49ers vs Saints: Alex Smith Rewrites 49ers Record Book, Leads Niners to Amazing Divisional Round Win
Another unbelievable playoff moment just happened down at Candlestick.
But this time, there was no Joe Montana or Dwight Clark. No Steve Young or Terrell Owens. Not even Jeff Garcia was piloting the Niners.
It was Alex Smith and Vernon Davis, etching their names into the 49er lure forever.
Smith hit Davis for a fourteen-yard scoring strike with nine seconds left, giving the 49ers a 36-32 win over the Saints and powering them into the NFC Championship.
The first overall pick in the 2005 draft finally lived up to his potential, throwing for three touchdowns and running for one. The defense forced five turnovers, two of them interceptions.
Early on, San Francisco led 17-0, and with the top-ranked defense in the NFL, they looked poised to hold on and win. However, Brees and the Saints rallied, and in the second quarter, Brees hit Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston for touchdowns, and the score was 17-14.
San Francisco, who were known for field goals, were able to score touchdowns early, as Smith hit Davis for a 49-yard strike and Michael Crabtree caught a 4-yard pass from Smith, set up by a Dashon Goldson interception.
However, in the third quarter, they couldn't convert. Darren Sproles fumbled a punt, and the 49ers got the ball in field goal range.
A touchdown was the expectation, but the 49ers could only manage a field goal, which left the Saints a touchdown away from the lead.
Brees was able to lead the Saints across midfield, which he did a lot, and he got them a field goal, but San Francisco still owned the lead. Brees needed to come through with a big play.
Instead, he met the San Francisco defense, who sacked him once and forced a bad throw once, forcing a punt. San Francisco had the ball, the lead, and the momentum.
Frank Gore added to that.
Gore broke free up the middle for 42 yards, setting San Francisco up at the New Orleans 22. A touchdown would make the score 27-17, but that wouldn't happen.
Instead, kicker David Akers trotted on to the field, and he made his 46th field goal, adding on to his record and the 49ers lead, making it 23-17.
The game was in the hands of Drew Brees, and the 49ers defense. Not a good thing for San Francisco.
Brees converted on a 3rd and 9, and then led the Saints march into San Francisco territory. And before we knew it, Brees found Sproles for a 43-yard touchdown, which turned from a screen to a touchdown, following a juke and a block.
With 4:02 left, the "bust" Alex Smith got the ball. 1 minute, 51 seconds later, he had delivered the biggest play of his life to date. To date.
Smith hit Vernon Davis on a long pass to the 30 yard line, and San Fran was set up for a 3rd and 3 when a penalty was called, and a timeout was called. It looked like the 49ers needed a field goal and a defensive stand.
Instead, Smith made magic happen. With his feet.
On third and eight, Jim Harbaugh called for a quarterback run left. Smith took the snap and took off, picked up a downfield block, and raced into the end zone to give San Francisco the lead.
One problem: Drew Brees got the ball, down 5 (29-24, 49ers missed 2-point conversion) with 2:11 left. Brees only needed 34 seconds.
It was 1st and 10 at the Saints 34. Brees looked deep for Graham, who went up and caught the ball. He shook off a tackler, picked up a block, and refused to go down when Carlos Rogers tried to bring him down.
2 points later, San Francisco trailed 32-29.
Alex Smith had 1:37 left and the moment every quarterback dreams of within reach. He made it closer when he hit Vernon Davis for a 47-yard gain.
Davis got open over the middle, and Smith hit him right on the numbers before Davis ran down to the 20. Smith then found Gore for six yards, and spiked the ball.
3rd and 4 at the New Orleans 14. Nine seconds left. One play for Alex Smith to win the game.
Harbaugh called for Davis to run the same slant route that got him 47 yards, just from the opposite side. Smith saw Davis and released the throw right when Davis made his cut and got behind Scott Shanle.
Davis turned, looked, laid his fingers on the ball and brought the ball into his body.
Even a collision with Roman Harper couldn't stop Davis. He won the game for the 49ers.
Now, Smith and Davis are right up there with The Catch, The Catch II, and The Comeback. They made The Grab.
The grab that sent San Francisco past New Orleans and into the NFC Championship.
But this time, there was no Joe Montana or Dwight Clark. No Steve Young or Terrell Owens. Not even Jeff Garcia was piloting the Niners.
It was Alex Smith and Vernon Davis, etching their names into the 49er lure forever.
Smith hit Davis for a fourteen-yard scoring strike with nine seconds left, giving the 49ers a 36-32 win over the Saints and powering them into the NFC Championship.
The first overall pick in the 2005 draft finally lived up to his potential, throwing for three touchdowns and running for one. The defense forced five turnovers, two of them interceptions.
Early on, San Francisco led 17-0, and with the top-ranked defense in the NFL, they looked poised to hold on and win. However, Brees and the Saints rallied, and in the second quarter, Brees hit Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston for touchdowns, and the score was 17-14.
San Francisco, who were known for field goals, were able to score touchdowns early, as Smith hit Davis for a 49-yard strike and Michael Crabtree caught a 4-yard pass from Smith, set up by a Dashon Goldson interception.
However, in the third quarter, they couldn't convert. Darren Sproles fumbled a punt, and the 49ers got the ball in field goal range.
A touchdown was the expectation, but the 49ers could only manage a field goal, which left the Saints a touchdown away from the lead.
Brees was able to lead the Saints across midfield, which he did a lot, and he got them a field goal, but San Francisco still owned the lead. Brees needed to come through with a big play.
Instead, he met the San Francisco defense, who sacked him once and forced a bad throw once, forcing a punt. San Francisco had the ball, the lead, and the momentum.
Frank Gore added to that.
Gore broke free up the middle for 42 yards, setting San Francisco up at the New Orleans 22. A touchdown would make the score 27-17, but that wouldn't happen.
Instead, kicker David Akers trotted on to the field, and he made his 46th field goal, adding on to his record and the 49ers lead, making it 23-17.
The game was in the hands of Drew Brees, and the 49ers defense. Not a good thing for San Francisco.
Brees converted on a 3rd and 9, and then led the Saints march into San Francisco territory. And before we knew it, Brees found Sproles for a 43-yard touchdown, which turned from a screen to a touchdown, following a juke and a block.
With 4:02 left, the "bust" Alex Smith got the ball. 1 minute, 51 seconds later, he had delivered the biggest play of his life to date. To date.
Smith hit Vernon Davis on a long pass to the 30 yard line, and San Fran was set up for a 3rd and 3 when a penalty was called, and a timeout was called. It looked like the 49ers needed a field goal and a defensive stand.
Instead, Smith made magic happen. With his feet.
On third and eight, Jim Harbaugh called for a quarterback run left. Smith took the snap and took off, picked up a downfield block, and raced into the end zone to give San Francisco the lead.
One problem: Drew Brees got the ball, down 5 (29-24, 49ers missed 2-point conversion) with 2:11 left. Brees only needed 34 seconds.
It was 1st and 10 at the Saints 34. Brees looked deep for Graham, who went up and caught the ball. He shook off a tackler, picked up a block, and refused to go down when Carlos Rogers tried to bring him down.
2 points later, San Francisco trailed 32-29.
Alex Smith had 1:37 left and the moment every quarterback dreams of within reach. He made it closer when he hit Vernon Davis for a 47-yard gain.
Davis got open over the middle, and Smith hit him right on the numbers before Davis ran down to the 20. Smith then found Gore for six yards, and spiked the ball.
3rd and 4 at the New Orleans 14. Nine seconds left. One play for Alex Smith to win the game.
Harbaugh called for Davis to run the same slant route that got him 47 yards, just from the opposite side. Smith saw Davis and released the throw right when Davis made his cut and got behind Scott Shanle.
Davis turned, looked, laid his fingers on the ball and brought the ball into his body.
Even a collision with Roman Harper couldn't stop Davis. He won the game for the 49ers.
Now, Smith and Davis are right up there with The Catch, The Catch II, and The Comeback. They made The Grab.
The grab that sent San Francisco past New Orleans and into the NFC Championship.
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