Proving that he should be considered an "elite quarterback," Joe Flacco got things started early for the Ravens. Flacco found wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Baltimore a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game. He was just getting started, as he would throw two more touchdowns in the first half, including a 56-yard bomb to wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Flacco's performance helped the Ravens go into the half with a 21-6 lead.
Jones etched his name into the record books with his performance in the second half.
Jones took the ensuing kickoff a Super Bowl record 108 yards, extending the lead to 28-6 and giving the Ravens an apparently insurmountable lead. However, the Superdome had a little trick up its sleeve, and the lights went out causing a 34-minute delay.
The power outage seemed to be just what the 49ers needed to get back into the game.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, proving that Jim Harbaugh made the right decision by starting him over Alex Smith, went to work to cut into the deficit.
A 31-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick to wide receiver Michael Crabtree cut the deficit to 28-13, and then a Ray Rice fumble gave the 49ers a chance to get within one possession.
San Francisco running back Frank Gore kept the momentum going, scoring a 6-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead to 28-20 with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.
Both teams traded field goals, and with 12:54 to go and an 8-point deficit, the 49ers got the ball with an opportunity to possibly tie the game. Once again, Kaepernick made the plays down field.
A quick five-play drive covering 76 yards capped off by a 15-yard touchdown by Kaepernick pulled the 49ers within two, setting up a potentially-tying 2-point conversion.
Ravens safety Ed Reed did not allow the conversion, however, bringing major pressure on Kaepernick, and keeping the Baltimore Ravens lead at 31-29 with over nine minutes to go.
After a Ravens field goal made the score 34-29, Kaepernick once again had a chance to lead the 49ers down the field.
With 2:36 left to go in the game, the 49ers had the ball first-and-goal from the Ravens 7-yard line, attempting to close in on the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis and the defense wouldn't allow it, stopping the 49ers on four consecutive plays and giving the Ravens back the ball with 1:45 left on the clock.
The Ravens ran all but four seconds off on the clock, taking a safety to make the final score 34-31, and sent Lewis to retirement with his second Super Bowl victory.
Flacco, long questioned as a quarterback, showed the critics his true ability by throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named the Super Bowl MVP.
