The Baltimore Ravens took care of the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, defeating them 34-31 after a thrilling fourth quarter to take home Super Bowl XLVII.
The 49ers had more talent on paper, but the Ravens played better on the field, rushing out to a 22-point lead before the lights went down in the third quarter. The 49ers made a furious comeback by scoring three times in the third quarter, but they came up short in the end on an incomplete pass out of the end zone to give the ball back to the Ravens, who were able to run enough time off the clock.
The game was notable for many reasons, mostly because of the 30 minute blackout that occurred in the third quarter. The Super Bowl saw many firsts, including the blackout, as well as the first fake field goal attempt and the first 108-yard kickoff return. The 49ers also became the first team to lose the Super Bowl after having a 300-yard passer with Colin Kaepernick, a 100-yard rusher with Frank Gore, and two 100-yard receivers in Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis.
Here is a look at the top players on each team and how they performed in the big game in New Orleans.
Baltimore Ravens
-Joe Flacco, QB: The game MVP was also the best player on Ravens (obviously) during the Super Bowl, passing for 287 yards and three touchdowns while completing 22 of 33 passes for an 8.7 yard average. Flacco dominated with the deep ball, going 7 of 13 for 171 yards and two touchdowns on passes deeper than 10 yards downfield. He hurt the Broncos in the playoffs to bring back the Ravens on a deep ball to Jacoby Jones and he was successful once against with the deep ball.
-Ray Rice, RB: Rice had a quiet game statistics wise, but he made it count, rushing for 59 yards on 20 carries for an average of 3.0 yards per carry. Rice almost could have been the goat of the game after fumbling in the third quarter after a strip by Tarell Brown, allowing the 49ers to pull the within five at 28-23.
-Anquan Boldin, WR: Boldin was the best wideout for the Ravens and one of the main reasons why Flacco was able to play so well. Boldin set the tone with the first touchdown catch from Flacco and finished with six receptions for 104 yards and the score. Boldin was clutch on third downs, as Flacco completed four-of-four passes and threw a touchdown when targeting the receiver.
-Torrey Smith, WR: Smith had a quiet game, making two receptions for 35 yards and a long of 20 yards. He is the usual deep threat for the Ravens.
-Jacoby Jones, WR: Jones was the biggest weapon for the Ravens, returning a kick 108 yards for a touchdown to knock the lights out and also making one reception for 56 yards and a touchdown. He became the first player in NFL history to score a reception touchdown and a kick touchdown in the same Super Bowl.
San Francisco 49ers
-Colin Kaepernick, QB: Kaepernick came into the game as the biggest wild card, since if he could run like he did against the Packers, it would be hard for the Ravens to win. The 49ers looked flat after opening the game with a penalty and despite finishing with 302 yards passing and one touchdown, Kaepernick wasn't sharp when it counted, going 0-for-7 when passing in the redzone. He added a rushing touchdown and helped the 49ers make a comeback, but it wasn't enough.
-Frank Gore, RB: Gore had 110 yards rushing on just 19 carried and had a 5.8 average and one touchdown, but it wasn't enough for the 49ers. Gore was marginalized on the final drive.
-Michael Crabtree, WR: Crabtree had the best game of the receivers, making five catches for 109 yards and one touchdown, but at the end he couldn't make the plays to give the 49ers the lead. There was some controversy at the end when he may have been held on the final 49ers play, but no call was made.
-Vernon Davis, TE: Davis had a solid game for the 49ers, adding six catches and 104 yards for an average of 17.3. The game got started on a good note for Davis, who made a 20-yard catch to open the game, but he was lined up wrong and a penalty was called.
