Ray Lewis...Conspiracy Theorist? Former Ravens Linebacker Suggests Super Bowl Blackout Was By Design
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Is former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis a conspiracy theorist?
He says something was not quite right when the lights went out at Mercedes-Benz Superdome early in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII.
Lewis gave his opinion in an interview with "America's Game," the NFL Films' special that chronicles the Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 3 in New Orleans. Read more here.
"I'm not gonna accuse nobody of nothing -- because I don't know facts," Lewis said, according to USA Today. "But you're a zillion-dollar company, and your lights go out? No. No way."
Lewis was reportedly laughing when he said it, but he had more to say.
"Now listen, if you grew up like I grew up -- and you grew up in a household like I grew up -- then sometimes your lights might go out, because times get hard. I understand that," Lewis continued. "But you cannot tell me somebody wasn't sitting there and when they say, 'The Ravens [are] about to blow them out. Man, we better do something.' ... That's a huge shift in any game, in all seriousness. And as you see how huge it was because it let them right back in the game."
The Ravens were up 28-6 and Jacoby Jones had moments earlier taken the opening kickoff of the second half back for an 108-yard touchdown. But the blackout resulted in a 34-minute delay and when play resumed, the 49ers took back all the momentum, scoring 17 straight points.
The Ravens ultimately needed a late goal-line stand to capture their second Super Bowl.
City and stadium officials later attributed the blackout to a faulty electrical delay device,.
Asked about Lewis' conspiracy theory Sunday, quarterback Joe Flacco responded: "Somebody else just asked me this from Denver. I said, 'Listen, I'm not against conspiracies, but I don't necessarily think that was one of them.' So no, I don't really concur with that."
The Ravens will try to defend their title Thursday against the Denver Broncos.
