2002 San Francisco 49ers season

The first season following divisional realignment, the Niners won the new-look NFC West title with a 10–6 record; they swept new division rivals Seattle and Arizona while splitting with the Rams; the Niners lost to former division rival New Orleans. In the playoffs the Niners fell behind the New York Giants 38–14 but erupted with 25 unanswered points and survived a chaotic last-second field goal attempt by the Giants; the 39–38 win was the 26th playoff win in the team's history. The Niners lost the next week at Tampa Bay and coach Steve Mariucci was fired. As of 2011, this is the last season the 49ers have reached the playoffs. It was also the last true winning season for the 49ers until 2011, when they finally snapped their eight-year non-winning jinx.

Week 1: at New York Giants
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
 * Game Date: Thursday, September 5, 2002
 * Game Leaders

Passing: K. Collins (NYG)- 28/45 342 yards, 0 TD, 3 Int

Rushing: G. Hearst (SF)- 12 ATT 40 yards, 0 TD

Receiving: A. Toomer (NYG)- 9 REC 134 yards, 0 TD
 * Scoring Summary

First Quarter-

New York Giants- M. Bryant 29 yard Field Goal (11 plays, 69 yards; 5:59)

San Francisco 49ers- J. Cortez 23 yard Field Goal (9 plays, 63 yards; 4:52)

Second Quarter-

New York Giants- M. Bryant 33 yard Field Goal (8 palys, 47 yards; 1:03)

Third Quarter-

San Francisco 49ers- G. Hearst 9 yeard pass from J. Garcia (J. Cotez kick) (8 plays, 52 yards; 4:26)

Forth Quarter-

San Francisco 49ers- J. Cortez 33 yard Field goal (9 plays, 49 yards; 4:54)

New York Giants- T. Barber 1 yard run (M. Bryant Kick) (14 plays, 77 yards; 6:13)

San Francisco 49ers- J. Cortez 36 yard Field Goal (6 Plays, 52 Yards; 1:49)
 * Scoring Leader: J. Cortez (SF) 10 PTS

Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
at Monster Park, San Francisco, California
 * Game Date: Sunday, September 15, 2002
 * Game Leaders

Passing: J. Garcia (SF)- 27/36 205 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: M. Anderson (DEN)- 10 ATT 95 yards, 0 TD

Receiving: E. Johnson (SF)- 7 REC 69 yards, 0 TD
 * Scoring Summary

First Quarter-

No Scoring

Second Quarter-

San Francisco 49ers- T. Owens 8 yard pass from J. Garcia (J. Cortez Kick) (6 Plays, 56 Yards; 2:37)

Denver Broncos- J. Elam 28 yard Field goal (5 plays, 17 yards; 1:19)

Third Quarter-

Denver Broncos- M. Anderson 1 yard pass from B. Griese (J. Elam Kick) (10 plays, 74 yards; 5:59)

Forth Quarter-

Denver Broncos- O. Gary 1 yard run (J. Elam Kick) (4 plays, 46 yards; 1:59)

Denver Broncos- S. Montgomery 11 yard pass from B. Griese (J. Elam Kick) (13 plays, 99 yards; 6:37)

San Francisco 49ers- J. Garcia 1 yard run (J. Cortez kick) (8 Plays, 67 Yards; 1:35)
 * Scoring Leader: B. Griese (DEN) 12 PTS

NFC Wild Card – January 5, 2003

 * San Francisco 49ers 39, New York Giants 38

at 3Com Park, San Francisco, CA
 * Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. PST
 * Game weather: 53 °F, sunny
 * TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth (color commentators)
 * Referee: Ron Winter
 * Game attendance: 66,318

The Steelers' comeback earlier in the day (36–33 over the Cleveland Browns) was matched by San Francisco's similar late drive, overcoming a 38–14 deficit by scoring 25 unanswered points in the second half. A last-minute Giants drive collapsed when Trey Junkin botched a field goal snap, leading to a desperation heave to the endzone that fell short.