Super Bowl XLVII was an instant classic. Even the lead-up to the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers was filled with intrigue.
For the first time ever in NFL history, two head coaches who were brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, were set to square off on the game’s biggest stage. Let’s revisit the outcome and more from Super Bowl 47, also known as the “Harbaugh Bowl.”
What Is the Harbaugh Bowl?
While the historic element of the two brother’s squaring off was fun for the media leading up to the game, the drama that unfolded on the field during the game was just as legendary.
The family affair didn’t just stop between Jim and John, though. Jay Harbaugh — Jim’s son and John’s nephew — was also on the Ravens’ coaching staff for the game putting three coaches from the same blood on the field together for the first time in NFL history.
Who Won the Harbaugh Bowl?
The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34–31, handing the 49ers their first Super Bowl loss in franchise history. Baltimore controlled much of the game as they got out to a 28-6 lead with a kickoff return touchdown by Jacoby Jones to open the second half.
However, San Francisco did make a rally, scoring 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to cut the Ravens’ lead to 28–23. With the Ravens leading late in the game, 34–29, the 49ers drove down to the Baltimore 7-yard line but turned the ball over on downs which sealed their fate and secured a victory for the Ravens.
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Baltimore QB Joe Flacco was awarded Super Bowl MVP after finishing the game with 287 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a 124.2 passer rating.
Who Turned the Lights Out?
Probably the biggest reason why this Super Bowl, in particular, is so memorable was due to the fact it turned into the Blackout Bowl. Following Jones’ kick-return touchdown to start the second half, there was a partial power outage in the Superdome, suspending play for 34 minutes.
It was at that point in the return to action that San Francisco began to mount their comeback and went on their 17-point unanswered run. The power outage had fans on social media going wild with conspiracy theories, and when the moment began to look like the turning point for a 49ers comeback, the conversation would get wild.
When asked about the situation and the assumption it may have helped the 49ers rally back, Ravens coach John Harbaugh shrugged it off as no big deal.
“Both teams had to deal with it,” said Harbaugh. “I thought they dealt with it better, obviously. They were able to turn the momentum of the game. [But] you know what the turning point of the game was? When we covered the ball on the last play.”
Ultimately, the Ravens hung on to their lead and came out victorious, but it wasn’t before one of the wildest sequences in Super Bowl history.
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