Starting things off in the first quarter, the Ravens would force a three-and-out setting the tone of the first half getting into the head of Colin Kaepernick as the 49ers would have to punt. The Ravens started their first possession of the game in great field position at their 49-yard line as Joe Flacco would give the Ravens defense a huge sigh of relief completing a 51-yard drive with a short pass to Anquan Boldin giving the Ravens their first touchdown of the game.
On the next ensuing possession, the 49ers showed no signs of discouragement would fight in a nearly 7-minute long possession all the way to their 8-yard line as Kaepernick had to convert on a 3rd and 8 but would get sacked for 10-yards by linebacker Paul Kruger. San Francisco would have to settle for a FG as the score was now 7-3.
One possession later, the 49ers would soon have the ball again as they would complete 4 consecutive plays for 56 yards all the way to the Ravens 24. On their fifth play of this possession, they would encounter some bad luck as running-back LaMichael James would fumble the ball as Ravens defensive-end Arthur Jones would recover the ball giving their defense a break avoiding a score.
Joe Flacco would immediately take advantage of the opportunity given to him by the defense throwing his 2nd touchdown of the game this time connecting with Dennis Pitta for a 1-yard pass. The 49ers would receive the ball but on the first play following the Ravens touchdown, Colin Kaepernick would throw the only interception of the game as he threw a deep pass intended for Randy Moss as safety Ed Reed would intercept the pass.
With Baltimore having the ball in great field possession at the 49ers 38, they would go for the first ever fake FG in Super Bowl history as they were unsuccessful in the effort. San Francisco were back at their own 6-yardline as they would have a quick three-and-out.