Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers decade in review: Ranking the 15 most infamous moments

By Peter Panacy

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) /
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Patrick Willis, 49ers, Super Bowl
Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 4: 49ers First Ever Super Bowl Loss

After the 2012 NFC Championship game debacle against the Giants, the 49ers appeared to get all things right en route to yet another deep playoff push the following season.

San Francisco went 11-4-1, which meant a conference championship on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, which Jim Harbaugh’s squad managed to win in thrilling fashion. And that ultimately led to what became known as the “Harbowl” between brothers Jim and John Harbaugh, the latter of the Baltimore Ravens.

Well, Niners fans need no reminiscence of what happened there.

Like the conference championship, Super Bowl XLVII was a back-and-forth affair, with the 49ers falling behind early before staging what was looking like an epic comeback.

But in the waning moments, quarterback Colin Kaepernick tried to hit wide receiver Michael Crabtree on a fade route in the end zone. Crabtree appeared to be held on the play, yet it was never called. Frank Gore never got the touch on those final three plays within the Ravens 5-yard line, which is another travesty.

Baltimore would go on to win the game 34-31, sending San Francisco to its first ever Super Bowl loss.

And it wouldn’t be the last time a fade-route attempt thwarted 49ers feelings in a terrible way.