Faithful Flashbacks #16: Big Easy Bound

Faithful Flashbacks revisits the 49ers’ comeback win over Atlanta that sent San Francisco back to the Super Bowl.

Aug 19, 2026, 7:00 AM Updated: 12:03 pm

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In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called Faithful Flashbacks.

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from on the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Coming in at No. 16 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is the 49ers’ 2012 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.

The 49ers had been at the doorstep of truly competing for a Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach ended in the NFC Championship Game against the Giants, leaving San Francisco one win away from its first trip to the title game since the 1994 season. Expectations were apparent with that group, as they had proved they were within striking distance. The 49ers had accomplished more than just turning things around; they had a real chance to add another trophy to the cabinet.

That season also came with a quarterback change that altered their style midseason. Alex Smith started the year, but Colin Kaepernick eventually took over after Smith suffered a concussion. Kaepernick gave the offense a different look with scrambling, and by the postseason, Shanahan was leaning into the dynamism that he added to their offense.

The NFC Championship Game in Atlanta didn’t have an ideal beginning. The Falcons jumped out to a 17-0 lead, and San Francisco looked in danger of essentially losing the game before halftime. Atlanta had Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and enough offense to make a comeback feel difficult, but three scores wasn’t out of reach.

Kaepernick helped steady the offense, as running back Frank Gore also became one of the main pieces of the comeback. The 49ers kept cutting into the lead, and by the second half, they were back within reach. Their defense kicked it up a notch and shut down Atlanta after halftime, giving the offense enough room to complete the comeback.

A late touchdown from Gore gave the 49ers the lead, and the defense maintained it. Atlanta had one final chance near the end zone, but San Francisco got the stop it needed to close out a 28-24 win.

The victory sent the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly two decades. Their run would end with a loss to John Harbaugh, Jim’s brother, and the Baltimore Ravens, but the win in Atlanta still stands as one of the biggest moments of the Harbaugh era.

San Francisco has returned to that stage a couple times since, but has never been able to get over the hump. The comeback fashion they had to secure their trip back in 2012 deserved the No. 16 spot on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown.

More Faithful Flashbacks from Sactown Sports

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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