Faithful Flashbacks #13: The Catch III

Coming in at No. 13 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is Alex Smith’s game-winning playoff touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.

Before the 2011 season, San Francisco had not made the playoffs since 2002, and the fanbase was hungry to regain their competitiveness. The years in between featured coaching changes, quarterback changes, and an overall lack of identity as they kept restarting their search.

Quarterback Alex Smith was around for most of that stretch, though. He was a former No. 1 overall pick who had become tied to a lot of the team’s struggles, even if the surrounding circumstances weren’t often ideal.

By the time Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach in 2011, Smith’s career in San Francisco seemed to be reaching its final stages. But the 49ers won the NFC West as they relied on one of the league’s best defenses and appeared to be serious contenders. The divisional-round matchup against the New Orleans Saints was a test.

Drew Brees and the Saints had one of the league’s best offenses, and San Francisco had to prove they could hold up in the postseason. It lived up to the excitement and produced one of the more memorable finishes in recent 49ers’ history.

San Francisco forced turnovers early, but New Orleans didn’t go down easy. Coming down to the final minutes, it was a high-pressure back-and-forth battle. Smith gave San Francisco the lead with a late touchdown run, only for Brees to respond with a long touchdown of his own to Jimmy Graham. That left the 49ers with one more drive and not much time left on the clock.

Smith settled in and found one of his favorite targets, tight end Vernon Davis, for a 14-yard touchdown with nine seconds left. Davis held on through contact, went to the ground, and it all but secured their advancement to the NFC Championship Game.

January 14, 2012: 49ers beat the Saints 36-32 in the NFC Divisional Round on an Alex Smith 14-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis.

This game was wonderful. pic.twitter.com/WSgVAv2ty7

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) January 14, 2023

It’s been called “The Grab” or “The Catch III,” following the Dwight Clark and Terrell Owens plays that came before it. While its exact title is unclear, the late-game postseason heroics from Smith and Davis deserved a spot on our countdown.

The 49ers beat the Saints 36-32 that night. They didn’t go on to win the Super Bowl that season, but that win made the Harbaugh-era turnaround feel real. For a fanbase that had been waiting nearly a decade to get excited, it was the playoff moment that brought the 49ers back.