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49ers notebook: Davis most emotional in emotional win
Vernon Davis scores a first-quarter touchdown on Saturday against the Saints.
JOHN BURGESS / The Press DemocratPublished: Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:07 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:07 p.m.
SAN FRANCISCO — It was an emotional victory for the 49ers on Saturday. And every time the emoting got heavy, tight end Vernon Davis was right there in the middle of it.
It was Davis who delivered an impassioned halftime speech to his teammates (though in a slight fog after the game, he mistakenly believed the Niners were losing at the time). It was Davis who left the field bawling like a schoolgirl after catching the game-winning touchdown pass. And it was Davis who led the “who’s got it better than us?” call-and-response in the post-game locker room.
Asked what was going through his mind after the big catch, he responded: “History. History was going through my mind. It was us against history. I said to myself, it’s us against ‘no,’ and us against ‘can’t.’ All those things. ... It was like a rollercoaster. Very stressful for me, and as I can imagine, stressful for my teammates.”
Davis helped steer the rollercoaster to safety with seven receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage figure was an NFL postseason record for tight ends, and the highest of Davis’ six-year career.
“Vernon is always a big factor in any game plan,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He was singled up a lot today. They were trying to bring heat and play man-to-man coverage. We won a few times with Vernon getting the separation and making the big run-after-catch.”
On the field as the game ended, Harbaugh snuggled up to Davis and whispered something to his star. Later, Davis was asked what the coach said.
“I have no idea,” he said. “Honestly, I have no idea. I will find out in our meetings.”
STALEY FINDS A SMITH
HE DOESN’T LIKE
Left tackle Joe Staley is one of the most affable and low-key 49ers in the locker room, but early in Saturday’s game, cameras caught him scuffling with the Saints, red-faced and bellowing with his helmet off.
“They were being cheap and doing stuff under the pile,” Staley explained afterward. “They were being very, very cheap. I don’t want to say too much ... ”
And then Staley went ahead and embellished the tale. “I think we were trying to set the tempo, and they’re not gonna come into our house and do that to us,” he said. “Especially No. 91. He was being very cheap today — punching me under a pile. That’s actually what he did. Punched me right in the face. Screw that guy.”
No. 91 would be Saints defensive end Will Smith, now at or near the top of Staley’s enemies list.
It was an interesting day for the 49ers’ O-line veteran. He nearly caught a pass that New Orleans’ Malcolm Jenkins deflected early in the fourth quarter, but it bounced off of Staley and into the arms of Frank Gore. Earlier, Staley had gotten open in the end zone on a tackle-eligible play, but Alex Smith didn’t see him.
“I was wide open,” Staley said. “Talk to him about that. Why didn’t he look for the playmaker?”
NOT 0-1 ANYMORE
All-pro defensive lineman Justin Smith had a typically ferocious day, with three tackles, a sack and no less than five hits on Drew Brees. According to 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy.
“In training camp this year, on the cover of our notebook was a picture of him, and I had on there ‘0-1,’ ” Fangio said. “Our main goal from the first day of training camp was to get him back in the playoffs and get that goose egg off the board. And we did that.”
EXTRA POINTS
The 49ers are headed to the NFC championship game for the first time since 1997.
The Niners’ five takeaways tied the franchise record for most in a postseason game.
Drew Brees’ streak of 226 postseason passes without an interception was ended by S Dashon Goldson in the first quarter. Goldson returned it 41 yards to set up Alex Smith’s scoring throw to Michael Crabtree. CB Tarell Brown also picked off Brees.
K David Akers went 3 for 3 on field-goal attempts, moving into second place in league playoff history with 34 career field goals.
LB Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and LB Ahmad Brooks all recorded sacks against Brees.
C Jonathan Goodwin and WR Ted Ginn both missed snaps with leg injuries.
Frank Gore finished with 89 yards on 13 carries, including a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans was not penalized.
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