Baltimore, MD

The anticipated rare matchup of coaching strategies between Jim and John Harbaugh turned out to be a battle of defenses, with the Baltimore Ravens proving to have a superior defense en route to a 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Thanksgiving evening bout between the Harbaugh siblings, the first-ever meeting in the NFL of head-coach brothers, was won by older brother John thanks mainly to a suffocating defense that battered 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and their offense.

The Ravens played without middle linebacker Ray Lewis, but Baltimore showed it can still be effective in locking down opposing offenses even without the team's leading tackler and spiritual leader.

Lewis was out for a second straight game with a foot injury.

Terrell Suggs was among those who stepped up in Lewis' absence. He led the Ravens defense by recording three sacks.

Baltimore tied a single-game Ravens franchise mark as its defense unit sacked Smith nine times.

In the defense-dominated contest, Joe Flacco had a solid outing. He completed 15-of-23 passes for 161 yards with no interceptions and the lone touchdown of the tilt.

With the game tied at 6-6 entering the fourth period, Flacco led the Ravens in shattering that deadlock. He found tight end Dennis Pitta with an 8-yard TD pass, which proved to be the difference.

Ray Rice ran for 59 yards on 21 carries in the victory, the second straight for the Ravens (8-3).

Smith threw for 140 yards with an interception on 15-of-24 passing in the loss that halted the 49ers' eight-game winning streak.

The setback also derailed the 49ers' NFC West title bid.

San Francisco (9-2) will have to wait at least one more week to seal its first trip to the postseason since 2002.

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