NFC Championship Game

NFC Championships - Close Games

The No. 2 seed 49ers (13-4-1) defeated No. 1 seed Falcons (14-4) 28-24 in the NFC Championship Game in Atlanta to advance to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. It marked the sixth consecutive NFC Championship Game to be decided by seven points or fewer, the longest streak in conference championship game history.

The past six NFC Championship Games to finish within seven points or fewer

Season Teams Winner Final Score
Source: NFL
2007N.Y. Giants at Green BayN.Y. Giants23-20*
2008Philadelphia at ArizonaArizona32-25
2009Minnesota at New Orleans New Orleans31-28*
2010Green Bay at ChicagoGreen Bay21-14
2011N.Y. Giants at San FranciscoN.Y. Giants20-17*
2012San Francisco at AtlantaSan Francisco28-24

 

The 49ers Postseason Success

The 49ers advance to their sixth Super Bowl with the 28-24 victory over Atlanta and now tie the Denver Broncos (6) for the fourth-most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history.

The 49ers have won all five of their Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX) and have the fourth-most postseason wins in NFL history (28).

The teams with the most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history are the Dallas Cowboys (8), Pittsburgh Steelers (8), New England Patriots (7), Denver Broncos (6), San Francisco 49ers (6) while four other teams are tied with 5.

San Francisco's Winning Formula

San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh has compiled a 27-8-1 (.764) record in his first two seasons (including postseason), leading his team to two NFC West titles, consecutive NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl berth.

Harbaugh became the fifth head coach since 1970 to reach the conference championship game in each of his first two seasons, joining Don McCafferty, Rex Ryan, George Seifert and Barry Switzer.

With the 49ers win over Atlanta on Sunday, Harbaugh (27) tied STEVE MARIUCCI (27) for the third-most victories by a head coach in his first two seasons in NFL history (including playoffs).

The NFL head coaches to reach the conference championship in each of their first two seasons since 1970

Coach Team Seasons
Source: NFL *Won Super Bowl
Jim HarbaughSan Francisco2011-2012
Rex RyanN.Y. Jets2009-2010
Barry SwitzerDallas1994-1995*
George SeifertSan Francisco1989*-1990
Don McCaffertyBaltimore1970*-1971

 

NFL head coaches with the most wins in their first two seasons in NFL history (including playoffs):

Coach Team Seasons Wins (Including Playoffs)
Source: NFL *Active
George SeifertSan Francisco1989-199032
Barry Switzer Dallas1994-199528
Jim Harbaugh San Francisco2011-201227*
Steve Mariucci San Francisco1997-199827
Jim CaldwellIndianapolis2009-201026
Mike MartzSt. Louis2000-200126

 

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 28-24 win over Atlanta and has a 7-2 career record as a starter, including the postseason.

With Kaepernick starting on Sunday, San Francisco became the first team since WASHINGTON in 1986-1987 (JAY SCHROEDER in 1986; DOUG WILLIAMS in 1987) to start different quarterbacks in consecutive conference championship games. Nine teams have started different quarterbacks in consecutive conference championship games since the merger.

With the start, Kaepernick (seven) tied PAT HADEN (seven) for the fourth-fewest regular season starts by a starting quarterback in an NFC-AFC Championship Game. JEFF HOSTETLER of the New York Giants only had four regular season starts before the 1990 NFC Championship Game.

The quarterbacks with the fewest regular-season starts entering an NFC or AFC Championship Game

Quarterback Team Season Regular-Season Starts Championship Game Result
Source: NFL
Jeff HostetlerN.Y. Giants19904Won 15-13 at San Francisco
Shaun KingTampa Bay19995Lost 11-6 at St. Louis
Vince FerragamoL.A. Rams19795Won 9-0 at Tampa Bay
Pat HadenL.A. Rams19767Lost 24-13 at Minnesota
Colin KaepernickSan Francisco20127Won 28-24 at Atlanta

49ers - Falcons NFC Championship Game: A Look Back