Saturday, June 18, 2016

Ranking The Super Bowls, #41: Super Bowl XXXV

(photo credit: latimes.com)
The Baltimore Ravens concluded a defensive season that was truly historically by permitting the New York Giants just 152 yards, while forcing five turnovers, recording four sacks, and not allowing the Giants a single offensive touchdown en route to the Ravens first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

The Ravens Jermaine Lewis' punt return that went into Giants territory halfway through the first quarter help setup Ravens quarterback, Trent Dilfer, with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley, which gave the Ravens a quick 7-0 lead.

Then early in the second quarter, Giants linebacker, Jessie Armstead, was able to intercept a short pass by Dilfer and return it 43-yards for a Giants touchdown, but unfortunately the play was nullified by a Giants penalty. Following the penalty, Dilfer hit wide receiver Quadry Ismail with a 36-yard pass that setup Ravens kicker, Matt Stover, for a 47-yard field goal with 1:48 left in the second quarter to give Baltimore a 10-0 lead before the half.

In third quarter, Giants running back, Tiki Barber, had a 27-yard run that gave New York their biggest offensive gain of the game, which got the Giants to the Ravens 29-yard-line. Giants quarterback Kerry Collins was picked off by cornerback Chris McAlister on the very next play that helped preserve the Ravens 10-0 lead.

Later in the third quarter, Duane Starks stepped in front of a pass intended for Giants wide receiver, Amani Toomer, for another interception against Kerry Collins and returned it 49-yards for a Ravens touchdown, and a 17-0 lead.

The Giants immediately cut the Ravens lead to 17-7, however, when punt returner Ron Dixon return the ensuing kickoff for a 97-yard touchdown. The Ravens, however, quickly answered the Giants when Jermaine Lewis returned the following kickoff for an 84-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 24-7 lead with 3:13 left in the third quarter. The three touchdowns that were scored by both teams in 36-seconds, was a Super Bowl record.

In the Giants' final four possessions, they were only able to gain just one first down. Meanwhile, Ravens running back Jamal Lewis' 3-yard touchdown run halfway through the fourth quarter, increased the Ravens lead over the Giants to 31-7. Then to make matters worse for New York, Robert Bailey was able to recover Ron Dixon's fumble on the ensuing kickoff that helped lead to Stover's 34-yard field goal with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter, and a 34-7 lead.

Stover's field goal would end the scoring and the game. Trent Dilfer finished Super Bowl XXXV by completing 12-of-25 his passes for 153 yards and one touchdown. Jamal Lewis had 27 carries for 102 yards rushing. On the other side, Giants quarterback Kerry Collins was 15-of-39 for only 112 yards passing, with four interceptions. And Ravens middle linebacker, Ray Lewis, was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXV.

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