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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SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 20: Linebacker Pepper Johnson #52, tackle William Roberts #66 and safety Myron Guyton #29 of the New York Giants celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park on January 20, 1991 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 15-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 20: Linebacker Pepper Johnson #52, tackle William Roberts #66 and safety Myron Guyton #29 of the New York Giants celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park on January 20, 1991 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 15-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 1991 NFC Championship Game versus the New York Giants

So the Giants have broken 49ers fans’ hearts twice on this list. And the first time they did so, the Giants ensured the Niners wouldn’t be the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

After all, San Francisco was the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions entering the 1991 NFC Championship game.

Even though touchdowns were hard to come by in the game — the only one being a 61-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana to wide receiver John Taylor — the 49ers had this bout in the books. They were up 13-12 late in the fourth quarter.

Sure, the lead might have been bigger had Montana not taken a huge hit by the Giants’ Leonard Marshall. But San Francisco was still winning.

And in New York territory, too, with 2:42 remaining.

That’s when running back Roger Craig fumbled. That fumble will haunt 49ers fans’ dreams for years.

The Giants marched down the field and took a 15-13 lead as time expired, thanks to kicker Matt Bahr’s 42-yard field goal. And New York would march on to a Super Bowl victory over the Buffalo Bills.

“It haunts me to this day,” then-head coach George Seifert said, via Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News in 2016. “I don’t know that ownership has ever forgiven me for losing that game.”

We forgive you, George. And we forgive you too, Roger.

Next. Ranking the top 10 49ers playoff games in franchise history. dark

Niners fans everywhere felt your pain.