The Baltimore Ravens won Harbaugh Bowl I over the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 16-6. The victory gives older brother John Harbaugh, the Ravens head coach, the bragging rights over the Thanksgiving dinner table over his younger brother, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The game was expected to be a defensive struggle, and it didn’t disappoint in that regard. Both teams are built on the Harbaugh model of hard-nosed defense, strong running game and conservative passing game. Neither team broke 260 yards of total offense, and the game featured only one offensive touchdown, and that didn’t occur until the fourth quarter on an 8-yard pass from Joe Flacco to Dennis Pitts, but it was enough for the Ravens to seal the victory.
Flacco ended the day 15 of 23 for 161 yards and the 1 TD. The Ravens also managed 92 yards rushing behind 59 rushing yards by Ray Rice, but the 49ers continued their streak of not giving up a rushing touchdown all season.
49ers QB Alex Smith ended the day 15 of 24 for 140 yards with no TDs and 1 INT, and Frank Gore managed only 39 yards rushing against the Ravens defense.
The game featured a total of 9 punts by both teams, and only turnover, as neither defense bent very far and neither offense made the big mistake. It was a solid game played by both sides, and although the Ravens came away with the victory, it was a game that both brothers can feel good about around the family dinner table this week.
The brothers can look for a rematch in Harbaugh Bowl II, which would have to take place in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis this year. With the 9-2 49ers and 8-3 Ravens both leading their respective divisions and both among the top 2 teams in their respective conferences, that rematch an unrealistic thing for them to shoot for.
