Niners close ’Stick in style
SAN FRANCISCO — In one emphatic finish, NaVorro Bowman, Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers sealed their postseason berth in a celebratory regular-season finale at Candlestick Park.
Bowman returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown with 1:10 remaining, and the 49ers clinched a playoff berth with a wild 34-24 victory over the Falcons Monday night that likely was the final game at San Francisco’s longtime home.
Tramaine Brock broke up a pass intended for Harry Douglas and Bowman got his hands on the ball and took off. He was joined in the end zone by his teammates for a jubilant dog pile.
“I always say a lot of plays are made when you run to the ball,” Bowman said. “That’s all I was doing was just running to the ball, trying to make a tackle, and it popped up and I was able to make a play for my team.”
Matt Ryan threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White with 8:42 remaining and a 2-yard score to Tony Gonzalez with 2:09 left as the Falcons (4-11) made things interesting until the end.
Atlanta’s Jason Snelling recovered the ensuing onside kick — it went through Bowman’s hands — and the Falcons were driving for a potential go-ahead score when San Fran (11-4) capitalized with one of its biggest takeaways yet.
Kaepernick ran for a 4-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin, and Frank Gore had a 1-yard touchdown run as the 49ers used a big second half to clinch a third straight playoff season and fifth consecutive victory. They put up 169 yards in the third quarter after managing just 113 in the first half as the sellout crowd fell momentarily quiet.
San Francisco still has a slim chance of winning a third consecutive NFC West crown if St. Louis wins at Seattle and the Niners beat Arizona on the road.
During an evening of fanfare and famous faces for The Stick’s ceremonious farewell, Kaepernick took charge as his team made good on coach Jim Harbaugh’s mantra for the week: “We don’t want to be the guys who screw up the final game in Candlestick.”