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I know, it's not the deepest statement ever penned, but it's true in sports. The deeper your team goes into the playoffs, the harder the emotional fall when they lose. Fans of the San Francisco 49ers know this pain all too well.
On one hand, it's a good thing that this fanbase has had so much to cheer for over the years. But on the other hand, some painful losses have stayed with us for decades. And it's true that the season only ends joyfully for one team. All the other teams see their season end in disappointment. But some losses hurt more than others.
The 49ers' loss on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game was another heart-breaker. Not only did the team lose out on a great opportunity to win a sixth title, but the loss also came at the hands of the hated Los Angeles Rams. Now, 49ers fans have to watch a division rival get the chance to do what the 49ers should have been doing...playing for the chance at another Lombardi trophy.
What makes one loss more painful than another? I've already mentioned one thing—losing in later rounds. The further you advance, the more it hurts when you lose.
- Losing to a team you know you should have beaten. Nothing is worse than losing to a team you know you're better than. (Like in Super Bowl XLVII)
- Losing when you were so close to winning. Again, the closer you get to the top, the more painful the fall. (Super Bowl LIV anyone?)
- Getting the rug pulled out from under you. By this, I'm talking about when you're close to pulling it out, and then something happens out of nowhere to bring about defeat. (Think Kyle Williams)
- Making too many self-destructing plays. This is when you beat yourself by making too many mistakes. (Like Sunday!)
There have been plenty of painful postseason losses in San Francisco 49ers' history. Here are the five most painful to me:
1990 NFC Championship Game
Played in January 1991, the 49ers had a chance to do what no NFL team had ever done—win the Super Bowl three consecutive seasons.
It was a close game against a familiar foe, the New York Giants. These two teams had met in the playoffs in the 80's four times, with each team knocking the other team out of the postseason twice. But this was in a conference championship game, for a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
Then on 3rd and 10, from their 23-yard line, Joe Montana was flushed to his right. He evaded one defender but was hit hard in the back by Giants defensive lineman, Leonard Marshall. It was a brutal hit that forced a fumble, though San Francisco retained possession. The hit forced Montana from the game and gave the ball back to New York.
Following a fake punt, that picked up the first down and moved the Giants into field goal range, New York was able to move even closer, bringing the score to 13-12.
Steve Young, who was the first one off the bench to check on Montana, would come into the game at quarterback. And with around four minutes left in the game, Young hit tight end Brent Jones with a 25-yard gain to midfield. Two runs by Roger Craig had things looking as though the 49ers were going to advance to the Super Bowl.
But then the unthinkable happened. On first down from the 40-yard line, Craig fumbled the ball. Lawrence Taylor recovered. And the Giants moved down the field to kick the game-winning field goal. The final score was 15-13.
1992 NFC Championship Game
This game featured the perennial powerhouse 49ers and the up-and-coming Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were a scary team to face, but they were young and considered not quite ready to knock off the 49ers. But that's not how it turned out.
On a muddy and sloppy field at Candlestick Park, Jimmy Johnson's young Dallas team did what no one expected them to.
It looked like the 49ers would take control early when Steve Young hit Jerry Rice for a long touchdown pass. But a penalty nullified the touchdown, and things never went the 49ers' way after that. The game was close until Dallas scored a late touchdown to go up 30-20.
This one was really painful for two reasons. First, the 49ers were better than the Cowboys that year. Even Johnson admits as much.
Someone told me after the game that the 49ers would have won if Montana was in there. But I don't know that I believe that. Young was running for his life for much of the game. I'm not sure Montana would have fared any better. If you recall, Charles Haley now played for the Cowboys.
Would Haley have rushed the passer with as much fire if Montana had been the quarterback? He loved Montana, and for some reason, hated Young. But I'm guessing that wouldn't have mattered. He still would have rushed with the same ferocity. I do remember hearing Cowboys' players saying they were relieved Montana didn't enter the game.
Nonetheless, it was sad to see the 49ers go down, with Montana on the bench, knowing that would be his last game with the 49ers.
2011 NFC Championship Game
Mention the 2011 NFC Championship Game, and fans automatically think two words: Kyle Williams.
Then in overtime, a muffed punt by Williams would ultimately cost the 49ers the game, setting up the game-winning field goal by Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes.
This is why fans think of Williams. But what we seem to forget is that the 49ers' offense, especially its passing game, was not very effective. If you take away Vernon Davis' first-quarter 73-yard touchdown reception from Alex Smith, the 49ers only had 105 yards passing. And 28 of those yards came on a second Davis touchdown reception.
The 49ers' receivers were invisible that game. Michael Crabtree had the only catch from a wide receiver, for an astonishing three yards. But it was Williams who made two huge late-game mistakes, and as a result, that's what we remember.
The 49ers' defense was amazing that day. Everyone remembers Giants quarterback Eli Manning getting up after one play, with his helmet twisted in the wrong direction.
Super Bowl XLVII
The 49ers don't lose Super Bowls. That's what we were all saying going into this Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens.
This game felt good to get to after being spoiled by a 20-year dynasty that won five Super Bowls—it had been a long time (18 years) since the 49ers had played in the big game. But now the 49ers were back as one of the NFL's best teams. There's no way they lose a Super Bowl game. Right?
After just one quarter, the 49ers trailed 7-3. However, the second quarter and early third quarter would prove to be more than the team could overcome. The 49ers trailed at the half 21-6, although it felt like it was worse at the time. When Jacoby Jones returned the second-half opening kick for a touchdown, to give the Ravens a 28-6 lead, it suddenly felt like the score reflected the feeling of the game—it was a blowout.
Not only were we stunned to be losing a Super Bowl, but we were getting embarrassed. This was not what I was expecting. To me, the 49ers were better than the Ravens. And I still believe that to this day. But it was Baltimore's day. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco consistently escaped pressure and just tossed up prayers. Wide receiver Anquan Bolden answered those prayers over and over, making several huge catches.
San Francisco mounted a comeback, that had it been completed, would have been the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, at that time.
The 49ers scored 17 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter to close the gap, trailing 28-23. After the Ravens took a 31-23 lead with a 4th quarter field goal, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick scored on a 15-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 31-29.
Trailing by only two points, all the momentum was with the 49ers. If they could stop the Ravens on their next possession, a field goal could win it for the 49ers. But the Ravens made enough plays to get into field goal range and extended their lead to 34-29. It would now take a touchdown to win it.
With just about four minutes remaining, Kaepernick had the chance to lead his team to victory. He had a great Super Bowl, other than an interception that was thrown too high for wide receiver Randy Moss to catch (though many say Moss might have been able to keep the ball from being picked, had he even tried to catch it). Kaepernick finished the game with 302 yards passing to go along with 62 yards rushing.
This one hurt. The further you advance, the more it hurts when you lose. This was the first time the 49ers would lose a Super Bowl. Sadly, it wouldn't be the last.
Super Bowl LIV
I don't feel like talking about this one. It's still too fresh, even two years later. The further you advance, the more it hurts when you lose. Have I mentioned that?
And we all know what happened, especially that 44-yard gain to Tyreek Hill on 3rd and 15. The 49ers gave up a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, allowing the Kansas City Cheifs to score three touchdowns in the final 6:13.
To have a 10-point lead with seven minutes left, and still lose, hurts—when you're so close you can taste it, and then it gets ripped away from you.
Honorable mention
- The 1983 NFC Championship Game loss in Washington. The 49ers fell short despite coming back to tie it after trailing 21-0.
- The 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff loss to Minnesota. The 49ers should have won that game by 50. Instead, it was a huge upset in the NFL.
- The 2013 NFC Championship Game loss in Seattle. Enough said.
So what is your most painful 49ers postseason loss? Did I mention it above? Or was there another I didn't mention? Come on, get it off your chest. It's good therapy. Everyone knows the further you advance, the more it hurts when you lose.
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
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