With the remarkable season Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski had in 2011, 49ers TE Vernon Davis's excellent season got overshadowed. Now, he'll be remembered for a long time going forward, especially if the 49ers can win a couple more games this season. Davis caught a 14 yard pass from QB Alex Smith with just 9 seconds remaining Saturday, giving the 49ers a 36-32 victory over the Saints to advance to the NFC Championship next Sunday against either the Packers or Giants.
It was a wild 4th quarter, as there were 34 points scored, the same number that was scored in the first three quarters of the game. The Saints took the lead 24-23 with four minutes remaining on a 44 yard pass from Drew Brees to Darren Sproles. On the next possession, Smith found Davis for 37 yards over the middle, putting them easily in David Akers field goal range with about three minutes remaining. Two runs and a 49er penalty gave them a 3rd and 8 with 2:18 remaining. Smith ran a jet sweep around the left end, got excellent blocks by Kyle Williams and Joe Staley, and ran all 28 yards into the end zone, giving them a five point lead, 29-24. Frank Gore missed on the two point conversion.
Brees and the Saints certainly didn't take their time getting right back on top, as they converted a couple first downs before Brees found Jimmy Graham, in double coverage, which he took 66 yards to take the lead 30-29. Brees then found Sproles for the two-pointer, giving them a 32-29 lead with just 1:37 left, plenty of time for the 49ers, who only need a field goal to tie.
The 49ers seemed to be taking their time, using up 56 of their 92 remaining seconds on their first three plays, gaining only 18 yards to their own 33. But they ran the same exact crossing route by Davis that they ran for a huge gain on their last drive, and it worked again against single coverage, this time going for 47 yards down to the Saints 20. A short pass over the middle to Frank Gore and a spike of the ball left them 3rd and 4 with just 14 seconds left when Smith found Davis for the game-winning touchdown, reminiscent of the famous Terrell Owens catch from the 1997 Playoffs against the Packers, taking a shot just as he caught the ball at the goal line.
Davis finished the game with seven catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team in all those categories. Alex Smith was 24 of 42 for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns and no interceptions, and Frank Gore had 89 yards rushing on just 13 carries.
The 49er Defense also got into the act, forcing five Saints turnovers, including two interceptions of Brees. Only one team had ever won a playoff game when committing five turnovers, and the Saints were very close to digging themselves out of that hole, but it was just a little too deep. The 49ers led the league in takeaways this season, so this wasn't a big surprise, but it certainly helped them Saturday. They also had three sacks on the day.
Brees threw the ball 63 times, the fourth most attempts in playoff history, for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns, but did have those two costly interceptions. Sproles had a playoff record 15 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, Marques Colston had 9 catches for 136 yards, and Jimmy Graham had five catches for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Pierre Thomas left the game on the first drive after a vicious hit by Dashon Goldson at the 49ers 2 yard line, causing the first turnover of the game.
San Francisco will either host the Giants or travel to Green Bay next week for the NFC Championship Sunday. Either way, it's going to be tough to live up to the level of excitement we got Saturday afternoon at Candlestick Park.
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NFL Playoffs 2012 - Road To Indianapolis: 49ers Beat Saints In Wild Finish 36-32
Jan 14
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