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BALTIMORE — John Harbaugh aggressively pumped his fist when Joe Flacco converted a big third-down throw. He jumped on the back of linebacker Jameel McClain as he ran off the field after a key sack in the fourth quarter, and he gave several of his players hugs after receiving the first of two celebratory Gatorade baths.

And when it was all over, when his Baltimore Ravens had turned a superb all-around effort into a 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in front of an announced Thanksgiving night crowd of 71,435 at M&T Bank Stadium, Harbaugh jogged across the field and pulled his younger brother by 15 months in for an embrace, and some kind words.

The first matchup of head-coaching brothers in NFL history went the way of John Harbaugh’s Ravens as they scored the game’s final 10 points to deliver Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers just their second loss and their first since Week 2.

Flacco’s eight-yard touchdown strike to second-year tight end Dennis Pitta on the first play of the fourth quarter broke a 6-6 deadlock, and was all an inspired Ravens defense would need. Playing a second straight game without middle linebacker and emotional leader Ray Lewis, the Ravens tied a franchise record with nine sacks of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and held standout running back Frank Gore to 39 yards rushing.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs, who spoke during the week about how badly the players wanted to get the head coach the victory over his younger brother, had three sacks — all in the second half — and defensive end Cory Redding had a career-high 2 1/2 sacks.

The Ravens improved to 8-3 and gained sole possession of first place in the AFC North pending the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. They are 6-0 at home and have won 16 of their last 17 at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens’ lone touchdown drive was one of their finest all season as it covered 76 yards in 16 plays, and took up 7 minutes 34 seconds spanning the third and fourth quarters. Flacco (15 for 23 passing for 161 yards and a touchdown) was 4 for 4 for 34 yards and a touchdown on third down during the drive.

He hit Anquan Boldin for seven yards on third and six, Lee Evans for eight on third and seven, and Pitta for 11 on third and six before finding Pitta again on third and goal from the eight for a touchdown. It was the first of Pitta’s career.

The Ravens had a 6-3 lead heading into halftime, but that was erased when the 49ers opened the second half with a 13-play drive that lasted 7:36. A 10-yard sack by Terrell Suggs — the Ravens’ sixth of the night — forced San Francisco into a long field goal, but David Akers drilled it from 52 yards to tie the game and improve to 6 for 6 from 50 yards or beyond this season.

Both Harbaughs spent the week trying to divert attention off themselves and onto a matchup between two first-place teams. They weren’t very successful.

The story line dominated the couple of days leading into the game and the pregame activity Thursday night. When the two brothers met and embraced at midfield about an hour and a half before the game, they were swarmed by photographers and microphones. Perhaps made uncomfortable by the scene, their chat lasted only a couple of minutes before both Harbaughs headed upfield to be closer to their respective teams.