A little less than two years ago the Harbaughs became the first NFL brothers to coach against each other when John’s Ravens bested Jim’s Niners 16–6 on Thanksgiving Day 2011.
Two weeks from now the two will oppose each other on the biggest stage yet, Super Bowl XLVII, after San Francisco rallied to top Atlanta 28–24 and Baltimore overpowered New England 28–13 on NFL Championship Sunday.
The Super Bowl trip is the first for the Niners since trouncing San Diego 49–26 to conclude the 1994 season. San Francisco has won all five Super Bowls they’ve been a part of, in large part due to quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young—as well as all-time leading receiver Jerry Rice.
Trip number six didn’t look likely after Matt Ryan threw for 255 yards in the first half and the Falcons had a 24–14 lead at the intermission. But San Francisco scored on its opening possession of the second half and then took advantage of a pair of second half turnovers to turn back Atlanta.
Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 233 yards and Frank Gore ran in two scores for San Francisco. Matt Ryan finished with 396 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
For Baltimore, the Super Bowl trip is its second. In the first trip, it beat the New York Giants 34–7 after the 2000 season. Ray Lewis, who had 14 tackles Sunday against the Patriots, was named Super Bowl MVP in that game.
Sunday against the Patriots though, Baltimore took advantage of the loss of New England cornerback Aqib Talib, who exited the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. Quarterback Joe Flacco and company, after a slow start, then took advantage for back-to-back-to-back touchdown drives in the second half to turn a 13–7 halftime deficit into a 28–13 win.
Flacco threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns—two to Anquan Boldin—in the win.
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