49ers' Harbaugh beaming over finish

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Only one team worked out Penn State inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman before the 2010 NFL draft: the Falcons.

Nearly four years later, Atlanta obviously wishes it would have followed up by selecting Bowman, a third-round pick who has blossomed with the 49ers into a two-time All-Pro with a knack for tormenting the Falcons.

On Monday night, Bowman sealed a 34-24 win over Atlanta with an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown with just over a minute left. In last season's NFC Championship Game, Bowman swatted away a fourth-down pass to wide receiver Roddy White to place a period on a 28-24 win.

Last season's play put the 49ers in the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years. Monday's game-changer put the Niners (11-4) in the playoffs for the third straight season and, evidently, put a perma-grin on head coach Jim Harbaugh.

On Tuesday, Harbaugh was still swept up in the postgame euphoria 15 hours after he giddily said of Bowman's game-sealing pick that he has "never been involved in a football game where something that good happened."

During an 18-minute news conference, Harbaugh twice said he was "happier than a pig in slop" and, in reflecting on Bowman's play, broke out in spontaneous laughter on two occasions.

"It's the defensive equivalent to as good as it gets in a football game," Harbaugh said. "It's probably the best thing I've been associated with that's happened to my team in a football game."

NaVorro Bowman, who also contributed a big play against Atlanta in January, made it a happy birthday for coach Jim Harbaugh with an interception return for a TD on Monday. NaVorro Bowman, who also contributed a big play against Atlanta in January, made it a happy birthday for coach Jim Harbaugh with an interception return for a TD on Monday. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 49ers' Harbaugh beaming over finish 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Noting the interception came on his 50th birthday, he said: "I'll remember that until the day I die. I got it at 50. I couldn't have had a better birthday present. Right at the halfway point. I'm shooting for 100."

Bowman's interception highlighted his instincts and speed, qualities that have arguably made him the most valuable player on the NFL's third-ranked defense. Bowman ranks sixth in the NFL in tackles (135), has a team-high three forced fumbles and his career-high four sacks match his combined total of 2011 and 2012.

On Monday, with the Falcons trailing 27-24 and facing 2nd-and-1 at San Francisco's 10-yard line with 91 seconds left, Bowman came up the middle on the blitz before reversing course. When he saw he couldn't reach Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, he sprinted to his right where Ryan's slant pass to Harry Douglas was broken up by cornerback Tramaine Brock. Bowman was prepared to make a tackle, but he was in position to score a touchdown when the pass caromed to him.

"And then the ball pops up like a lollipop to NaVorro, but it's the instinct and the training that he has to see the ball released and then track it to go get in on the tackle," Harbaugh said. "I don't know what the percentage of athletes is that can do that or would do that, to have that kind of instinct and ability."

Thanks to the touchdown, the 49ers' visit to surging Arizona (10-5) on Sunday will have smaller stakes. San Francisco could still win the NFC West if it beats Arizona and the Rams (7-8) beat the Seahawks (12-3) on the road. It's more likely that the 49ers will have the NFC's No. 5 seed if they win and that they will drop to No. 6 with a loss.

Harbaugh dismissed the suggestion that the 49ers, winners of five straight, could ease off the gas pedal with a playoff berth clinched, thanks to an emotional win in the final regular-season game at Candlestick Park.

"We'll be tremendously motivated," Harbaugh said. "Next game. Biggest game of the year. Most important game of the year."

Before looking too far ahead, though, Harbaugh seemed far more eager to rehash his team's latest win. When there was a brief pause about 12 minutes into his news conference, Harbaugh tried to stimulate more questions: "What else? What else we got? There's other stuff it seems."

Later, when a reporter suggested Harbaugh could talk about Bowman's play all day, he laughed and insisted he was ready to change his focus.

"Onward! Onward!" he said. "Moving onward to the Cardinals."