Linebacker Ray Lewis wanted to cap his "last ride" in the NFL with a Super Bowl win, and the goal-line stand that clinched the championship for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday was an ending fit for a fairy tale.

The inspirational leader for each of the Ravens' 17 seasons in the NFL rose up with his cohorts on defense to stop the San Francisco 49ers from getting into the end zone on three straight plays from the five-yard line to secure a 34-31 victory.

"The most exciting thing ever was the conversations that we were having at the goal line," said Lewis, a 13-time Pro Bowler and two-time winner of Defensive Player of the Year, who had announced he would retire after this season.