On Sunday the mark could be tied by a more familiar name these days : Colin Kaepernick .
With the win in Carolina in the divisional
round , the young pin 49ers became the fourth quarterback in history to win his first
three playoff games outside the stadium , joining Delhomme , Tony Eason (New England) and Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh ) . To match the brand of all time , Kaepernick will have to do something that has never accomplished: win at Seattle.
The elusive pin has to San Francisco in his third final of the National (NFC ) Conference and second in a row with him at the controls.
Kaepernick took over ownership last season after he suffered a concussion Alex Smith, and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl , but San Francisco fell short in last offensive game and fell 34-31 to Baltimore.
It is considered the face of a new generation of quarterbacks in the NFL, that can pass and run, and introduced to the league 's offensive "read -option " and training "gun" . In 2012 , Kaepernick passed for 1,814 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven regular season games , also rushed for 415 yards and five touchdowns other .
In the playoffs hit five passes in the end zone and ran for 181 yards in the divisional round against Green Bay, a new record for a quarterback.
"I really think Colin Kaepernick may be one of the best quarterbacks of all time ," said Ron Jaworski recently , former Philadelphia quarterback in the 70s and now a television analyst . "Love their skills."
Skills that are reminiscent of a former 49ers, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham but also a star in the '80s and '90s with Philadelphia and Minnesota prototype quarterbacks - runners.
" Kaepernick reminds me of me," Cunningham , who for years was the record owner rushing yards for a quarterback , Michael Vick broke until Mark said. " When the game is on the line , will use his legs . Moves that are split into two defenses ."
It did so in both the wild card last offensive in Green Bay. Kaepernick had 24 breaks and 11 yards on third downs to keep alive those series in which the 49ers scored 10 points to win the game.
In Charlotte, the previous Sunday, scored a touchdown on a run by design. It was his fourth touchdown by land in playoffs.
" A quarterback that you know you will not get out of the pocket , you can press it with three defensive ," Cunningham said. " But if you try to press it Kaepernick three , he has the ability to move , out of position on defense and then run or throw ."
Something that has not been allowed in his only two visits to Seattle , where the 49ers lost by combined score of 71-16 , with seven balls delivered, including four interceptions Kaepernick .
"We're a different team than the first time he played there," said the pin 26, graduated from the University of Nevada . "We return a lot of key players and we are ready."
It will not be easy. The Seahawks ' defense was the best in the NFL in points allowed (231 ), yards per game ( 273.6 average ) passing yards ( 172.0 ) and interceptions (28 ) in the regular season. In addition , Seattle has won six straight playoff games at home and is 16-1 at CenturyLink Field in two years.
Kaepernick is 4-1 in the playoffs and 3-0 away , but his biggest challenge - one that could make history , awaits Sunday in Seattle.
