Thousands send Ravens off to Super Bowl with Inner Harbor rally in Baltimore

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, left, addresses fans as Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, center, and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley cheer during a send-off rally Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Baltimore. The team was leaving for New Orleans to play against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) (The Associated Press)

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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and receiver Anquan Boldin, back, arrive at a send-off rally Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 in Baltimore. The team was leaving for New Orleans to play against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) (The Associated Press)

BALTIMORE – Thousands turned out to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to send the Ravens off to their second Super Bowl.

Retiring linebacker Ray Lewis, coach John Harbaugh and Ed Reed were among the players who spoke to the crowd Monday before the team got on buses and headed to the airport to fly to New Orleans for Sunday's game. The Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers.

Lewis told the crowd the team loves them and the Ravens were going to New Orleans for nothing else but to bring back another Super Bowl ring to Baltimore, where it belongs.

Harbaugh told the crowd that the Ravens have the best fans in the world and he couldn't wait to see a wall of purple-clad fans down in New Orleans.