Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII over the 49ers, 34-31

Ravens 34, 49ers 31 (final)

The Baltimore Ravens have defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

It’s the second championship for the Ravens and linebacker Ray Lewis, who is retiring after 17 seasons.

After taking a safety on their final possession, Baltimore punted to San Francisco, which was unable to set up a return and suffered its first loss in six appearances in the NFL championship game.

San Francisco never led in the game, but the 49ers still had a chance to win the when punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. fielded the punt. A swarming Ravens defense contained him near midfield before making the tackle.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was selected the game’s most valuable player.

The championship goes to Baltimore Coach John Harbaugh over his kid brother, San Francisco Coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Times will have full coverage of the game played at the New Orleans Superdome throughout the night at latimes.com.

Ravens 34, 49ers 31 (4 seconds left)

The Baltimore Ravens are closing in on a Super Bowl title.

After moving the ball from their own 20-yard line to the Ravens’ 5, San Francisco saw Baltimore defensive back Joey Smith break up a third-down pass to Michael Crabtree.

Colin Kaepernick was then rushed heavily, forcing a throw that 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh begged for pass interference with a Ravens defensive back and Crabtree jostling for position.

The Kaepernick pass flew beyond Crabtree with cornerback Jimmy Smith tugging on his jersey.

The Ravens went three and out on their next possession, opting to take a safety with four seconds remaining as the punter ran out of the end zone.

It’s now Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31.

Ravens 34, 49ers 29 (two-minute warning)

The San Francisco 49ers have never lost a Super Bowl, and now they find themselves in Joe Montana territory against the Cincinnati Bengals back in the day.

Taking possession at their own 20-yard line with 4:19 left in the game and trailing by five points, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran for a first down, then completed a 24-yard pass to receiver Michael Crabtree to the Baltimore’s 40.

A Frank Gore run moved the ball to Baltimore’s seven, and it’s now the two-minute warning.

Ravens 34, 49ers 29 (4:19 left in fourth quarter)

The Baltimore Ravens have increased their lead over the San Francisco 49ers to five points with 4:19 left in regulation.

On a third-and-inches play with Ray Rice in the backfield would’ve appeared to call for a run, but the Ravens opted instead for another Joe Flacco pass to Anquan Boldin.

The completion kept San Francisco’s raging offense off the field, as Boldin moved the Ravens to the San Francisco 39-yard line.

A Rice run picked up more yards, setting up a Justin Tucker 38-yard field goal.

Ravens 31, 49ers 29 (9:57 left in fourth quarter)

We have a two-point Super Bowl with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Minutes after a Baltimore field goal, the San Francisco 49ers responded with a 15-yard touchdown run by San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The two-point conversion pass failed and Baltimore leasds, 31-29.

Kaepernick’s scoring run is the longest by a quarterback in Super Bowl history.

Ravens 28, 49ers 23 (end of third quarter)

With momentum clearly shifting in San Francisco’s favor, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco stared down a third-and-two situation and connected with receiver Anquan Boldin for a first down into 49ers territory.

Ravens running back Bernard Pierce added another first down to move the ball to the 49ers’ 18 with eight seconds left in the third quarter.

At the third-quarter whistle, the Ravens lead San Francisco, 28-23.

Ravens 28, 49ers 23 (3:14 left in third quarter)

Since the power went out at the Superdome, the San Francisco 49ers have outscored the Baltimore Ravens, 17-0, and outgained them by 90 yards, 106-16.

Now, the 49ers have recovered a fumble by Baltimore running back Ray Rice at the Ravens’ 24-yard line with more than four minutes left in the third quarter.

San Francisco moved to the 21 on a Frank Gore run, but Colin Kaepernick overthrew a receiver in the end zone, and David Akers missed a field goal wide left from 39 yards with 3:14 remaining in the third.

A penalty against Baltimore for running into the kicker moved the ball up five yards, and Akers converted the second chance as the 49ers moved within five points of the Ravens.

Ravens 28, 49ers 20 (4:29 left in third quarter)

Following a 78-yard touchdown drive directed by San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers defense stiffened and sacked Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco on a third-down play to force a punt.

San Francisco receiver Ted Ginn Jr. returned the punt inside the Ravens’ 30-yard line. The 49ers moved inside the 10-yard line on a pass for Kaepernick to fullback Delanie Walker.

Running back Frank Gore then followed a Walker block into the end zone for a short run to cut the 49ers’ deficit to eight points.

Ravens 28, 49ers 13 (7:20 left in third quarter)

Following a 35-minute power blackout that CBS reported was caused by an overload of use during the Beyonce-led halftime show, the game resumed early in the third quarter with the Baltimore Ravens ahead, 28-6.

In just his 10th NFL start, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick confronted the deficit by moving his team downfield and throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to receiver Michael Crabtree with 7:20 left in the third quarter to cut the Ravens’ lead to 15 points.

This is good news to the bettors here in Las Vegas, who supported the over 48 points total by nearly 70%.

Ravens 28, 49ers 6 (13:22 left in third quarter)

A power surge caused from an overload because of the halftime show has delayed the game for 35 minutes. Play has resumed with the 49ers facing third and long.

The surge came from outside the Superdome, causing circuits to break and the lights to go out.

Officials asked the players to stay on the field and fans to remain in their seats as power was slowly restored to the stadium.

Ravens 28, 49ers 6 (13:22 left in third quarter)

The lights went out after a power surge at the Superdome, where it’s unclear how long it will take to restore the stadium to full power. CBS’ Jim Brown said a couple of minutes ago it would be about 15 minutes to get the lights restored.

[Update: The Ravens’ Jacoby Jones returned the second-half kickoff a record 108 yards, not the 109 orginally credited, for a touchdown to give Baltimore a 28-6 lead.]

Players are remaining on the field, most of them stretching, as officials scramble to resolve the power issue. The public address announcer asked fans to remain in their seats.

Ravens 28, 49ers 6 (early in third quarter)

Beyonce’s fiery reunion with Destiny’s Child worked many into a frenzy here in Las Vegas and throughout the country.

Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones did Beyonce one better, returning the second-half kickoff a Super Bowl-record 108 yards for a touchdown to give the Ravens a 28-6 lead.

The most pressing halftime question post-Beyonce was whether San Francisco can again rally -- from what was a 21-6 halftime deficit -- as it did in winning in Atlanta in last month’s NFC championship game.

Jones made that challenge more difficult, much to the chagrin of 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh, who bit his lip in some rage as his brother John moved one play closer to a significant step up in the sibling rivalry.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco passed for three first-half touchdowns. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had one pass intercepted and was stopped in other key moments by the veteran Ravens defense.

Ravens 21, 49ers 6 (halftime)

The San Francisco 49ers went three and out on their next-to-last possession in the first half, perhaps with the inexperience of second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick raising its head with a double-clutch incompletion sabotaging the series after stopping the Baltimore Ravens’ unsuccessful fake field-goal try.

The Ravens took possession, and made the 49ers pay, quarterback Joe Flacco unloading another deep pass -- 56 yards -- that receiver Jacoby Jones grabbed inside the 10-yard-line.

Jones fell down when making the catch, but he was untouched, stood up and ran the remaining yards into the end zone for a 21-3 lead with 1:45 remaining.

It was Flacco’s third touchdown pass of the game.

The 49ers marched back inside the Ravens’ 10 as the seconds dwindled toward halftime, the big play being a Kaepernick pass to Delanie Walker.

On third and two at the Ravens’ nine, Kaepernick was stopped for no gain, and the 49ers’ David Akers kicked a 27-yard field goal to end the first half.

Here in Las Vegas, bookmakers have installed the 49ers as a seven-point favorite in the second half, with the second-half over/under at 24 1/2 points.

Ravens 14, 49ers 3 (late second quarter)

Ed Reed might have gray in his beard now, but the veteran Baltimore Ravens’ defensive back still knows how to play football at the highest level.

Reed proved it with 6:55 left in the second quarter, grabbing his record-tying ninth postseason interception by picking off a Colin Kaepernick pass inside the 49ers’ 45-yard line.

It was the first time a pass by a San Francisco quarrerback has been intercepted in the Super Bowl after 170 attempts, one reason they are 5-0 in the NFC title game.

The Ravens pushed inside the 49ers’ 20 on a Joe Flacco pass to running back Ray Rice, but receiver Anquan Boldin dropped a pass near the 10, and Flacco’s next pass fell incomplete beyond the end zone.

A 32-yard field-goal try was faked, and the run fell short of the first-down marker, giving the 49ers possession with 3:05 left in the first half.

Ravens 14, 49ers 3 (middle of second quarter)

Leading Super Bowl XLVII by a 7-3 score, the Baltimore Ravens took possession after a lost fumble early in the second quarter inside their own 25-yard line.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was confronted with a third down, but he found tight end Ed Dickson for a completion inside the San Francisco 30 to extend the series, then found him again for another completion inside the 10.

A facemask penalty on the 49ers made it first and goal at the four.

A play later, Flacco found tight end Dennis Pitta for a touchdown and 14-3 lead.

Ravens 7, 49ers 3 (end of first quarter)

The San Francisco 49ers sacked Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco on the final play of the first quarter, forcing a Ravens punt from the San Francisco 37-yard line to open the second quarter.

The Ravens moved to the 49ers’ 34 on a long, desperate pass from Flacco to receiver Anquan Boldin, but the march stalled from there after a short pass lost yardage and an incompletion.

San Francisco took possession at their own 20 with 14:52 left in the first half, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick quickly found tight end Vernon Davis for a gain to the 49. Two big runs later, and the 49ers were inside the Ravens’ 30.

A San Francisco fumble is now being reviewed, but replays make it appear it’s Ravens’ ball.

Ravens 7, 49ers 3 (3:58 left in first quarter)

The thing I’ve always believed about this game is that the Baltimore Ravens -- or no other team -- have an answer for the skill of San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The second-year Nevada product is flashing all of his skill on this second 49ers drive, running his team into Ravens territory and then finding tight end Vernon Davis for a 24-yard gain to the Baltimore eight-yard line here in the first quarter.

A no-gain run by Frank Gore and a high pass by Kaepernick was followed by a sack. The 49ers will take their three points at the 3:58 mark, and now it’s 7-3 Baltimore.

The Ravens took a 7-0 lead on Joe Flacco’s 13-yard pass from Joe Flacco to receiver Anquan Boldin.

Then some entertaining ads came on.

Just to let you know who I’m among here at the Mirage Race and Sports Book, when the commercial showing the hot blonde making out with the computer nerd, someone watching the scene actually bellowed the name of the sponsor, “Go Daddy!�

Ravens 7, 49ers 0 (10:36 left in first quarter)

The 49ers completed a long pass to tight end Vernon Davis on the first play from scrimmage, but an illegal-procedure penalty negated the play and San Francisco went three and out on its first possession.

Enjoying good field position following the punt, the Ravens moved quickly to the 49ers’ 18-yard line on a completion from quarterback Joe Flacco to wide receiver Torrey Smith.

SUPER BOWL 2013 FULL COVERAGE

A San Francisco penalty moved Baltimore to the 13, and on a third-and-four play, Flacco found receiver Anquan Boldin for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

Pregame

Alicia Keys has delivered a rousing edition of the national anthem, the NFL has introduced its newest set of Hall of Fame players and the San Francisco 49ers have won the coin toss.

Super Bowl 47 is nearly underway, with a massive crowd of hundreds looking on at the Mirage Race and Sports Book here in Las Vegas, cheering for Keys’ performance.

“They can’t hear you,� one wisecracker next to me said to the applauding masses.

At kickoff, the 49ers are a 4 1/2-point favorite here and the over/under is 48 points as Colin Kaepernick leads his team against Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the hard-hitting Ravens in the Harbaugh Bowl.

The 49ers have opted to receive the kick and will take possession at their own 20-yard line. Here we go.

---

I’ve always prided myself as a Clark Kent-type of reporter. Mild-mannered, strait-laced, tending to avoid risk.

But that’s all out the window when you go to Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. It’s my third day here, having just covered an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

I know what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, but we’re among friends, and after all, I am a reporter.

So, in a not-so-typical pregame dose of information, here’s a look through the keyhole into some of the last 48 hours, and some insight into the personalities who will help weave us through Super Bowl Sunday at the world-famous Mirage Race and Sports Book.

Briefly recapping how we got here, the daring, raucous weekend started with a car ride across the Mojave Desert with two good friends.

It was something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGP35Vd6qQ.

We’ll skip many of the other details that I’d like to provide here, because this is family-oriented website.

We passed under a large freeway sign screaming, “ZERO TOLERANCE IS THE LAW IN NEVADA.� Good advice.

Somewhere around the state line on Friday, a friend of mine already in Las Vegas who’ll be by our side during the Big Game called to say he’d have to meet us later because he and his buddies were going to Cheetahs. And I presume that didn’t mean he was going to the zoo. Or at least a zoo as most of us know one.

Upon arrival, my car’s other passenger, a beanie-wearing international lover, became distracted by the number of attractive women in attendance at Friday night’s Santana concert at the House of Blues. Las Vegas is all about the beautiful people, but I was beginning to think my friends had been transported back to their frat-house days.

Still, you think you’re having fun when you look around and wonder, “How did I get here?� “Who are these people?� “Can I trust them?� The next day can bring sobering perspective.

The cause is helped because one of the friends is captivated by what, for me, is a typical working weekend in Las Vegas: covering the UFC event, schmoozing with sources and associates, and, in this case, sticking around to live-blog Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans live from a sports book.

At the UFC fight at Mandalay Bay, she remarks, “Everyone in here looks like Joe Rogan.� Some of the fight action was thrilling and Charles Barkley was among those taking it in.

“You’re in the amazing business,� my friend says.

I’ll check back in around kickoff. This should be good.

ALSO:

Super Bowl is all about Harbaugh, Harbaugh, Harbaugh

Prop bets draw casual gambler, hard-core interest in game

Roger Goodell, unlike President Obama, would let son play football