49ers head to Super Bowl, beating Falcons 28-24
ATLANTA (AP) - Make way Joe Montana and Steve Young. Colin Kaepernick is leading a brash new group of 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Frank Gore scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and San Francisco, after falling behind 17-0 by the first play of the second quarter, pulled off a record rally for a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game Sunday.
Kaepernick didn't put up the same dazzling numbers he did in the divisional playoff against Green Bay. But he was solid enough to justify coach Jim Harbaugh's decision to bench Alex Smith and go with the youngster. The 49ers' defense did its part, shutting out Atlanta in the second half and making a big stop in the final two minutes.
San Francisco (13-4-1) moves on to face either New England or Baltimore at New Orleans in two weeks and will try to join Pittsburgh as the only franchises with six Super Bowl titles. It could be a brother-vs.-brother matchup, too, since John Harbaugh coaches the Ravens.
"This is what we play for. We play for this moment," said 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who hauled in a touchdown pass from Kaepernick. "We put in all the hard work and get the opportunity to play on the big stage. So, it's not about me. It's all about the team."
Montana led the 49ers to four Super Bowls wins and Young took them to No. 5. It's up to Kaepernick to get No. 6 when the 49ers play in the NFL title game for the first time since 1995.
The second-year quarterback who runs like a track star guided San Francisco on a pair of second-half scoring drives that wiped out Atlanta's 24-14 lead at the break. Gore scored on a 5-yard run early in the third quarter, then sprinted in from 9 yards out for the winning score with 8:23 remaining after both teams made crucial mistakes to ruin potential scoring drives.
Both times, the Falcons had to worry about Kaepernick running it himself out of the spread option, and they barely even touched Gore on either of his scoring drives.
The 49ers pulled off the biggest comeback victory in an NFC championship game, according to STATS. The previous NFC record was 13 points - Atlanta's victory over Minnesota in the 1999 title game, which sent the Falcons to what remains the only Super Bowl in franchise history.
In the AFC, the record is 18 points, when Indianapolis rallied past New England in 2007.
The top-seeded Falcons (14-4), in what may have been the final game for tight end Tony Gonzalez, tried to pull off another season-extending drive. But, unlike the week before against Seattle, they needed a touchdown this time.
They came up 10 yards short.
On fourth down, Matt Ryan attempted a pass over the middle to Roddy White that would've been enough to keep the drive going. But linebacker NaVorro Bowman stuck a hand in to knock it away with 1:13 remaining.
The 49ers ran off all but the final 6 seconds, not nearly enough time for Ryan to pull off his greatest comeback yet.
The celebration was on in the city by the bay, which is rapidly becoming the new Titletown USA. The 49ers will try to follow the lead of the baseball Giants, who won the World Series in October.
The Falcons were trying to reach the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. They came up short, leaving the 1995 Braves as the city's only major sports champions.
This one figures to hurt for a while in Atlanta.
After a nearly perfect first half, in which Ryan threw three touchdown passes, the quarterback known as Matty Ice made a couple of crucial blunders over the final two quarters.
First, he tossed a pass that was picked off by Chris Culliver, halting a drive in 49ers territory. Ryan ripped off his chinstrap in disgust.
Then, with the Falcons in scoring range for at least a field goal, Ryan failed to grab a shotgun snap, appearing to take his eyes off the ball before he caught it. The ball squirted away and Aldon Smith recovered for the 49ers at their own 37.
"Against a good team, you can't have those of mistakes," Ryan said.
San Francisco also squandered some chances. Struggling kicker David Akers clanked a 38-yard field goal try off the upright, and Michael Crabtree fumbled just short of the goal line, the ball stripped away by Dunta Robinson and recovered by Stephen Nicholas. But, after that big defensive stop with 13 1-2 minutes remaining, the Falcons went three-and-out.
The 49ers drove for the winning touchdown.
Frank Gore scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and San Francisco, after falling behind 17-0 by the first play of the second quarter, pulled off a record rally for a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game Sunday.
Kaepernick didn't put up the same dazzling numbers he did in the divisional playoff against Green Bay. But he was solid enough to justify coach Jim Harbaugh's decision to bench Alex Smith and go with the youngster. The 49ers' defense did its part, shutting out Atlanta in the second half and making a big stop in the final two minutes.
San Francisco (13-4-1) moves on to face either New England or Baltimore at New Orleans in two weeks and will try to join Pittsburgh as the only franchises with six Super Bowl titles. It could be a brother-vs.-brother matchup, too, since John Harbaugh coaches the Ravens.
"This is what we play for. We play for this moment," said 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who hauled in a touchdown pass from Kaepernick. "We put in all the hard work and get the opportunity to play on the big stage. So, it's not about me. It's all about the team."
Montana led the 49ers to four Super Bowls wins and Young took them to No. 5. It's up to Kaepernick to get No. 6 when the 49ers play in the NFL title game for the first time since 1995.
The second-year quarterback who runs like a track star guided San Francisco on a pair of second-half scoring drives that wiped out Atlanta's 24-14 lead at the break. Gore scored on a 5-yard run early in the third quarter, then sprinted in from 9 yards out for the winning score with 8:23 remaining after both teams made crucial mistakes to ruin potential scoring drives.
Both times, the Falcons had to worry about Kaepernick running it himself out of the spread option, and they barely even touched Gore on either of his scoring drives.
The 49ers pulled off the biggest comeback victory in an NFC championship game, according to STATS. The previous NFC record was 13 points - Atlanta's victory over Minnesota in the 1999 title game, which sent the Falcons to what remains the only Super Bowl in franchise history.
In the AFC, the record is 18 points, when Indianapolis rallied past New England in 2007.
The top-seeded Falcons (14-4), in what may have been the final game for tight end Tony Gonzalez, tried to pull off another season-extending drive. But, unlike the week before against Seattle, they needed a touchdown this time.
They came up 10 yards short.
On fourth down, Matt Ryan attempted a pass over the middle to Roddy White that would've been enough to keep the drive going. But linebacker NaVorro Bowman stuck a hand in to knock it away with 1:13 remaining.
The 49ers ran off all but the final 6 seconds, not nearly enough time for Ryan to pull off his greatest comeback yet.
The celebration was on in the city by the bay, which is rapidly becoming the new Titletown USA. The 49ers will try to follow the lead of the baseball Giants, who won the World Series in October.
The Falcons were trying to reach the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. They came up short, leaving the 1995 Braves as the city's only major sports champions.
This one figures to hurt for a while in Atlanta.
After a nearly perfect first half, in which Ryan threw three touchdown passes, the quarterback known as Matty Ice made a couple of crucial blunders over the final two quarters.
First, he tossed a pass that was picked off by Chris Culliver, halting a drive in 49ers territory. Ryan ripped off his chinstrap in disgust.
Then, with the Falcons in scoring range for at least a field goal, Ryan failed to grab a shotgun snap, appearing to take his eyes off the ball before he caught it. The ball squirted away and Aldon Smith recovered for the 49ers at their own 37.
"Against a good team, you can't have those of mistakes," Ryan said.
San Francisco also squandered some chances. Struggling kicker David Akers clanked a 38-yard field goal try off the upright, and Michael Crabtree fumbled just short of the goal line, the ball stripped away by Dunta Robinson and recovered by Stephen Nicholas. But, after that big defensive stop with 13 1-2 minutes remaining, the Falcons went three-and-out.
The 49ers drove for the winning touchdown.
Jim Harbaugh is a tool.
Oh yeah and to Harley H.I.V, H.P.V. Or whatever you mentioned down there that we would never win the big dance down there? Are you kidding? Lmao..WE have history, WE have won 5 Superbowls...So F.O.H with that? No disrespect to all the Hawk fans but pal but what has your team accomplished? A Superbowl victory? Not to mention you guys couldn't do jack crap when you were in the AFC West. Ummm maybe one AFC West title. So you got kicked out lol. Think and know your facts before you speak on my team buddy.
I know everybody is going to hate but YESSSS!! Niners all day long!!!
Lost interest in football after Seahawks got robbed last week, but I am glad the Niners won.Â
 @saturn9 Say what....robbed?  What are you smoking?
http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/jim_harbaugh_throws_a_fit_after_a_questionable_call_gif/12710956
Dammm, lost three players on my ESPN Gridiron Challenge.......oh well.
It seems like all the people bashing the Seahawks on here are from teams that they beat.
Glad to see the 49ers advance. Not a huge fan but they do have more talent than Atlanta. The Falcons seem to shoot their wad in the first half of the game.
...and David Akers missed ANOTHER field goal to the left!
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Go 49ers!Â
 @lakeview Makes me wonder if they will cut him loose. Most misses in the NFL this year at 14.
We did (again) what Seattle could not do. Go 49ers!
 @slappywag Niners will never win the big dance there Slappy. Hopefully, the Ravens will win vs New England, and if they do, San Fran is done. Even if New England wins, San Fran is done. The niners were praying that Seattle would lose to Atlanta. God had mercy that day. :) Good luck in the Superbowl.
Â
 @Harley-H.S.C. Your predictions have proven false so far. And actually, I was really hoping that Seattle would win that game, because we could knock them out two years in a row that way. But, alas, the hawks choked.
 @slappywag Looks like it's on now. Go Ravens. :)
 @slappywag You just played in the NFC Championship game and you have the time to post here about your victory? If I were you, I would be out celebrating with the rest of my teammates.
 @StringerJoe Ah... ha... ha... ha.... what a knee-slapper.
Looks like all the other news companies are still feeling the sting of Seattle losing last week. Nobody but KOMO has reported the win almost half an hour after the game ended. Had it been the Seapigeons, it would have been reported instantly. This smacks of bitterness from passive-aggressive sports reporters.
 @slappywag This is a local news site... Last time I checked San Fran wasn't in Washington... I'm thinking you failed Geography 101Â
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers KIRO posted it at 4:42 PM, KING at 5:08 PM. Q13 still hasn't reported it! LOL!
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers He's probably right about the sports reporters being bitter though. :)
Sigh. That should have been us.Â
 @achoo2 Should coulda woulda but you have a QB named Russell "Field Goal" Wilson...Â
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"What?? Isn't 3 bigger than 7???"
-RW
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers  @achoo2 How about them Cougz!  Might only win 2-3 games per year but at least they beat the Huskies, lol. Â
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers  @achoo2 What are you talking about?  Did you stop watching the NFL after week8?  Last half of the season Seattle had the best red zone to TD ratio or at least towards the top.  Yeah a few missed opportunities during the playoffs but a couple of those can hardly be put on Wilson...Lynch fumble, failed 1 yrd rush etc.  Remind me how many TDs he scored in the 4th qtr in ATL?
 @SoundersCougzBravesPackers  @achoo2 And your Packers are.........where? Oh yea...... on the sidelines watching the games too. lol.
 @Harley-H.S.C.  @SoundersCougzBravesPackers  @achoo2 What do you call 25 millionaires watching the Super Bowl? Your team.