SAN FRANCISCO, California
It was an ending so perfect even a disciple couldn't have scripted it.
On a blustery day in 3Com Park the 49ers season seemed dead and buried before being resurrected by Jesus Christ on a touchdown pass from Steve Young, lifting the San Francisco 49ers to a 30-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild card game.
Christ's touchdown capped off a torrid comeback by the 49ers who had previously lost to the Packers in the playoffs each of the previous three seasons by a combined score of 85-41. It was Christ's first catch of the day but fifteenth game-winner of the season.
The pass, which came with only three seconds remaining in the game, was originally thought to have been caught by 49er receiver Terrell ("T.O.") Owens but when interviewed after the game Owens claimed that Jesus Christ was responsible for the catch.
"It was all Jesus," said Owens. "Jesus did it for us. That was Jesus out there today."
Owens was then quick to clarify that it was he, not Jesus, who had dropped four passes and had a fumble earlier in the game.
Other players agreed with Owens that "Jesus was the bomb" but also gave credit to The Lord, The Big Guy and The Man Upstairs.
Christ was unavailable for comment after the game, leaving it to running back Garrison ("G.H.")Hearst to recount the game's final play.
"We were in the huddle," said Hearst. "And He [Jesus] grabs a bottle of Gatorade and finds nothing in it and He says to the Gatorade bottle, "You shall never hold liquid again!"; and the bottle melts away at once. Now, we were totally flipping, right? So we say to him, "How is it that you melted a damn Gatorade bottle?" and He [Jesus] just says, "I tell you this: if only you have faith and have not doubts, you will do what has been done to the Gatorade bottle and more than that, you need only say to this mountain, "Be lifted from your place and hurled into the sea" and what you say will be done."
"By then we'd been called for two delay of game penalties but I knew we were gonna whip some Packer ass."
49er coach Steve Mariucci noted that "Jesus always plays a key role in our game plan" and agreed with Owens that "He [Christ] was the deciding difference in the game." Mariucci also attributed the victory to his team, "doing those things that we've done all year, things that all winning football teams do and do well."
Mariucci also said he was certain they were "being looked out for" by Will Farrell the team's assistant trainer who died mid-season of kidney failure.
Retiring Green Bay Packer linebacker Reggie White, an ordained minister, tried to avoid direct comment on Christ's apparent preference for the 49ers, saying that "no one's perfect, everybody makes bad decisions." White then denied a report that he approached Christ afterwards, telling him he would "pray for His forgiveness."
Other Packers were more accepting of the game's conclusion.
Packer defensive back Pat Terrell who, along with Darrell Sharper, gave up the winning score to Christ said he was trying to "keep Him in the middle of the field where I could get some weak side help. What can I say? One on one I can't cover Him, I mean, He's Christ, you know. He's been at this a long time. And He's doing it in sandals too, you've got to be impressed."
1998 has been a good year for Jesus Christ. Described by teammates as being "swarthy with a deceptive head fake" He has seen playing time for several NFL teams this season, amassing over 40,000 yards rushing, 350 receptions, two kickoffs returned for touchdowns and sixteen sacks. League records credit Him with being cited as the "deciding difference" in every NFL win this season.
