NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers leaves a Dallas defender in his dust after making 'The Catch' to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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Bill Ring of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the 1981 NFC Championship Game (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

1. 49ers 28, Cowboys 27 (NFC: 1981)

The Dallas Cowboys had reached the NFC Championship Game for the ninth time in 12 seasons dating back to 1970. The San Francisco 49ers were playing in the conference title tilt for the first time since 1971 as the franchise looked to reach Super Sunday for the first time. Led by head coach Bill Walsh and emerging quarterback Joe Montana, the Niners had rebounded from a 6-10 showing in 1980 to win the NFC West with a 13-3 mark.

A see-saw affair from the start at Candlestick Park, Walsh’s club made things tough on itself with six turnovers, including three interceptions by Montana. The 49ers would outgain their guests in total yards, 393-250.

Trailing 27-21 with 4:54 to play, San Francisco needed an 89-yard touchdown drive to stay in the game. Walsh fooled the Cowboys by relying on the run early in the march. With 51 seconds left and the ball on Dallas’ six-yard line, Montana rolled to his right and threw to the back of the end zone. Wide receiver Dwight Clark, who finished the game with eight catches for 120 yards and a pair of scores, reached up and snared the ball. All told, “The Catch” helped send Walsh’s squad and the 49ers’ franchise to its first Super Bowl.

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