Ravens Rout the Giants; R. Lewis Is Named MVP

Baltimore wide receiver Brandon Stokley hauls in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Trent Dilfer in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXV. New York's Jason Sehorn gives chase. (Doug Mills - AP)

TAMPA, Jan. 28 -- Fearsome middle linebacker Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens' smothering defense wrapped a purple haze around the New York Giants tonight, dominating with a record-tying four interceptions in a 34-7 victory in Super Bowl XXXV, earning tearfully joyous owner Art Modell and the franchise their first Super Bowl triumph.

The Ravens had just enough offense from quarterback Trent Dilfer, an 84-yard touchdown on a kickoff return by former Maryland star Jermaine Lewis and a 49-yard interception return for a score by Duane Starks before 71,921 at Raymond James Stadium. The win was the Ravens' 11th straight during the same season in which they went five consecutive games without an offensive touchdown.

"To the people of Baltimore City and Baltimore County and the state of Maryland, this belongs to you," Modell said in accepting the Lombardi Trophy he'd waited 40 years of ownership to hoist above his head. Later he added: "There were tears just now in the locker room when I talked to the team. I'm not ashamed of it."

The Ravens became only the third wild-card team to win a Super Bowl, and their defense allowed only one offensive touchdown in four postseason games. Said Modell: "We had come close time and time again, but no cigar. Now, it's the cigar."

With their overwhelming victory, the Ravens' defense also assured its place in the annals of the league's great units. Baltimore already had set a 16-game regular season record by allowing only 165 points, and tonight they properly joined the ranks of the 1985 Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s as among the most menacing units in the history of the game.

"This is the best defense ever," said loquacious tight end Shannon Sharpe, a non-factor tonight. "What a day for Ray Lewis. After everything he's been through, he deserves this."

Lewis, who had been at the center of controversy in the weeks leading up to the game, was voted as its most valuable player. He became the first middle linebacker ever to earn that honor in a Super Bowl, and the seventh defensive player picked overall.

"I'm biased, but who cares," Ravens Coach Brian Billick said during the victory ceremony at midfield. "Who's going to tell me they're not [the best defense ever]. I'll argue that to my death . . . I'm numb right now, just numb."

For Lewis, the game ended a tumultuous year that began with him being charged with the stabbing deaths of two Atlanta men outside a Buckhead, Ga., nightspot in the early-morning hours after Super Bowl XXXIV. Charges eventually were dropped when he agreed to testify against his two co-defendants, who were acquitted. He pleaded to a misdemeanor, obstruction of justice charge and received one-year's probation and $250,000 fine that was imposed by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

This past week, the Ravens wrapped him in a cocoon of support, and tonight, he demonstrated on the field why he is now the most fearsome and feared linebacker in the game.

"We not only broke records, we shattered them," Lewis said. "We did something this season that was unbelievable. Any time our defense goes on the field, and they go three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out, you know they've got a problem."

Lewis went to town on the Giants' offense tonight. Though he was credited with only five tackles, he knocked down four passes and was a disruptive force roaming sideline to sideline all night. He blitzed beleaguered Giants quarterback Kerry Collins or dropped back in pass coverage to clog potential passing lanes to Giants receivers.

He was a main reason the Giants could manage only 149 yards in total offense, two weeks after they had plastered the Vikings, 41-0, in the NFC title game. New York only gained 66 yards rushing, and Collins was intercepted four times, tying a Super Bowl record, and sacked four times.

The Ravens had five takeaways overall and held Collins to only 15 of 39 completions for 112 yards. For the 35th straight game, the Ravens did not allow a running back to gain 100 yards and permitted the Giants to convert only two of 12 third-down conversions.