Lights back on at Super Bowl after 34 minute blackout

Updated: Sun 9:28 PM, Feb 03, 2013

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Before power at the Superdome suddenly, oddly went out, putting the nation's biggest sporting event on hold for more than a half-hour early in the third quarter, Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, Jacoby Jones returned the second-half kickoff 108 yards, and the Baltimore Ravens led the San Francisco 49ers 28-13 in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Baltimore already was ahead 21-6 at halftime, and then Jones set a record with the longest kickoff return in a Super Bowl, his eyes glancing up at the videoboard, presumably to watch himself sprint to the end zone.

Moments later, lights lining the indoor arena faded, making it difficult to see. Escalators weren't working. Officials stopped play about 1½ minutes into the third quarter, and the bizarre delay lasted 34 minutes in real time before action resumed. Some players sat. Others stretched. Some fans chanted, "Let's go, Ravens!" Others passed time by doing the wave.

This was the 10th time New Orleans hosted the big game — tying Miami for most in a city — and first since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Big Easy in August 2005.

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