The Ravens, who posted a 12–4 regular season record, became the third wild card team to win the Super Bowl and the second in four years.

Baltimore allowed only 152 yards of offense by New York (the third-lowest total ever in a Super Bowl), recorded 4 sacks, and forced five turnovers.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, who made three solo tackles, two assists, and blocked four passes, was named Super Bowl MVP.

[7][8] However, the Los Angeles bid was dismissed when their delegation failed to convince the owners that planned stadium renovations would be completed in time.

[12] Owners initially planned on selecting only two hosts (XXXIII and XXXIV), but decided to name three after strong showings by the respective delegations.

[13][9] Tampa became the fourth metropolitan area to host the game at least three times, joining New Orleans, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer protested afterwards, feeling that he had been promised the game after securing funding for a new stadium.

Baltimore also had an outstanding corps of defensive backs led by Pro Bowl veteran safety Rod Woodson, who along with Kim Herring, Duane Starks, and Chris McAlister combined for 17 interceptions.

After spending the remainder of the 1998 season with the New Orleans Saints, Collins was signed in 1999 as the Giants' second-string quarterback, but soon claimed the starting job.

Defensive backs Jason Sehorn, Emmanuel McDaniel, Reggie Stephens, and Shaun Williams combined for fourteen interceptions.

In what would be his defining moment, head coach Jim Fassel, at a press conference following the Giants' loss to the Detroit Lions, guaranteed that his team would make the playoffs.

With an explosive defense and a "play-it-safe" offense, the Ravens became the seventh wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl, and third in four seasons, after allowing only a combined one touchdown and three field goals in their playoff wins over the Denver Broncos, 21–3, then their rivals, Tennessee Titans, 24–10, and the Oakland Raiders, 16–3.

Gumbel also became the third person to both host a Super Bowl pregame show and call the game, joining Dick Enberg and Al Michaels.

Jim Nantz hosted all the events with help from his then-fellow cast members from The NFL Today: Mike Ditka, Craig James, Randy Cross, and Jerry Glanville.

The studio set was placed aboard the famous Buccaneer Cove pirate ship at the end zone of Raymond James Stadium.

The broadcast featured the brand-new EyeVision instant-replay system, which provided rapid-fire sequential shots from a series of cameras positioned around the top of the stadium.

[26] Before the game, a pregame show titled "Life's Super in Central Florida" was held, featuring Sting, Styx, and PYT.

To honor the 10th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War, 10 military veterans from the conflict including former general Norman Schwarzkopf were introduced on the field.

Representing the Los Angeles Raiders' win in Super Bowl XVIII was that game's MVP, Marcus Allen, and former head coach Tom Flores.

In Super Bowl XXXVI, the New England Patriots bucked this trend and were introduced all at once as a team; the Rams, however, still used individual player introductions in that game.

The city of Tampa moved its annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival from its usual date in early February to the Saturday before the game.

Although a holding penalty on Ravens cornerback Corey Harris during the return moved the ball back to the 41-yard line, Baltimore took only two plays to take an early 7–0 lead.

First, running back Jamal Lewis picked up 3 yards, then quarterback Trent Dilfer completed a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley.

Then on the next play, a holding penalty against defensive tackle Keith Hamilton nullified linebacker Jessie Armstead's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown that could have tied the game.

After the teams exchanged punts again, Dilfer completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Qadry Ismail to set up a 47-yard field goal by Ravens kicker Matt Stover to extend Baltimore's lead to 10–0.

Aided by a face-mask penalty against Ravens linebacker Brad Jackson, a 16-yard completion from Collins to wide receiver Ron Dixon, and a 27-yard run by running back Tiki Barber, the Giants advanced all the way to the Baltimore 29-yard line on their ensuing drive, but cornerback Chris McAlister intercepted Collins' pass intended for wide receiver Ike Hilliard at the 1-yard line to keep New York scoreless at halftime.

But Jermaine Lewis returned the next kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown of his own, making the score 24–7 in favor of the Ravens and essentially putting the game away.

The Giants would return to the Super Bowl in 2007 and again in 2011 defeating the New England Patriots on both occasions, ending the current trend at the time, but starting a new one.

Source:[37] Hall of Fame‡ The American Civil Liberties Union criticized a test of a system used at the event to monitor the people in attendance.

[39] Tampa police reported that the system identified nineteen criminals, but due to complaints and trouble with false positive results, it was not re-used the next year.