San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick failed to connect with wide receiver Michael Crabtree on fourth and goal from the 5 yard-line with 1:50 left in the game and it resulted in the Baltimore Ravens holding on to win Super Bowl XLVII 34-31 at the Superdome in New Orleans. LA.
The 49ers final offensive play will be talked about for several days as many felt that Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith should have been flagged for holding Crabtree on the play. He wasn\’t, and the Ravens took over on downs.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was named the MVP of the game after going 22-of-33 passing for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. Flacco once again didn\’t throw an interception in the game and he finished the playoffs with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin, tight end Dennis Pitta and wide receiver Jacoby Jones all had touchdown receptions in the win, and Jones also added an 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half. Boldin finished the game with 6 catches for 104 yards.
The Ravens had a 21-6 lead at the halftime and increased it to 28-6 thanks to the return by Jones on the second half kickoff. The momentum the Ravens had would, however, be interrupted as an “abnormality” in the Superdome power system resulted in a breaker tripping with 13:28 left in the third quarter and it caused a 34 minute delay.
When the lights came back on so did the 49ers offense as they scored 17 unanswered points to make it 28-23 with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
The Ravens built their lead to 8 points thanks to a 38 yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker with 12:57 left in regulation, but the 49ers quickly answered with a five play, 76 yard drive of their own that was capped by a 15 yard touchdown run by Kaepernick with 10:04 left. The failed two-point conversion play made it a two point game with plenty of football left to be played.
The Ravens answered back with a 10 play drive of their own but had to settle for another Tucker field goal and a 5 point lead with 4:23 left.
The 49ers final offensive drive started at their own 20 yard-line and ended with the failed fourth down pass. The Ravens took a safety after taking over on downs and left the 49ers with just 4 seconds left to receive the free kick. Time expired on the return by Ted Ginn Jr. and the Ravens hoisted their second Lombardi trophy.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who retired after the game, registered 7 total tackles. The Ravens won the AFC North with a 10-6 record.
