Nobody thought the San Francisco 49ers had it in them. Nobody imagined their 24-point hole was anything but a grave.
Nothing in their inconsistent season, or in their first 40 minutes against the New York Giants, suggested the Niners were capable of the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history.
But as the Giants collapsed around them, Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens measured up to their franchise’s greats in one of the most exciting episodes in the 49ers’ long playoff history.
Garcia hit Tai Streets with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute left, and the Giants botched the snap on a 41-yard field-goal attempt as time expired Sunday in San Francisco’s 39-38 victory.
“As long as you live, you might never see a game better than that,” said 49ers coach Steve Mariucci, whose job might have been saved. “It’s kind of hard to remember everything right now, but I remember how it ended.”
The 49ers’ rally was the biggest in NFC playoff history. Only Buffalo’s 32-point comeback in a 41-38 victory over Houston in January 1993 was bigger.
