The Tip (American football)

{{Redirect|Immaculate Deflection|the 1983 college football play|Egg Bowl}}

{{Infobox NFL game

| type = NFC Championship Game

| title = The Tip

| name = 2013 NFC Championship Game

| full_name =

| image = File:CenturyLink Field panorama 2016.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = CenturyLink Field (now Lumen Field), the site of the game, in 2014

| visitor = San Francisco 49ers

| visitor_abbr = SF

| visitor_record = 12–4

| visitor_coach = Jim Harbaugh

| visitor_place = 5

| home = Seattle Seahawks

| home_abbr = SEA

| home_record = 13–3

| home_coach = Pete Carroll

| home_place = 1

| visitor_qtr1 = 3

| visitor_qtr2 = 7

| visitor_qtr3 = 7

| visitor_qtr4 = 0

| home_qtr1 = 0

| home_qtr2 = 3

| home_qtr3 = 10

| home_qtr4 = 10

| date = January 19, 2014, 3:42 PM PST

| stadium = CenturyLink Field

| city = Seattle, Washington

| attendance = 68,454

| odds = Seahawks by 4{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201401190sea.htm|title=NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks - January 19th, 2014|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}

| MVP =

| anthem =

| coin_toss =

| referee = Gene Steratore

| HOFers =

| halftime =

| network = Fox

| announcers = Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver, and Erin Andrews

| rating =

| share =

| commercial =

| radio =

| radioannouncers =

| last =

| next =

}}

The Tip, sometimes referred to as the Immaculate Deflection, was a play in the 2013 NFC Championship Game in the National Football League (NFL) between the division rivals of the #5 seeded San Francisco 49ers and the #1 seeded Seattle Seahawks. The game was played in CenturyLink Field (now known as Lumen Field) in Seattle, Washington and, being the NFC Championship Game, was televised nationally on Fox.

With the score 23–17 in favor of the Seahawks, the 49ers had driven the ball all the way to the Seahawks' 18 yard line. With 30 seconds left in regulation, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a pass to Michael Crabtree in the right corner of the endzone. Before Crabtree could catch the ball, cornerback Richard Sherman deflected the ball directly into linebacker Malcolm Smith's hands for an interception, all but sealing the Seahawks victory. With the win, the Seahawks advanced to just their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, in which they defeated the Denver Broncos 43–8 for their first Super Bowl win.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/01/20/seahawks-49ers-report-cards-nfc-championship-super-bowl/4655049/|title=Report cards: Kaepernick fails 49ers late vs. Seahawks|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}} The Tip is often considered one of the biggest moments in Seattle Seahawks history.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/best-moments-seattle-seahawks-history-183914325.html |title=Best moments in Seattle Seahawks history |website=sports.yahoo.com |date=24 January 2018 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-07-29}}

Events of the play

Until the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had not had a lead the entire game. That changed when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse with 13:44 left in the game, making the score 20–17. After a 47-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka with 3:37 left, the lead increased to 23–17.

The 49ers moved the ball quickly to the 18 yard line, needing a touchdown and subsequent extra point to retake the lead. With 30 seconds remaining, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick avoided mounting pressure from defensive end Cliff Avril, launching a pass to Michael Crabtree in the right side of the endzone. Before Crabtree could catch the ball, cornerback Richard Sherman leaped into the air and tipped the ball. It promptly landed into the hands of linebacker Malcolm Smith, who took a knee for a Seattle touchback with 22 seconds left in the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/richard-sherman-s-tip-leads-seahawks-to-super-bowl-0ap2000000315447|title=Richard Sherman's tip leads Seahawks to Super Bowl|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}

After the play

After a brief celebration, Sherman ran over to Crabtree and offered his hand for a handshake, but Crabtree shoved Sherman's facemask.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/sherman-crabtree-mic-d-during-nfc-championship-0ap2000000316756|title=Sherman, Crabtree mic'd during NFC championship|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}{{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PH35C7Fhq0 |title=Richard Sherman Mic'd Up vs. Michael Crabtree 2013 NFC Championship Game |date=Jul 13, 2015|author=NFL Films|publisher=YouTube}} Sherman then directed a choke sign at Crabtree, which earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. Since there was still 22 seconds left, the game continued. Russell Wilson knelt three times, causing the 49ers to burn their last two timeouts, and the game was over.

=Richard Sherman's post-game interview=

The following is Sherman's now-famous post-game interview with Erin Andrews:

{{Cquote|Andrews: "Richard, let me ask you, the final play, take me through it."

Sherman: "Well, I'm the best corner[back] in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you gonna get! Don't you EVER talk about me!"

Andrews: "Who was talking about you?"

Sherman: "Crabtree. Don't you open your mouth about the best, or y'know I'm gonna shut it for you real quick! L. O. B.!"

Andrews: "Alright, before-" [Sherman runs off] "...and Joe, back over to you!"{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/richard-sherman-i-m-the-best-corner-in-the-game-0ap2000000315484|title=Richard Sherman: 'I'm the best corner in the game'|last=Patra|first=Kevin|website=NFL.com}}}}

Many considered Sherman's outburst as immature, rude, and disrespectful toward Crabtree and Andrews.{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1929469-richard-shermans-outburst-was-rude-brash-disrespectful-and-totally-awesome|title=Richard Sherman's Outburst Was Rude, Brash, Disrespectful and Totally Awesome|last=Levy|first=Dan|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/richard-sherman-erin-andrews-post-game-interview-2014-1|title=The Real Reason Everyone Is So Mad At Richard Sherman|last=Project|first=The Good Men|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-03-20}} Sherman later said in a CNN interview "You know, I don't mean to attack [Crabtree]. And that was immature and I probably shouldn't have done that. I regret doing that."{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/21/us/richard-sherman-response/index.html|title=Richard Sherman stunned by reaction to his victory rant|author=Lateef Mungin and Steve Almasy|website=CNN|date=22 January 2014 |access-date=2019-03-20}}

Name

The play was later dubbed the Immaculate Deflection as a tribute to the Immaculate Reception. The plays were somewhat similar: in both plays, the pass was deflected into a teammate's hand. However, the Immaculate Deflection resulted in an interception, whereas with the Immaculate Reception, it was caught by the offense and run in for a touchdown.

Aftermath

The Seahawks went on to blow out the Denver Broncos 43–8 in Super Bowl XLVIII two weeks later, winning their first Lombardi Trophy in team history.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=340202007|title=Seahawks vs. Broncos - Game Summary - February 2, 2014 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}} The 49ers, however, did not return to the postseason until 2019, also failing to climb above the .500 mark in terms of their win–loss record in each of the following seasons until 2019. Some credit Sherman's tip with the steady decline of the 49ers.{{Cite web|url=https://ninernoise.com/2016/01/07/elite-to-laughingstock-tracing-the-san-francisco-49ers-fall-from-grace/|title=Elite to Laughingstock: Tracing the San Francisco 49ers' Fall from Grace|date=2016-01-07|website=Niner Noise|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-21}} Coincidentally, Sherman joined the 49ers in 2018.

Six days after the Championship game, Sherman was fined $7,875 for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty toward Crabtree.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/10346713|title=Richard Sherman fined for taunting|date=2014-01-24|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}

In 2018 in a week 13 matchup between the 49ers and the Seahawks, the Seahawks reenacted Sherman's tip after a 1st quarter touchdown pass. Doug Baldwin played the role of Sherman, tipping the ball to David Moore, who played the role of Malcolm Smith. Jaron Brown played Kaepernick, and Tyler Lockett played Crabtree. Since both Sherman and Smith were currently on the 49ers, it was unsure if it was a tribute to Sherman, or a mockery,{{Cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/nfl/seahawks/seahawks-reenact-the-tip-after-first-quarter-touchdown-against-49ers/281-619916278|title=Seahawks reenact 'The Tip' after first quarter touchdown against 49ers|website=KING|date=2 December 2018 |access-date=2019-03-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/watch-seahawks-recreate-the-tip-after-scoring-first-touchdown-against-richard-sherman-led-49ers/|title=Watch: Seahawks recreate 'The Tip' after scoring first touchdown against Richard Sherman-led 49ers|date=2018-12-02|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-20}} especially after Sherman called the Seahawks a middle of the road team prior to the game.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/Article/Richard-Sherman-not-surprised-middle-of-the-road--125757632/|title=Richard Sherman calls Seahawks 'middle of the road'|website=Seattle Seahawks|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-21}} The Seahawks won the game 43-16 and officially eliminated the 49ers from playoff contention.{{cite web | title=Seahawks eliminate Richard Sherman from playoff hunt | website=247Sports | date=2018-12-03 | url=https://247sports.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/ContentGallery/Richard-Sherman-49ers-eliminated-playoff-hunt-Seahawks-125768205/ | access-date=2024-12-07}}

Starting lineups

style="width:160px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|San Francisco 49ers}}"\|San Francisco	colspan="2"\|Position	style="width:160px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Seattle Seahawks}}"\|Seattle
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan="4" style="text-align:center"\|Offense
Colin Kaepernick	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|QB	Russell Wilson
Frank Gore	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|RB	Marshawn Lynch
Anthony Dixon	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|FB	Michael Robinson
Anquan Boldin	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|WR	Doug Baldwin
Vernon Davis	style="text-align:center"\|TE	style="text-align:center"\|WR	Jermaine Kearse
Vance McDonald	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|TE	Zach Miller
Joe Staley	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|LT	Russell Okung
Mike Iupati	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|LG	James Carpenter
Jonathan Goodwin	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|C	Max Unger
Alex Boone	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|RG	J. R. Sweezy
Anthony Davis	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|RT	Breno Giacomini
colspan="4" style="text-align:center"\|Defense
Glenn Dorsey	style="text-align:center"\|NT	style="text-align:center"\|LDE	Red Bryant
Ray McDonald	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|LDT	Tony McDaniel
Justin Smith	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|RDT	Brandon Mebane
Aldon Smith	style="text-align:center"\|OLB	style="text-align:center"\|RDE	Chris Clemons
Ahmad Brooks	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|OLB	Bruce Irvin
NaVorro Bowman	style="text-align:center"\|ILB	style="text-align:center"\|OLB	Malcolm Smith
bgcolor="#FFCC00" \|Patrick Willis	style="text-align:center"\|ILB	style="text-align:center"\|MLB	Bobby Wagner
Tramaine Brock	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|LCB	Richard Sherman
Tarell Brown	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|RCB	Byron Maxwell
Eric Reid	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|SS	Kam Chancellor
Donte Whitner	colspan="2" style="text-align:center"\|FS	Earl Thomas
colspan="4"\|Source:{{Cite web\|url=https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/56167/SEA_Gamebook.pdf\|title=National Football League Game Summary\|website=NFL.com}}