All season long, we’ve been bringing you NFL Gamechangers, the column that brings you the biggest plays that you won’t see on the highlights. These are the plays and players that changed the outcome of the games this weekend, but really don’t get the fanfare or hype that they deserve given their key role in the outcome of the game. Of course touchdowns are important, but these are plays that help to set up those touchdowns and give a team momentum throughout the course of the day.
Now today we bring you the special NFC Championship edition of NFL Gamechangers. The NFC Championship went down Sunday Afternoon in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome and featured the San Francisco 49ers pulling off a 28-24 come from behind victory over the Atlanta Falcons and punching their ticket to the Super Bowl. The 49ers got great contributions throughout the game from the offense featuring Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, and Vernon Davis . However this week’s special NFL Gamechanger game ball goes to the 49ers defense for their play early in the fourth quarter.
As the fourth quarter began, the score was 24-21 for the Falcons. The 49ers had just recovered a Matt Ryan fumble and appeared to be driving down the field to a go ahead touchdown, and their first lead of this game. On a 2nd and goal at the Atlanta 5 yard line, Kaepernick threw a short dump off to Michael Crabtree. Crabtree seemed destined for the end zone, but was stopped at the 1 yard line, fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Falcons. It seemed the momentum had shifted, the Falcons had gotten the big break they needed and would be able to hold on for the victory. But…. Not So Fast….
The 49ers defense had other ideas. They had been shredded by the Falcons, and especially the connection of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in the first half, but played the second half like the dominating San Franscisco defense we’ve come to know over the last two years. With the Falcons taking over at their own 1 yard line, the 49ers were able force a quick three and out and get the ball back for their team. On 3rd and 6 the San Francisco Defense got the stop they needed tackling Tony Gonzalez after just a four yard gain and forcing the Falcons to punt.
This punt from deep in Atlanta territory, and a 20 yard punt return from Ted Ginn Jr. would again set up the 49ers with excellent field position. After a few handoffs to Gore, Anthony Dixon, and LaMicheal James, along with an 8 yard pass to Michael Crabtree the 49ers again found themselves with a goal to go situation, this time being first and goal on the 9 yard line. Frank Gore make a nice run to the right and followed his blocks as he was basically untouched on his way into the end zone. The 49ers had the lead and would never look back.
For this reason, our Game Changers, Game Ball goes to the entire San Franscisco Defense. They could have crumbled after the Crabtree fumble, said “its not our time, and our year playing in this hostile environment” but they didn’t. Instead they went out there, and with Atlanta pinned deep, they forced a three and out and got the ball back for the offense. People will look at Frank Gore’s run as the game winner, and thats true; but this is a team sport and it wouldn’t have been possible without his defense coming up with the Game Changer.
They say that Defense Wins Championships, and in the case of the NFC Championship, that was very true.
Thanks for reading and remember that you can follow me on twitter @lastwordBkerr or get all your site news from @LastWordonSport. Stay tuned tomorrow, as I’ll be releasing my gameball for the NFC Championship game.
Photo Credit: The Bay Area Bias via photopin cc
