San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 Most Infamous Plays in Franchise History
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Seahawks Cornerback Richard Sherman Deflects the 49ers’ 2014 NFC Championship Victory
This one should hurt just a wee bit more than the failed completion at the tail end of Super Bowl XLVII.
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Why? Well, the Niners were in this game — the 2014 NFC Championship versus the Seattle Seahawks — throughout. Yet quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Co. found themselves trailing 23-17 in the waning minutes with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Fans can recall the fade-route pass from Kaepernick intended for wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Had Crabtree caught it, with 30 seconds left in regulation, the Niners could have sealed the game.
But Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman got in the way and deflected the would-be game winner into the hands of linebacker Malcolm Smith.
Ballgame. San Francisco’s season was over.
To add salt to the wound, Sherman’s postgame rant about Crabtree ensured the 49ers and Seahawks rivalry wouldn’t cool at any point soon thereafter.