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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SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 2014 NFC Championship Game versus the Seattle Seahawks

This game hurts for a number of reasons.

First, it gave rise to the Seattle Seahawks as dominant players in the NFC West — a statement no 49ers fan wants to hear.

Second, All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman suffered his gruesome knee injury, which kept him out of the entire subsequent 2014 season. And one could argue he never was the same caliber player afterwards.

Lastly, and most painfully, the Niners lost in painful fashion.

In all honesty, this was a thrilling game. One which then-Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman — yes, we’ll get to him in a minute — called “the real” Super Bowl.

Trailing 23-17 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, Colin Kaepernick managed to engineer a drive to Seattle’s 18-yard line.

But with just 30 seconds left in regulation, Kap’s fade pass to Michael Crabtree (again with this play?) was tipped by Sherman and into the hands of linebacker Malcolm Smith.

Game over.

Of course, we remember Sherman’s epic tirade, going off on Crabtree after the game:

Seattle got the last laugh. The Seahawks went on to easily defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

And, ironically, both Sherman and Smith would soon call San Francisco home.