The lights went out. Literally. It sounds like something out of a bad movie script, but the score of Super Bowl 47 was nearly decided by a literal power failure in the middle of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. When the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers took the field on February 3, 2013, nobody expected a 34-minute delay to become the defining moment of the game.
Baltimore won. They escaped with a 34-31 victory. But that final score doesn't even begin to tell you how weird things got in New Orleans.
A Tale of Two Brothers and One Massive Lead
This game was famously dubbed the "HarBowl" because it was the first time in NFL history that two brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, faced off as head coaches in the championship. For the first half, John’s Ravens were absolutely steamrolling Jim’s 49ers.
Joe Flacco was playing out of his mind. He went into the locker room at halftime with three touchdown passes and a 21-6 lead. Honestly, it looked like a blowout was coming. Then, Jacoby Jones happened.
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To start the second half, Jones fielded the kickoff and sprinted 108 yards for a touchdown. It was a Super Bowl record. The score was 28-6. The 49ers looked dead in the water.
Then the lights flickered
Right after that 108-yard return, the stadium went dark. A partial power outage halted play for over half an hour. Players were just loitering on the field, stretching, trying to stay warm while the world wondered if the Superdome had a "pay as you go" meter that just ran out of credits.
The Momentum Shift
When the power finally came back on, the Ravens’ momentum was gone. Completely evaporated. The 49ers, who had been struggling to find any rhythm, suddenly looked like a different team.
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San Francisco went on a tear.
- Colin Kaepernick hit Michael Crabtree for a 31-yard touchdown.
- Frank Gore punched in a 6-yard run.
- David Akers nailed a field goal.
In less than five minutes of game time, a 22-point lead shrunk to just five points. The score of Super Bowl 47 was 28-23, and Baltimore was reeling. You could see the panic on the Ravens' sideline.
The Goal-Line Stand
The game eventually came down to a dramatic final drive. The 49ers had the ball at the Baltimore 7-yard line with under two minutes to go. They had four shots to win the game.
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They went to Crabtree three times in a row. Every single pass fell incomplete. Jim Harbaugh was screaming for a holding call on the final play—and if we’re being real, he might have had a point—but the refs kept the flags in their pockets.
Final Stats and Impact
The Ravens eventually took an intentional safety to run the clock down, which is why the final margin was only three points.
- Final Score: Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31.
- MVP: Joe Flacco (22/33, 287 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs).
- Records: Jacoby Jones’ 108-yard kickoff return remains the longest play in Super Bowl history.
What most people forget is that the 49ers actually outgained the Ravens in total yardage (468 to 367). But turnovers and that slow start in the first half proved to be too much to overcome. It was also Ray Lewis's final game, allowing him to retire with a second ring after a legendary career.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking back at this game to understand NFL history or betting trends, remember that momentum is a real, albeit invisible, force. The 34-minute delay proved that even a dominant lead can be neutralized by external factors. When researching historical scores, always look for the "game-changing" moments that aren't reflected in the box score—like a blackout that lasted longer than most sitcoms.
To dig deeper into the stats of this era, check out the official NFL film archives or Pro Football Reference for a play-by-play breakdown of the final quarter.