Mission Accomplished: The Ravens Are Victorious In New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (WJZ) -- The city of Baltimore is riding high after a Ravens win in New Orleans.
Mark Viviano reports.
It's a Baltimore bash, as the Ravens are Super Bowl champions in a thrilling victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
It was Ray Lewis', the soon to be Hall of Fame linebacker's, final ride. Before the game he rallied the troops. Joe Flacco would lead those troops--throwing three touchdown passes in the first half. One to Dennis Pitta put the Ravens up 14-3. Flacco also connected with Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones. It was 21-6 at halftime.
For Jacoby Jones--a New Orleans native-- this was quite a homecoming for him. The touchdown catch and the second half kickoff--108-yards--was the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history.
The Ravens were rolling 28-6. Before you could say "lights out" on the 49ers, the lights went out at the Superdome. For 35 minutes, there was a delay to the game.
And after that delay, it was the San Francisco 49ers who came to life. They scored 17 straight points. Their elusive quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a 15-yard touchdown run, and the Ravens deficit was down to two points 31-29.
But the Ravens never lost the lead. It was 34-29, San Francisco first and goal, four shots to score. A fourth down pass would go incomplete.
There was a lot of controversy about a holding call that should have been made, but it was not and the Ravens hold on. They are winners after a safety made the final score 34-31, many calling it one of the most exciting Super Bowls in NFL history. And it's the Ravens who get the Lombardi Trophy--the second in franchise history.
"I want to thank the city of New Orleans for what is just a spectacular way to celebrate. I've never seen anything like it. And to my partners, Dick, Ozzie, John and all our fans back in Baltimore, we're bringing another one home for you," said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
"All the Ravens fans collectively as loud as we possibly can for O.J. Brigance--a big cheer for O.J.!" said head coach John Harbaugh. "It's never easy. It's never perfect, but it is us. And that was us today, just the way we do it."
"When God is for you, who can be against you? 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--and you look around this stadium. Baltimore, we did it!" said Ray Lewis.
"It's unbelievable, I'll tell you what, we don't make it easy. But that's the way the city of Baltimore is, that's the way we are. We did this for them back home, we had a great sendoff and we can't wait to get back there for the parade," said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Joe Flacco was named the Super Bowl MVP for his performance. For these playoffs, the four Ravens victories, Flacco threw for 11 touchdowns--which ties the NFL record for a single playoff previously set by Joe Montana and Kurt Warner.
So the final ride is over for Ray Lewis. He'll ride off into the sunset with his second Lombardi Trophy. It's a new chapter, a new title. The Ravens are victorious in New Orleans.
