The Korea Herald

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Ravens set up Harbaugh battle in Super Bowl

By Korea Herald

Published : Jan. 21, 2013 - 18:43

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FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (AP) ― Joe Flacco outdueled Tom Brady, throwing three touchdown passes in the second half and leading the Baltimore Ravens to their first Super Bowl in 12 years with a 28-13 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday for the AFC championship.

The win sets up the first Super Bowl coached by brothers, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and San Francisco’s Jim. The 49ers won the NFC title earlier Sunday 28-24 at Atlanta.

The 49ers have been listed as 5-point favorites.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis’ final season will conclude in two weeks in New Orleans; he was the MVP of the 2001 game, the Ravens’ only Super Bowl win.

Flacco had two touchdown passes to Anquan Boldin and one to Dennis Pitta as the Ravens outscored the Patriots 21-0 in the second half. Baltimore’s defense made Brady look ordinary and stymied the league’s top offense. Brady was 67-0 at home when leading at halftime.

Flacco’s three touchdown passes came in just over 10 minutes in the second half. He connected with Bolden for two TDs in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter ― a 3-yarder and an 11-yarder ― after hitting Pitta with a 5-yard strike with 6:14 left in the third.

Niners clip Falcons

ATLANTA (AP) ― Make way Joe Montana and Steve Young. Colin Kaepernick is leading a brash new group of 49ers to the Super Bowl.

Frank Gore scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and San Francisco, after falling behind 17-0 by the first play of the second quarter, pulled off a record rally for a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game Sunday.

Kaepernick didn’t put up the same dazzling numbers he did in the divisional playoff against Green Bay. But he was solid enough to justify coach Jim Harbaugh’s decision to bench Alex Smith and go with the youngster.