What can you say?  The Baltimore Ravens made plays when they needed to.  I being like most 49ers fans was disappointed for a moment. They came so close to completing the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.  Yet I believe the 49ers are far too talented to not get back to the Super Bowl in the near future. With that aside you have to give all the credit to the Ravens. 

First and foremost to their MVP QB Joe Flacco. His hot streak continued right from the start of the game. He threw three touchdown passes early in the first half to propel them to an eventual title. The game probably shouldn’t have been as close as it was if the power didn’t go out early in the third quarter. That did help the 49ers get more time to regroup for the rest of the game. 

Flacco’s poise under pressure was flawless. He made big throws in tight windows to WR Anquan Boldin and TE Dennis Pitta for touchdowns. His trademark deep pass connected with WR Jacoby Jones just before halftime. But two of his completions to Boldin on third down in the second half were instrumental in their victory. 

Jacoby Jones did have a big impact on special teams as he opened the second half with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Some argued that he should have been the MVP, but no matter who won the award it was Flacco’s year. 

Does this put Joe Flacco at the top of the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks? No. Not yet at least. Winning a Super Bowl definitely puts you in a different class. Some will say he won with less talent around him. The same can be said of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has two rings. But does that put him in the running as the best quarterback in the league? No it certainly doesn’t. 

For my list Flacco is still not in my top five, but he’s right there. Either six or seven. Just outside the top five. Another Super Bowl title certainly will make me rethink my top five, but for now he knows that everyone has to start including him in the conversation. Just like Eli Manning a few years ago everyone, including myself, scoffed at Flacco when he said he was the best quarterback in the NFL. 

Now I’m eating some crow, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Just like I did for Eli Manning last year after he beat the 49ers, I’m doing the same with Flacco. They had an amazing run. Things will probably be different for them next year. Especially on defense, but at least they know they have a franchise quarterback leading the way for them for the foreseeable future.