San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) scores on a touchdown run past Atlanta Falcons strong safety William Moore (25) and Thomas DeCoud (28) during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)
ATLANTA — The San Francisco 49ers are headed to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years. All it took was the biggest comeback win in NFC Championship Game history.
Frank Gore scored two touchdowns, helping the 49ers overcome an early 17-0 deficit and beat the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The 49ers now await the winner of the Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots game that will determine their opponent in Super Bowl XLVII. A victory in New Orleans on Feb. 3 would allow San Francisco to match the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only six-time Super Bowl champions.
The 49ers trailed the entire game until Gore’s 9-yard touchdown run gave San Francisco its first lead with 8:23 to play.
The Falcons drove to the San Francisco 10-yard line on their ensuing drive, but Ryan’s pass over the middle to Roddy White on fourth down with 1:13 to play was broken up by NaVorro Bowman.
Atlanta was able to force a San Francisco punt, but the Falcons got the ball back with only 10 seconds to play and were unable get the ball near the end zone.
With the Falcons focusing on quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Gore emerged as the focal point of the 49ers’ ground game. The veteran running back finished with 80 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. Kaepernick rushed just twice for 21 yards, but he completed 16 of 21 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown.
“Man, it feels surreal,” San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis said. “I’m looking around and all my teammates are just enjoying it. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m really grateful for this time right now. It really humbles me to be in the situation I am today. Man, we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
Just as in last week’s win over the Seattle Seahawks, the Falcons jumped out quickly. Ryan threw touchdown passes of 46 and 20 yards to Julio Jones on either side of Matt Bryant making a 35-yar
