Early mistakes have 49ers in 14-3 hole to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII

Early penalties and miscues have put the San Francisco 49ers in an early 14-3 hole to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.

The 49ers received the ball to start the game and, on their opening play, quarterback Colin Kaepernick hit tight end Vernon Davis for a 20-yard gain that was negated when the 49ers were flagged for illegal motion. Specifically, when Michael Crabtree lined up in the slot, he was on the line of scrimmage and was covering up Davis. The five-yard penalty put the 49ers in a 1st-and-15 situation and they were unable to achieve a first down before punting the ball to the Ravens.

The Ravens quickly drove down to the 49ers' red zone, but the defense held firm after Ahmad Brooks limited Ray Rice to a one-yard gain on first down and the 49ers' pass defense forced Joe Flacco to throw the ball away on second down. Flacco overthrew Dennis Pitta in the end zone on 3rd-and-9, but instead of rookie Justin Tucker attempting a 31-yard field goal, the Ravens were given a second shot at the end zone as Brooks had jumped offside.

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On the following play, Flacco found Anquan Boldin for a 13-yard touchdown.

The 49ers responded to the 7-0 deficit by driving down to the Ravens' eight-yard line, but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal attempt when a scrambling Kaepernick pass attempt to Crabtree slipped through the receiver's outstretched hands on second-and-eight. Kaepernick was sacked for a 10-yard loss on the following play when Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger beat 49ers right tackle Anthony Davis off the snap, forcing the 49ers to settle for three points when seven was very much possible.

San Francisco's next possession came to a halt when rookie running back LaMichael James fumbled at the Ravens' 24-yard line. Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones recovered the loose ball and Flacco then led Baltimore on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Pitta.

On the opening play of the 49ers' next drive, Kaepernick airmailed Randy Moss down the seam, and the ball was intercepted by Ravens safety Ed Reed. For Reed, it was an NFL record-tying ninth postseason interception of his career and it was the first interception thrown by a 49ers quarterback in a Super Bowl.

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