End zone interception lifts Seattle over 49ers
SEATTLE — Richard Sherman did a CenturyLink Leap.
Golden Tate grabbed a 12th Man flag and circled the field with it.
Even team owner Paul Allen made an appearance and gave a victory speech.
The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the Big Apple for the Super Bowl.
“To see all our work that we put in — the mornings, the nights, the weights, all your life, as a young player and in the NFL,” Malcolm Smith said after his end zone interception with 22 seconds remaining clinched the 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “It’s amazing.”
Seattle’s top-ranked defense forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, and Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth down for the winning points. Seattle will meet Denver (15-3) for the NFL title in two weeks in the New Jersey Meadowlands. It’s the first trip to the big game for the Seahawks (15-3) since they lost to Pittsburgh after the 2005 season.
Moments after Sherman tipped Colin Kaepernick’s pass to Smith for the interception, the All-Pro cornerback jumped into the stands behind the end zone, saluting the Seahawks’ raucous fans. With 12th Man flags waving everywhere, and “New York, New York” blaring over the loudspeakers, CenturyLink Field rocked like never before.
“That’s as sweet as it gets,” said Sherman, who also went into several rants about 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree, whom he called a “sorry receiver.”
San Francisco (14-5) led 17-13 when Wilson, given a free play as Aldon Smith jumped offside, hurled the ball to Jermaine Kearse, who made a leaping catch in the end zone.
Steven Hauschka then kicked his third field goal following Kam Chancellor’s pick, and Smith intercepted in the end zone on the 49ers’ final possession.
Seattle’s top-ranked defense forced a fumble and had two interceptions in the final period.
