SEATTLE — Colin Kaepernick had no regrets about his decision to throw a fade pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone during the final seconds of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. Though Crabtree was covered one-on-one by Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, Kaepernick lofted a pass he hoped was high enough for his receiver to catch.
Instead, Sherman reached high and tipped the ball to linebacker Malcolm Smith, who made the interception to preserve Seattle’s 23-17 victory and a spot in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.
“I had a one-on-one matchup with Crab,” Kaepernick said. “I’ll take that every time against anyone. When I saw the matchup, I thought we were going to score on that play. I could have put it a little deeper in the corner and give only Crab a chance.
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh preferred to compliment Sherman than criticize his quarterback.
“If that goes by an inch or two, Crabtree catches it for a touchdown and we win,” Harbaugh said. “But Richard Sherman made a terrific play, made a great play, athletic play, batting the ball, getting a hand on it and deflecting the pass.”
The interception with 22 seconds left ended any chance of the 49ers going to back-to-back Super Bowls. They will live with the sting of blowing an early 10-0 lead. Kaepernick completed 14 of 24 passes for 153 yards and also ran for 130 yards. But he was guilty of turnovers on the Niners final three possessions, losing a fumble during a sack and throwing two interceptions.
“The turnovers are the biggest thing,” Kaepernick said. “You turn the ball over, you don’t give your team the opportunity to score.”
The 49ers have advanced to three straight NFC Championship games, only reaching the Super Bowl last season when they lost to the Ravens. The third time proved to be no charm.
“To twice come up short in the NFC Championship makes you realize how hard it is to win it,” said LB Patrick Willis. “You wonder how much more work, how much harder you have to fight to make sure you get this opportunity again. That’s all you can do; stay together as a team.”
Willis said the Niners had plenty to be proud about.
“We fought. We gave everything we had,” he said. “Even before the beginning of the season when everyone was picking us to go back to the Super Bowl, we went through a slump and everybody started writing us off. We just stayed together and continued to fight. So many guys who are home right now wished they could compete in the NFC Championship, so we have to be grateful for that.”