In a game that featured a matchup of one of the best offenses in the league against one of the best defenses, the 49ers held off a late surge by the Saints to with 36-32 and advance to the NFC Championship game. While there was solid defense throughout most of the game, the game featured one of the most thrilling final five minutes in playoff history, as there were four lead changes in the last 4:02. The final drive brought back memories of Joe Montana and The Drive.
The 49ers capitalized on 5 Saints turnovers throughout the game, but weren’t able to build a big enough league to hold off the Drew Brees and the Saints. The 49ers jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter on two Alex Smith TD passes – a 49-yarder to Vernon Davis and 4-yard pass to Michael Crabtree.
The Saints stormed back in the second quarter to cut the lead to 17-14 as Drew Brees answered with two TDs of his own – a 14-yarder to Jimmy Graham and a 25-yarder to Marques Colston. The teams traded field goals as they entered the final minutes of the game with San Francisco clinging to a 23-17 lead.
Brees got the ball with 7:36 left in the game, and led the Saints down the field. The Saints quick strike offense did just that, as they scored a TD on a 44-yard pass from Brees to Sproles, who sliced through the secondary to give the Saints the lead 24-23 with 4:02 left in the game. There was plenty of time left for the 49ers. Actually, there was time left for another three lead changes.
The 49ers scored quickly following a key 37-yard pass Smith to Davis, which got them down to the Saints 33 yard line. On a gutsy call on third-and-8 from the 28, Alex Smith ran the ball in on a naked bootleg, tip-toeing down the sidelines, to put the 49ers up 29-24, after a missed two point conversion, with 2:11 left in the game.
Again, the Saints high powered offense answered back, taking the lead back on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Jimmy Graham. The Saints also converted the two-point conversion to go ahead 32-29, but they scored so quickly that there was 1:37 left on the clock. Certainly enough time for the Montana and Young-led 49ers teams, but could Alex Smith rally the 49ers one final time?
With key passes to Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, Smith efficiently moved the 49ers down the field. Davis carried the bulk of the load on the final drive, with a key 47-yard reception to put the 49ers on the Saints 20-yard line, and then Smith hit Davis on the game winning touchdown from 14 yards out with just 0:09 left. Davis was nailed as he caught the ball just across the goal line, but held on for the game winning catch. He ran to the sidelines with tears of happiness running down his face to hug head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has brought last year’s 6-10 team to the NFC Championship Game.
Smith accounted for 4 scores, and finished the game 24 of 42 for 299 yards and 3 TDs, plus he ran once for the 28-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Vernon Davis carried the bulk of the load in the passing game, catching 7 balls for 180 yards and 2 TDs, including the game winner.
San Francisco also amassed 143 yards rushing, behind 89 yards on 13 carries by Gore.
Drew Brees was far from shut out, and did rally the team to take the lead twice in the final 5 minutes of the game. He finished 40 of 63 for 462 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. The Saints sixth ranked rushing attack was held to just 37 yards on 14 carries, or 2.6 yards per attempt.
The 49ers will face the winner of the Giants-Packers game on Sunday for the opportunity to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
