Saints' season over, they fall to 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO, Cali. (AP) - The San Francisco 49ers have moved into the NFC title game by surviving a wild finish against the visiting New Orleans Saints.

Alex Smith threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with nine seconds left to give the Niners a 36-32 win over the Saints.

The TD caused the fourth lead change in the final 4:02 and pushed the 49ers within one victory of their first Super Bowl berth since 1995.

The Niners led 17-0 early in the second quarter and were up 23-17 with just over four minutes left until Drew Brees fired a 44-yard scoring strike to Darren Sproles.

Smith ran for a 28-yard TD on the Niners' next possession, but Brees put the Saints back on top with a 66-yard touchdown toss to Jimmy Graham just 34 seconds later, leaving New Orleans just 97 seconds away from advancing to the conference championship game.

Smith completed 24 of his 42 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions. Davis grabbed two scoring passes and finished with seven receptions for 180 yards.

Brees threw for 462 yards and four touchdowns but two interceptions. The Saints almost won despite five turnovers.

San Francisco will either visit the Green Bay Packers next Sunday or host the New York Giants.