San-Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens VS. February 3, 2013 Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana 49ers

David Akers Akers was signed by the to a $9 million, three-year contract on July 29, 2011. He kicked a 59-yard field goal just before halftime in a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on August 12, 2011. On September 18, 2011, he kicked a 55-yard field goal against the , setting a record for the longest field goal made at Candlestick Park.

Akers broke the 49ers’ record for most points scored in a season in a 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Monday Night Football matchup on December 19, 2011. The record was formerly held by the 49ers’ Hall of Fame wide receiver, Jerry Rice. In that same game against the Seahawks, Akers broke the all-time record for field goals in a season, surpassing Neil Rackers’ 40 in 2005.

On January 1, 2012, Akers broke the NFL record for most points by a kicker in a single season against the St. Louis Rams; he finished with 166 points. In this game, he also extended his NFL record for most field goals made in a single season, finishing with 44, and threw for a touchdown on a fake field goal. Akers made his sixth Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

On September 9, 2012, Akers tied the NFL record for the longest field goal by kicking a 63-yard field goal off the crossbar against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The record was originally set by Tom Dempsey and is shared with Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski. Both Elam’s and Janikowski’s 63-yard field goals were made at Mile High Stadium, where the ball has the ability to travel slightly farther in thinner air.

On January 7, 2011, four days after winning the Orange Bowl, Harbaugh agreed to a 5-year, $25 million contract to become the next head coach for the San Francisco 49ers. He succeeded Jim Tomsula, who was interim head coach for only the last game of the preceding season after succeeding the fired . Though the 49ers were expected to struggle in what was anticipated to be a rebuilding season, with a new scheme and many new players as well as shortened summer practices due to the lockout, Harbaugh led the team to a 13–3 record in the regular season, winning the NFC West division while finishing second overall in the NFC and bringing the team to the NFC Championship Game. This was the first time the 49ers had made the playoffs since the 2002 NFL season, generating widespread praise. On November 24, Harbaugh played his brother John and the Baltimore Ravens, losing the Thanksgiving showdown 16–6. John and Jim Harbaugh are the first pair of brothers to serve as NFL head coaches in the same season. On January 20 at the NFC Championship Game, Harbaugh led the 49ers to a 28-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, which sent the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII. Ravens

Ray Lewis Lewis tore his triceps on October 14, 2012 during a game against the Dallas Cowboys, and had it surgically repaired three days later. Sports Illustrated reported that Lewis inquired with an alternative Sports Medicine Lab about treating the injury with Deer Antler Spray, which contains a substance banned by the NFL. Several sources had reported he was expected to return to action December 16 in the game against the Denver Broncos, much earlier than his expected return in January, but he was inactive for the game. On January 2, 2013, Lewis announced he will retire after his team finishes the 2012–13 NFL playoffs.

He returned to action for Baltimore’s January 6, 2013 game against the Colts and led the defense to a 24-9 playoff win. On the game’s last play, Lewis lined up at fullback. The Ravens were not slated to play another home playoff game (since they were the number-four seed), so they wanted Lewis to be on the field for the final play. The move also gave Lewis a chance to do his signature pregame dance before the home fans one last time. Lewis’s final career NFL game was Super Bowl XLVII, after the Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, 38-35, in double overtime, and then defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, 28-13.

John Harbaugh On January 23, 2008, Harbaugh hired longtime NFL offensive coach (and former head coach) Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator. (Cameron had previously hired Harbaugh as an assistant at Indiana.) Cameron was also quarterbacks coach for John’s brother, Jim Harbaugh, during their time at Michigan. In his second season as Ravens’ head coach, he once again led the team to the playoffs with a 9-7 record during the regular season and improved his playoff record to 3-1 with an upset victory over the New England Patriots in the AFC wild card round on January 10, 2010 before losing to in the AFC divisional game, to the Indianapolis Colts.

The 2012 Baltimore Ravens again met the Patriots in the AFC championship game (on January 20, 2013), got their revenge with a 28-13 victory (coming from behind with a 21-0 second half), giving John the opportunity to face brother Jim and the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.