Colorado University Athletics
Jimmy Smith Helps Ravens Claim Super Bowl
Super Bowl XLVII was filled with more drama and excitement than anyone could have imagined, and former Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith experienced it all. Smith helped his Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in a game that saw a dominant first half by Baltimore, a power outage, and a furious comeback by San Francisco.
The climatic event built onto the recent history of world championship games. Five of the previous six Super Bowls have all been decided by six points or less.
Smith, a second-year NFL player, had told CUBuffs.com last week that he would be ready for the moment GÇô and he was GÇô but there was no way he could have anticipated what resulted.
Baltimore overwhelmed the 49ers from the get-go, forcing two San Francisco turnovers and took control of the game by building a 21-3 lead late in the second quarter.
Throughout the game, Smith made his presence felt as he did not allow a pass completion against him. He had two pass deflections as well as a tackle during the most prevalent contest of his young and promising career.
By halftime the Ravens were leading 21-6 and had their second best first half defensive performance all season. It was second only to when they held the Kansas City Chiefs to three points by halftime in the Oct. 10 game.
After the third quarter began with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by BaltimoreGÇÖs Jacoby Jones, the 49ers appeared to be in a hole too deep to dig themselves out of.
Down 28-6, all the pressure was on San FranciscoGÇÖs second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Baltimore had all the momentum. Then the lights went out.
The power outage in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome led to a 34 minute delay within the game. Yet, the interruption may have been just what San Francisco needed.
When play resumed, the 49ers went on a 17-0 run to cut the lead to 28-23 with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter.
SmithGÇÖs duties involved covering 49ers receivers Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree, two players that have had more than their fair share of success in the NFL.
Trailing 34-29, San Francisco had the chance to claim the Lombardi Trophy on their final drive and Kaepernick was looking for his favorite targets, but Smith wouldnGÇÖt allow it.
On 3rd-and-goal, Kaepernick made a pass toward the sideline where it appeared Crabtree was open until Smith came in at the last second to break up the play that would have brought the 49ers within feet of the end zone and the trophy.
The next play, and last hope for San Francisco, resulted in Kaepernick testing Smith once again as he threw a fade to the back corner of the end zone where Smith was locked on Crabtree. There was contact between both players and 49ers fans called foul, but the refs didnGÇÖt and the celebration by the Ravens began.
In the biggest game, Baltimore coaches trusted Smith to be on the field and he delivered with two vital defensive plays to help his team win the Super Bowl.