Super Bowl XLVII

Super Bowl XLVII
Game name	Super Bowl XLVII
Date	February 3, 2013
Stadium	Mercedes-Benz Superdome
City	New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance	71,024
Champions	Baltimore Ravens
Runner up	San Francisco 49ers
Mvp	Joe Flacco
Odds	San Francisco by 3

Super Bowl XLVII was the championship game of the 2012 NFL season, contested between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34–31 in a game noted for a power outage, a dramatic comeback, and the matchup of brothers John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh as opposing head coaches. Quarterback Joe Flacco was named Most Valuable Player after a four-touchdown performance.

Background

The game capped the postseason of the 2012 NFL season, which included the Seattle Seahawks dramatic playoff run and the New England Patriots emergence after the Tom Brady era of the 2000s. The Ravens reached the championship by securing the AFC North division title behind the leadership of Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and defensive coordinator Terry McAulay (note: game officials included Clete Blakeman). The 49ers won the NFC West with a roster featuring Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, and head coach Jim Harbaugh. The matchup featured franchises with histories tied to Super Bowl V and Super Bowl XXIV legacies, and the game was promoted in the context of New Orleans' recovery since Hurricane Katrina and the city's hosting history including Super Bowl XLVII's predecessor events like Jazz Fest-adjacent activities.

Teams

Baltimore's roster spotlighted veterans such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin, and coordinator-led schemes from Jim Schwartz (defensive staff). The Ravens' running attack included Ray Rice and pass protection schemes orchestrated by offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell. The 49ers featured a dual-threat at quarterback in Colin Kaepernick, a rushing leader in Frank Gore, and a secondary anchored by Carlos Rogers with scheme adjustments by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Both franchises drew from storied personnel trees including connections to Steve Spurrier and coaching lineages reaching back to Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick.

Game summary

The contest began with special teams play influenced by kickers Justin Tucker and Phil Dawson and early scoring by both teams. Baltimore built a lead through passing touchdowns from Joe Flacco to receivers like Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, while San Francisco responded with plays by Colin Kaepernick and tight end Vernon Davis. A blackout in the third quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome interrupted play for 34 minutes, during which coaches John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh and players retreated to locker rooms and broadcasters like Jim Nantz and Troy Aikman discussed implications. After play resumed, the 49ers staged a comeback led by Colin Kaepernick rushing touchdowns and a converted two-point try, tying and then taking a late lead. Baltimore answered with key drives culminating in a touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk and a crucial field goal by Justin Tucker to seal the victory.

Scoring summary

First quarter featured scoring drives involving Joe Flacco, Justin Tucker, and Frank Gore. Second quarter saw additional touchdowns and a halftime lead maintained by Baltimore with contributions from Ray Rice and Torrey Smith. The third quarter included the infamous stadium power outage that paused momentum; scoring during the resumed period included a kickoff return and a rushing touchdown by Colin Kaepernick. The fourth quarter contained lead changes, a go-ahead field goal by Phil Dawson for San Francisco, and the Ravens' final scoring drive culminating in Tucker's decisive field goal. Key officials included referee Jerome Boger and crew assignments with impact on clock management and reviewable plays.

Statistics and records

Joe Flacco completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, earning Super Bowl MVP honors and joining quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in postseason excellence. Colin Kaepernick set quarterback rushing marks in the game and joined a lineage including Fran Tarkenton for dual-threat performances. The game set attendance and television records for markets including Baltimore and San Francisco viewership metrics monitored by Nielsen. The power outage was a rare event in championship history, drawing comparisons to previous stadium interruptions such as at Super Bowl XIX legacy discussions. Several individual records and franchise firsts were recorded for rushing, receiving, and coaching milestones for both Harbaugh brothers.

Broadcasting and halftime show

The game was televised by CBS Sports with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, analyst Phil Simms, and sideline reporters including Tracy Wolfson. The halftime show featured a performance headlined by Beyoncé who incorporated songs associated with Destiny's Child and received attention matching past halftime acts like Michael Jackson and Prince. The broadcast included adjacent programming with studio hosts from The NFL Today and featured advertisements from major brands and game-day sponsorships with integrated spots airing in Super Bowl Sunday primetime.

Aftermath and legacy

The Ravens' victory delivered a franchise second championship in the style of earlier winners such as New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers multiple-title histories, cementing Joe Flacco's legacy and contributing to postgame narratives about leadership from veterans like Ray Lewis who retired following the season. The Harbaugh brothers' matchup became a cultural touchstone referenced alongside sibling rivalries like Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Rodgers comparisons. The blackout prompted infrastructure reviews by venue operators and prompted the NFL to evaluate backup power protocols; merchandising, commemorations, and retrospective analyses by outlets referencing Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacies and coach legacies continued in subsequent seasons.

Category:2013 in sports