Vernon Davis: 'Defeat is tough to take'

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis has admitted that his side's 23-17 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in last night's NFC championship game was "tough" to take.

The 49ers were ahead for the majority of the contest, but the Seahawks scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to book their place in the Super Bowl at San Francisco's expense.

It is the second year in a row that the 49ers have come close to capturing the title having been beaten by the Baltimore Ravens in last season's Super Bowl, but Davis reveals that it is no less painful this time around.

"It's tough. Any time you get this close to the Super Bowl and lose, it's pretty upsetting. We just didn't get it. We've been down this road before in the same kind of situation. It's hard," Davis told The AP.

The Seahawks will now face the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl on February 2.