Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers all-time 5 best games in franchise history

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 9: Dwight Clark #87 of the San Francisco 49ers and teammates await the introduction of Joe Montana #16 prior to an NFL game against the St. Louis Cardinals played on November 9, 1986 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Also visible are John Ayers #68 and Fred Quillan #56. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 9: Dwight Clark #87 of the San Francisco 49ers and teammates await the introduction of Joe Montana #16 prior to an NFL game against the St. Louis Cardinals played on November 9, 1986 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Also visible are John Ayers #68 and Fred Quillan #56. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images) /
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George Kittle, 49ers
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

No. 4: 2019 Week 14 @ New Orleans Saints

For the No. 4 best game in 49ers history, all one needs to do is go back to Week 14 of the 2019 season, then recall just how much was on the line when the Niners traveled to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to take on the red-hot New Orleans Saints in what would be a playoff-determining matchup.

Yet the game didn’t start off well for San Francisco at all. Some botched coverage gaffes led to a quick Saints lead, and they were up 20-7 at the beginning of the second quarter.

The Niners answered back, though, thanks to a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, which cut the deficit. And even though New Orleans tacked on another touchdown, running back Raheem Mostert ended up scoring back-to-back touchdowns to give the 49ers the lead for the first time.

New Orleans held a brief lead in the third quarter, thanks to a 55-yard field goal by kicker Wil Lutz to make it 30-28. But the Niners retook the lead once more, holding onto a 42-33 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Things started to fall apart for San Francisco, though, as quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints managed two touchdowns of their own, eventually gaining a 46-45 lead with a minute remaining.

But then tight end George Kittle happened:

While it’s a new memory for many Niners fans, this one play with Kittle literally dragging three Saints defenders with him into field-goal range on a fourth-down play stands awfully high.

And San Francisco’s game-winning field goal, with all that was on the line, made a huge difference in what was one of the best back-and-forth contests in 49ers history.