Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 most heartbreaking playoff losses in franchise history

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with the referee after being called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers late in the fourth quarter during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with the referee after being called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers late in the fourth quarter during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) is unable to catch a pass in the end zone while defended by Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed (20) on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) is unable to catch a pass in the end zone while defended by Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed (20) on a fourth down play in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Super Bowl XLVII versus the Baltimore Ravens

The 49ers’ quest for six and perfect Super Bowl record finally took a hit in Super Bowl XLVII versus the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013.

To be fair, the Niners didn’t help their cause by digging themselves a 28-6 hole at the start of the second half, thanks largely to Ravens kick returner Jacoby Jones’ 108-yard kick return for a touchdown.

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Was there holding on the play? 49ers fans will surely answer yes. And they’ll answer yes on that infamous fade route in the waning seconds.

More on that in a second.

Still, San Francisco began to stage what would have been an epic comeback, scoring back-to-back touchdowns from Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore to cut the lead to 28-23.

Baltimore would tack on a field goal, but quarterback Colin Kaepernick would answer back with a 15-yard touchdown run of his own. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s 38-yard field goal put Baltimore up 34-29, ensuring a field goal wouldn’t win it.

And then there was that failed fade route from Kaepernick to Crabtree. Holding? Perhaps. A game-winning memory for the ages? No.

The Ravens went on to win 34-31, handing the Niners their first ever Super Bowl loss.