What a method to celebrate the 30-year wedding anniversary of "The Capture. "
Joe Montana in order to Dwight Clark after that.Alex Smith in order to Vernon Davis right now.
Smith completed the 14-yard touchdown move to Davis along with 9 seconds left soon after Drew Brees experienced put the high-powered New orleans saints ahead, and resurgent Bay area capitalized on 5 New Orleans turnovers for any thrilling 36-32 playoff triumph Saturday.
"This is huge for all of us, " Davis stated. "It's history, renowned, anything you may describe. "
Smith ran for any 28-yard TD along with 2: 11 left as well as threw another rating pass to Davis within the first quarter. Coach Jim Harbaugh's NFC Western champions (14-3) proved that the hard-hitting, stingy defense may still win within the modern, wide-open NFL through holding off among league's most powerful offenses.
Brees finished a 66-yard landing pass to Jimmy Graham along with 1: 37 left and also the Saints seemed ready to rally from an earlier 17-point deficit whenever Smith and Davis delivered once again. It was the wild back-and-forth finish featuring a remarkable passing duel within the waning moments.
Their highlight show came within the opposite end area from where Clark captured a stretched-out 6-yard move from Montana upon Jan. 10, 1982. Saturday's game-winner with a leaping Davis – who plowed on the defender as he or she landed – came within the same end area where Steve Youthful hit Terrell Owens for any winning TD along with 3 seconds left inside a 30-27 wild-card conquer the Packers within the 1999 playoffs. Capital t. O. 's grab became referred to as "The Catch II. inch
How about that one?
"You've got in order to call it the actual grab, " Davis stated of his perform. "We were lower. I had to create it happen to consider my teammates where you want to go. "
San Francisco triumphed within its first playoff online game in nine years and can move on to manage the Gambling or defending champ Green Bay Packers, that play Sunday. A win through the Giants would provide the 49ers the house field.
The 49ers drawn off another last-second win inside a season full of these – and on the day former trainer George Seifert offered as honorary captain for that coin toss. Bay area came from at the rear of for five victories throughout the regular season, four on the highway.
Davis, who wept about the sideline afterward times after saying he or she was overwhelmed earlier by Harbaugh's heavy playbook, finished along with seven catches with regard to 180 yards. It had been the most yards receiving with a tight end inside a playoff game. He or she averaged 25. 7 back yards per catch.
Brees came upward big down the stretch just like he did within a record-setting season, also hitting Darren Sproles for any 44-yard TD along with 4: 02 remaining – among Sproles' 15 attracts for 119 back yards.
"It stings right now due to the expectation level that people had coming in to this tournament and knowning that if we earn here we're to the NFC championship online game and anything sometimes happens, " Brees stated. "That's tough. Tough to swallow at this time. "
The 49ers additionally showed that protection can still dominate within the days of large passers like Brees.
Along with Donte Whitner getting the bruising strikes and Dashon Goldson, Meat Willis and their own defensive mates pressuring Brees as well as forcing turnovers through every angle, surprising San Francisco is really a win away from time for the Super Bowl for the very first time since capturing the actual proud franchise's fifth championship following the 1994 season.
Brees, in whose team was arriving off consecutive 600-yard video games, completed 40 associated with 63 passes with regard to 462 yards as well as four touchdowns as well as was sacked 3 times. He also put two interceptions, his first within the postseason in 5 years, and New Orleans (14-4) dropped short again within its quest to return to the Super Dish after winning everything two years back. The Saints continue to be searching for the very first postseason road triumph in franchise background after falling in order to 0-5.
"Kind of a fantastic game the method it went backwards and forwards, " New Orleans trainer Sean Payton stated. "It's obviously a hard game to shed. "
How far these 49ers came since that 24-3 trouncing they took in August at the Superdome within the teams' exhibition opener. Right now, Harbaugh's "Who's first got it better than all of us? No-body! " group is actually drawing comparisons towards the good ol' times of Montana, Jerry Grain, Ronnie Lott as well as Steve Young. Not to mention, Dwight Clark, who came via with "The Catch" in order to beat Dallas within the NFC title online game on Jan. 10, 1982.
All-Pro Donald Akers, the Niners' the majority of experienced playoff experienced whose 44 area goals set the single-season record, kicked 3 more when this mattered most – through 25, 41 as well as 37 yards.
The underdog 49ers created the big performs on both sides from the ball and upon special teams.
"Guys had been so confident, so long as we had time we'd a shot, inch Smith said.
Additionally they had a towel-waving sellout group of 69, 732 in it at Candlestick Park on the beautiful sunny winter day within the Bay Area. It had been 62 degrees from kickoff.
Who Dat? It is the Saints headed home towards the Big Easy empty-handed.
Last year, New Orleans arrived on the scene West and suffered a wonderful loss to the actual 7-9 Seattle Seahawks within the NFC wild-card circular.
The Saints experienced lost five fumbles just about all season, then gave 3 away Saturday towards San Francisco's opportunistic protection that pressured all day long.
Harbaugh's theme "don't overcook this, " rang true since the 49ers relied on which got them here – probably the league's best protection and special groups.
Brees drove the Saints near to the goal line on the opening drive however Pierre Thomas dropped that fumble as well as was lost for that game to the head injury following being hit through Whitner. Two additional turnovers came upon special teams.
Cruz, the 2005 Absolutely no. 1 overall write pick booed so frequently his first 6 seasons, hit Davis on the 49-yard touchdown pass within the first quarter after which Michael Crabtree on the 4-yard TD strike since the 49ers jumped out to some quick 17-0 guide. He finished twenty-four for 42 with regard to 299 yards having a 103. 2 passer score.
"It shows he's becoming at the very top quarterback. I'm glad the planet could see exactly what he did these days, " Willis stated.
Smith and their offense were determined to create their mark upon these playoffs following being overlooked just about all season, and showed just a little flair of their very own. Davis dunked the football within the goal post following his score to create the Niners' most critical game on the actual NFL's big phase since rallying in order to stun the Gambling in January 2003.
Brees threw 2 first-half interceptions as well as had his NFL-record ability of 226 postseason passes with no interception snapped upon Goldson's pick within the opening quarter. Brees' streak dated towards the NFC championship online game against Chicago five in years past.
But he strike a well-guarded Graham for any leaping 14-yard touchdown catch in the 9: 32 mark from the second quarter, after that had a 25-yard TD conclusion to Marques Colston in order to send the New orleans saints into halftime trailing just 17-14.
Any momentum Brand new Orleans gained had been hurt when Colin Jones pressured return man Sproles to fumble following the 49ers punted on the first possession from the second half. That setup Akers' second field goal from the day.
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