NFC Divisional Playoff: "The Catch III"

Thirty years after “The Catch,” the iconic pass connection between Joe Montana and Dwight Clark, San Francisco won another playoff thriller as a result of a clutch throw and catch in the final seconds. This game, also played at Candlestick Park, was a Divisional playoff matchup against the Saints on January 14, 2012. In the first half, the 49ers went up 17-0 on a pair of Alex Smith touchdown throws and a field goal, but New Orleans fought back to trail, 23-17, with under five minutes left in the game. Then, in a back-and-forth ending, the quarterbacks alternated heroics: Brees threw a 44-yard TD pass with 4:11 left; Smith ran for a 28-yard touchdown with 2:18 left; and with 1:48 remaining, Brees, who finished the contest with 462 yards passing, tossed a 66-yard touchdown to make it 32-29, Saints. Smith then drove the 49ers 85 yards on seven plays, the last one being a 14-yard TD throw to Vernon Davis with 14 seconds left that became known as “The Catch III.” The 49ers won, 36-32, but fell to the Giants in the NFC title game. ― NFL 100

Box Score: Football Reference

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