The Road to Super Bowl XXXV

I see your return, and raise you one The Giants answer a Ravens interception return for a TD with a kickoff return for a score, but Baltimore has an ace in the hole: Jermaine Lewis. By ROGER MILLS © St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001 [Times photo: Kevin White] Ravens kick returner Jermaine Lewis tiptoes through a crowd of Giants as he heads to the end zone. TAMPA -- As he sprinted toward the end zone at the end of his 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Jermaine Lewis pointed skyward. He knew someone special was looking down. He was sure the little guy was smiling. To everyone in the Ravens family, the gesture symbolized a final closure to what had been a painful time for Lewis. To the Giants, it meant closure to their hopes of winning another Super Bowl title. History will say that on a cool January night in Raymond James Stadium, with one momentum-shifting, heartbreaking return, Lewis united the Giants and his stillborn son Geronimo forever in Super Bowl XXXV folklore. "I just wanted to put everything into closure and move on," said Lewis, who lost his son Dec. 12 and wrote "Geronimo, Rest in Peace" on his wristbands. "I know he's looking out for me. I really already had a message (to him). I was confident that I was going to score today." Teammate Corey Harris, whose critical block helped spring Lewis down the sideline, said when he saw his teammate turn the corner, he, too, felt a sense of peace. "I said, "Thank you Jesus,' " Harris said. "Any time you've been through the kind of adversity that we have been through, any time you have a death in the family, our family, any time you work as hard as we did and go through the things that we've been through, it's all the sweeter. It's wonderful to come back and get the goal." But Lewis' return won't be just an emotional asterisk in his personal scrapbook. It will be engraved as one of the most significant plays in the franchise's brief history. Late in the third quarter, the Giants fell behind 17-0 after Duane Starks intercepted Kerry Collins and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. Desperately needing a big play, New York got it when Ron Dixon ran the ensuing kickoff back for a breathtaking 97-yard touchdown. Down 17-7, the Giants were alive again. The bench suddenly was energized. Their fans -- and their signature white towels -- were bubbling with renewed confidence. Eighteen seconds later, Lewis popped the bubble. "I felt that they were getting a little momentum and were able to move the ball," said Lewis, who never had returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the NFL. "But when you take one kickoff back, the same guys that are on kickoff team are on kickoff return team and I figured they would be a little bit tired and I could take advantage of them. I did." Added Ravens coach Brian Billick: "The emotional swing of the game ... you could see it on (the Giants') side. When Jermaine took it back the other way, it was more dramatic. The emotional flop, even though the points were the same, I think had to be devastating to them." Lewis fielded Brad Daluiso's kickoff at the Ravens' 16 and began a most remarkable run to redemption. He took a few strides upfield and made a sharp cut to the right. With Harris and Sam Gash providing downfield assistance, Lewis dodged and darted into destiny. His return negated Dixon's heroics and sucked the life from New York for good. "I knew it was over after that," Lewis said. "They needed all they could to score a touchdown, and for us to stick a dagger in them right away, that just really put it away." Giants veteran tackle Lomas Brown summed it up best. "That was the big momentum change," Brown said. "We returned the kick and I thought we had the momentum, but they came back like great teams do." Past 14 Days March 16, 2008 March 15, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 13, 2008 March 12, 2008 March 11, 2008 March 10, 2008 March 9, 2008 March 8, 2008 March 7, 2008 March 6, 2008 March 5, 2008 March 4, 2008 March 3, 2008 Search further back Today's Super Bowl story lineup The champions Rockin' Ravens MVP caps Lewis' strange journey 'We're the greatest of all-time' Q&A with Brian Billick Modell savors a Super year at last in a different city Ravens win doesn't improve Cleveland's mood I see your return, and raise you one Ravens defense stakes its claim Columns Mizell: Trent in land of wonder Shelton: Baltimore's defense leaves a lasting impact Fry: QB Collins should shoulder the blame Ginn: CBS' new replay system a look into the future Zucco; For some, it's the party, not the game Deggans: Pregame coverage lacked local images Auman: Third quarter tests Internet's immediacy Trigaux: Ads, not football, supreme in Super Schmooze XXXV The Giants Giants grasp for answers Q&A with Jim Fassel Postgame analysis Dungy a bit surprised by game's outcome Ravens rose on Giants' mistakes Inside the game Super Bowl XXXV by the numbers Breathtaking returns: Starks, Dixon, Lewis Sehorn coverage error leads to touchdown Look familiar? Defense gets ball, offense runs First quarter: Play by play First quarter: Best & worst Penalty negates a big play for the Giants Second quarter: Best & worst Second quarter: Play by play Third quarter: Play by play Third quarter: Best & worst Best 36 seconds in Super Bowl history Fourth quarter: Play by play Fourth Quarter: Key Play Fourth quarter: Best & worst Local impact Big game and week before it seen as win for bay area What they're saying: Stupidity rules the roads Beyond the sidelines Four bars' patrons quaff winnings of Bud Bowl Big crowds, big spenders Altruism? That's the (free) ticket Many avoid traffic nightmares Tickets stolen? Too bad Unusual musical pairings bring fire to day's festivities Area dancers show pregame joy, nerves Corporate America buys star execs ultimate party Some just don't care about the big game On Super Bowl Sunday, the party's anywhere Celebrity watch Brought to you by ...