The San Francisco 49ers have advanced to the NFC Championship game for the third straight year. With the win, Jim Harbaugh became the first NFL coach since the league’s reshaping in 1970 to advance to the conference title match in each of his first three seasons. San Francisco, which has now won eight straight games including its final six in the regular season, had never before won consecutive road playoff games. Their 13th championship game appearance in Seattle will represent an NFL all-time high.
The game started out slow for both teams, but it was the leg of San Francisco's Phil Dawson that put them up 6-0 with two field goals in the first quarter. However the second quarter was much different, we saw an aggressive Carolina team put together succesfull drives resulting in points. Carolina's first drive of the second quarter resulted in a 31 yard touchdown to veteren wide out Steve Smith to put Carolina in front. The Panthers would strike again following San Francisco's three-and-out with a 24 yard field goal from Graham Gano making it a 10 -6 Carolina game.
San Francisco's next possession would consist of trash talk and headbutts, but would result in something much prettier when Colin Kaepernick found his target Vernon Davis on a 1 yard touchdown pass. After the play was said and done San Francisco would be penalized for an unsportsmanlike conduct when Jim Harbaugh sprinted out on the field complaining that the clock was still running. That drive consisted of thirteen plays and lasted 3:36, Davis's touchdown took the teams into halftime with San Francisco up top 13-10.
The third quarter started out very well for the 49ers, following Carolina's three-and-out to start the 2nd half, it was the legs of Colin Kaepernick that bolted into the endzone and put San Francisco in front by ten points. Phil Dawson would add a field goal late in the 4th quarter to cement the win for San Francisco making the final score 23-10.
Colin Kaepernick threw for 196 yards and a touchdown while compleating 53% of his passes (15-28). Wide reciever Anquan Boldin racked up 136 total recieving yards on 8 receptions.
Cam Newton on the other hand had a good game throwing for 267 yards and a touchdown, but would throw 2 interceptions that costed the game and season for an outstanding Carolina team.
San Francisco plays Seattle next weekend in the NFC Championship game in Seattle.