Oct. 13
NFL Week 7 Review - Oct. 20
NFL Week 8 Review - Oct. 27
NFL Week 9 Review - Nov. 3
NFL Week 10 Review - Nov. 10
NFL Week 11 Review - Nov. 17
NFL Week 12 Review - Nov. 24
NFL Week 13 Review - Dec. 1
NFL Week 14 Review - Dec. 8
NFL Week 15 Review - Dec. 15
NFL Week 16 Review - Dec. 22
NFL Week 17 Review - Dec. 29
NFL Wild Card Playoffs Review - Jan. 4
NFL Divisional Playoffs Review - Jan. 11
NFL Championship Sunday Review - Jan. 19
Super Bowl XLIII Live Blog