The lights went out and I leaned forward. Super Bowl XLVII, February 2013, New Orleans, and a power failure killed the Superdome for thirty-four minutes with Baltimore running away with it. When the lights came back, so did the 49ers. The Ravens had led by nineteen. Suddenly it was a two-point game with San Francisco at the goal line in the final minutes.

Two trips, two trophies

Baltimore does not lose these. Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001 was a coronation for one of the meanest defenses ever built, Ray Lewis in the middle, the Giants held to seven points, 34-7. Twelve years later came the blackout game, the one against brother Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers, settled by a goal-line stand in the last minute. Final score 34-31. Two appearances. Two rings. No scar tissue.

What I take from it

That is the version I wanted for my team. Show up, finish, leave with the trophy, do it again. Baltimore has the record I would trade four trips for. Ravens fans, you have never known the long walk to the parking lot after a Super Bowl. Keep it that way. It is the only good way to do this.