49ers' Michael Crabtree has memorable birthday in Levi's Stadium opener

Posted: 09/14/2014 10:33:12 PM PDT

Updated: 09/14/2014 10:38:02 PM PDT

SANTA CLARA -- Michael Crabtree turned 27 on Sunday. The 49ers wide receiver celebrated in style, with 70,799 of his closest friends cheering his every move in the 49ers' first regular-season game at Levi's Stadium.

In the end, though, it's likely that Crabtree will remember the game more because his team squandered a 17-0 lead and lost to the Chicago Bears 28-20 and less for his having scored the first touchdown in Levi's Stadium history.

'I'm not going to cry over it,' Crabtree said, though he admitted to being sad that the 49ers lost on his birthday.

Crabtree got his party started with a 3-yard touchdown on the 49ers initial possession. He kept the good times rolling for most of the game, as he finished with seven catches for a game-high 82 yards.

He also had a hand in three of the 49ers first four scoring drives and came close to getting the 49ers within a successful two-point conversion of tying the game in the final 90 seconds.

On the final play, Crabtree ran a 'deep in' toward the middle of the end zone, with Bears cornerback Tim Jennings in hot pursuit. Colin Kaepernick's laserlike throw, Crabtree and Jennings arrived at the same spot at about the same time.

The ball hit off Crabtree's hands, fell to the ground and sealed the Bears victory.

'The last play was me,' Crabtree said. 'I ain't going to dwell on it. It happens. It's football. I'm coming back stronger next week.'

In a strange twist, this is yet the latest in a growing list of games in which the 49ers' final offensive play ends with a pass to Crabtree in the end zone that didn't get caught by Crabtree.

In the Super Bowl two seasons ago, Kaepernick's final pass of the game sailed a bit high and off Crabtree's hand on a fourth-down play against the Ravens. Last season ended for the 49ers with a Kaepernick throw for Crabtree being tipped by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith in the NFC Championship game.

That's not to say that any of them were Crabtree's fault, even though Crabtree said more than once Sunday that he took full responsibility for not catching the final pass.

'We all have fingerprints on it,' coach Jim Harbaugh said of Sunday's night's loss.

If anything, Crabtree being involved in key plays at the end of games so often shows just how much the 49ers value Crabtree's ability to get open, his sure-handedness and his desire to want the ball in critical situations.

'He's a key part of our offense,' right guard Alex Boone said. 'Anytime you can get a threat like that out there, defenses have to account for him, Anquan (Boldin), Stevie (Johnson), Vernon (Davis). How many threats can you have on one team without it being illegal? Having Crab out there is huge.'

Crabtree was somewhat limited in the 49ers season-opening win against the Dallas Cowboys because of a calf injury that he battled late in training camp. He showed no limitations against the Bears.

Crabtree caught two passes for 25 yards against the Cowboys. It became evident early on Sunday night that Kaepernick and Crabtree had a stronger connection.

Time and again, Kaepernick looked for Crabtree, who caught seven of nine balls thrown his way.

Crabtree's impressive performance served as a stark reminder of just how much the 49ers missed his presence the first 11 games last season, when Crabtree recovered from a torn Achilles.

Now that Crabtree is healthy, Kaepernick is flush with options on most pass plays and the 49ers offense is even more dynamic.