Baltimore Ravens Return To The Super Bowl For The First Time In 13 Years, Win AFC Title 28-13.
Sunday, we’re blessed with another instant AFC title game classic (if you’re not a Patriots fan) as we saw a rematch of the last years championship game with both teams back in the same situation previously. The Ravens, who lost last year via missed FG from Billy Cundiff that would be the most controversial ending of any game last season, looked to avenge their loss last season with a win here tonight.
Baltimore won the coin toss to start the game but deferred to the New England wanting to the start the second half with possession. Tom Brady would immediately start his no-huddle play calling to “feel” the Ravens defense out starting the game and one possession later after a quick Ravens three-and-out they would get the first points of the game on a FG from Stephen Gostkowski. This would complete a 5-min 67-yard drive which the Pats had to settle for the three at their 12.
Skipping to the second quarter, the Ravens would finally see their offense finally flourishing with a host of no huddles of Joe Flacco as well as he would cap off a 6-minute 90-yard drive play with a hand-off to Ray Rice for a 2-yard touchdown. The Ravens would get their first score of the game which would give their team a huge sigh of relief.
OS REWIND: Beyoncé Set To Headline The Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show
OS REWIND: Destiny’s Child Set To Perform At The Super Bowl
OS REWIND: Alicia Keys Announced To Perform The National Anthem At Super Bowl XLVII
On the next ensuing Patriots possession they would immediately answer back with a score of their own as Tom Brady would continue the no-huddle offense to try and confuse the Ravens defense and would connect with Wes Walker for a TD pass completing a 76-yard drive elapsing just over 5 minutes.
After a quick three-and-out from the Ravens, New England would score once more with another FG from Stephen Gostkowski from 25 yards back to increase the lead to 13-7 however in the 2nd half the Ravens defense would shut out the Patriots.
Jumping ahead to the second half, both teams would start the third period with turnovers as the Ravens QB Joe Flacco would throw two incomplete passes to start their second possession of the quarter but would throw nine consecutive no-huddle shotgun passes. Doing so, Flacco he would link up with Dennis Pitta for his first TD pass of the game to give the Ravens the lead once more as they wouldn’t look game for duration of the game.
The Patriots were victim to another three-and-out as the Ravens D and more so Ray Lewis could smell blood for a bid at this year’s Super Bowl. The Ravens would get the ball back continuing the shotgun/no huddle offense starting from their own 37 to start the 4th quarter off with a Joey Flacco touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin completing a 10-play, 63-yard drive.
New England still in position to score only being down by a touchdown+2 with the score at 21-13 would turn over the ball as Stevan Ridley would fumble the ball on the fifth play for New England at their 39 with defensive-end Arthur Jones recovering the ball.
Now in great field position, the Ravens were set up to score once more and further the gap within the score. With the Ravens STILL running the no-huddle offense that was successful for them this game thus far, Joe Flacco would connect again with Anquan Boldin for their 2nd touchdown of the quarter to give them a favorable 28-13 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.
Tom Brady would have thee more chances at getting to the end but the Ravens defense of Dannell Ellerbe and Cary Williams would both have interceptions to propel their team into the Super Bowl. The Ravens now head back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 13 years as the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers will be waiting in the wings as both teams will head down to the N.O.L.A. for biggest game of the year in America.
San Francisco are undefeated in the Super Bowl at 5-0 with their last being in 1994 led by Steve Young and Jerry Rice as they’ll be looking to win it all but their task won’t be easy against a very motivated Ravens team who will want to send their captain Ray Lewis out with a Super Bowl ring.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will also be facing his older John Harbaugh, head coach of the Ravens marking it the first time a pair of brothers will serve as head coaches in NFL history. With a Super Bowl halftime performance show from Beyonce and an opening national anthem from Alicia Keys, this could possibly one of the most watched/best Super Bowls of all time.