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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Alex Smith, 49ers
Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 2012 NFC Divisional Game vs. New Orleans Saints

The 49ers and Saints have had some insane games over the years. And while the 2019 regular-season contest was one to remember, it’s easy to point out just how much more nuts the 2012 NFC Divisional round was between these two franchises.

San Francisco got off to a hot start and led 14-0 after the first quarter. But Drew Brees, doing Brees-like things, quickly ended that deficit with two New Orleans touchdowns in the second quarter against a lone Niners field goal.

The 49ers held a 20-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, and up to that point, this contest appeared like a good, hard-fought playoff bout. Nothing more.

But that fourth quarter… well, the last four minutes of it. That’s where insanity kicked in.

New Orleans took a 24-23 lead with just over four minutes left. Then quarterback Alex Smith‘s epic 28-yard rush down the left sidelines with left tackle Joe Staley throwing lead blocks looked to be the back-breaker, giving the Niners the lead again.

Until Brees hit tight end Jimmy Graham for a go-ahead 66-yard touchdown, which looked like the Saints’ own dagger to San Francisco’s hopes.

Except the “Vernon Post” happened on the 49ers’ following drive:

While “The Catch III” was enough to put this contest on the list, the wildness of the last four minutes puts this epic game in the No. 2 spot in Niner Noise’s all-time game list.