NEW ORLEANS — Jacoby Jones did it again for the Ravens.
For the second time in the Ravens’ magical postseason ride, the receiver delivered a debilitating blow to his opponent — but this time he did it twice.
Jones, a New Orleans native whose family lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, was a true hometown hero at the Superdome in last night’s 34-31 victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Jones, who earlier in the playoffs burned the Broncos, scored the two touchdowns that dashed the 49ers’ hopes — the first a 56-yard catch at the end of the first half and the second a record-setting 108-yard kickoff return to start the second half.
“That was my favorite return,’’ Jones said. “I told coach, ‘I don’t care how deep the kick is [in the end zone], I’m taking it out.’ All year, we’ve been running those returns up the sideline, so they were not expecting us to run one up the middle. So we ran it right up the gut, right down their throats.’’
Just weeks earlier, Jones helped end the Broncos’ season with a 70-yard game-tying touchdown catch in the AFC Divisional playoff round in Denver when he inexplicably got behind Broncos defensive back Rahim Moore to tie the game with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. The Ravens won in double-overtime.
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After all Jones has done this postseason, you’d think opposing defensive backs would learn: Do not, under any circumstances, allow Jones to get behind you.
“He’s had some big moments for us and made a tremendous difference,’’ Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell said. “He’s humble, he’s tough and God blessed him with a tremendous amount of foot speed.’’
He used that speed against cornerback Chris Culliver late in the first half with the Ravens leading 14-3 with 1:45 remaining and facing third-and-10. Joe Flacco connected with Jones on the 56-yard pass for a 21-3 lead.
As Jones caught the ball, Culliver leaped over him, not realizing the catch had been made. As Jones returned to his feet, safety Dashon Goldson caught up to the play, but Jones juked his way past both defenders and scored on the longest pass the 49ers allowed in this postseason.
“Making that catch and getting up and scoring like that, it was like back-yard football when you were a kid,’’ Jones said.
“I don’t know what happened,’’ Culliver said. “We were just running around in a lot of places.’’
It was the second postseason touchdown catch for Jones, who caught just one during the regular season.
As spectacular as his catch was, it was Jones’ return of the opening kickoff of the second half that will be remembered most.
He fielded the David Akers kickoff eight yards deep and took only 11 seconds to whisk his way through the 49ers special teams to the end zone. It was the longest play in NFL postseason history. Jones had three kick returns for touchdowns in the regular season.
Last Monday, when the Ravens arrived in town, Jones’ mother, Emily, a New Orleans resident, cooked for the entire team, serving up gumbo, jambalaya, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and bread pudding.
Last night, her son served up two of the biggest plays in Ravens’ history.