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Which is the greatest NFL playoff game ever?
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Leading Off: Is 'The Grab' one of the NFL's great moments

By Joe Davidson
The Sacramento Bee
Published: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 1C
Last Modified: Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012 - 11:04 am

You're probably still hyperventilating from the final, frantic moments of the 49ers-Saints NFC divisional playoff game Saturday.

"The Grab" by tight end Vernon Davis on a pass from quarterback Alex Smith – to give the 49ers their first playoff win in nine seasons – surely goes down as an all-time classic and is part of what makes the NFL so much fun.

No one forgets the fantastic finishes in the playoffs, especially with such great nicknames:

• "Ice Bowl," 1967: Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr found just enough footing on the frozen turf to squeeze in for the winning touchdown. The Packers beat Dallas 21-17 to reach Super Bowl II.

• "Immaculate Reception," 1972: Pittsburgh stunned the Raiders 13-7 on Franco Harris' touchdown – after picking the ball out of the air on a deflected Terry Bradshaw pass during what NFL Films calls the greatest play in league history.

• "Sea of Hands," 1974: The Raiders beat the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins 28-26 on Ken Stabler's last-second flip pass to Clarence Davis amid three Dolphins defenders and … a sea of hands.

• "Epic in Miami," 1982: In San Diego's 41-38 overtime win over Miami in the Orange Bowl, the lasting image is of exhausted Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow being helped off the field.

• "The Catch," 1982: Joe Montana found Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone for a 28-27 49ers win over longtime bully Dallas in the NFC title game.

• "The Drive," 1987: John Elway directed a 98-yard drive on the road in a 23-20 win over Cleveland to reach the Super Bowl.

What to watch

NBA, Kings at Minnesota, 5 p.m., CSNCA: Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio might be too much for the Kings to handle after Saturday's debacle in Dallas.

Today's poll

Which is the greatest NFL playoff game ever?

• "Ice Bowl"

• "Immaculate Reception"

• "Sea of Hands"

• "Epic in Miami"

• "The Catch"

• "The Drive"

• "The Grab"

Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports

Weekend poll results

Who would you rather have as your starting quarterback?

• Alex Smith: 27%

• Tim Tebow: 73%

Total votes: 1,179

49ERS POSTERS

Check out poster pages all this week, only in The Bee.

• Today, back page, C8: Quarterback Alex Smith

• Tuesday: Kicker David Akers

• Wednesday: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree

• Thursday: Defensive end Justin Smith

• Friday: Cornerback Carlos Rogers

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Contact Joe Davidson at jdavidson@sacbee.com.

• Read more articles by Joe Davidson



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