SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It wasn’t long ago that the San Francisco 49ers were complaining that the referees were sabotaging their season.

Now they may have saved it.

The 49ers recorded a much-needed victory at New Orleans on Sunday when the guys in pinstripes decided Saints tight end Jimmy Graham made an illegal basketball move in an attempt to legally win a football game.

In a parade of flags, arguably the most exciting play in the entire league Sunday disappeared as if it never happened. A Hollywood finish was wiped away by … good acting?

“Sales job,” blurted Fox analyst John Lynch, himself a one-time last line of defense in the NFL.

On the final play of regulation in a game tied at 24-all, the 6-foot-7, 265-pound Graham was running stride for stride with 6-foot, 190-pound 49ers cornerback Perrish Cox in pursuit of a Hail Mary heave by Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Graham clearly put his hands on Cox shortly before the ball arrived. Next thing you knew, Cox was flying sideways like a point guard who’d tried to deny Shaquille O’Neal a dunk attempt, and Graham was hauling in an apparent game-winning, 47-yard touchdown.

But then came the flags. At least two of them. Offensive pass interference. No touchdown. Game goes to overtime.

“It was definitely not a push-off,” Graham, a former basketball player, insisted. “It’s interesting how guys grab me everywhere on the field, and I put literally two fingers on somebody and they make that kind of call.

“That’s why I left basketball.”

Cox insisted he’s no actor.

“Man, look here. That wasn’t a flop,” he said. “If he didn’t push me, it would have been an (interception).

“I had no reason to flop.”

Without the flags, the 49ers are 4-5 and maybe needing to sweep their final seven games — including a home-and-home with Seattle — to make the playoffs.

Instead, they are 5-4, looking at soon getting three star linebackers back, and now focused on a New York Giants team that got run over by the Seahawks on Sunday.

“People can say what they want,” Cox said. “Everybody is entitled to their opinion. But we came out with the victory and that’s all that matters.”

–Outside linebacker Aldon Smith’s nine-game suspension formally ends Tuesday, making him eligible to return to practice this week and play Sunday against the New York Giants.

Eligible, but no sure thing, Harbaugh warned.

“We’re not ready to jump to predict (when he will play),” Harbaugh said, reminding everyone Smith, while able to work out on his own the past 10 weeks (nine games and a bye week), has not participated in any on-the-field team activities.

“Excited to have him back playing football, with the team,” Harbaugh continued. “I think that’s where the hope, the excitement lies right now.”

REPORT CARD VS. SAINTS

PASSING OFFENSE: C-minus — There were more negatives than positives in the 49ers’ passing game in their win Sunday at New Orleans. Tight end Vernon Davis caught only one pass and wideout Michael Crabtree complained of being a “third-down receiver” after the win. Colin Kaepernick completed only 14 passes in the game, but one went to reliable Anquan Boldin for a touchdown.

RUSHING OFFENSE: A-minus — The 49ers emphasized the running game early in their win, and it helped them build a lead they were able to hold for almost the entire four quarters. It’s well documented that the 49ers almost always win when Frank Gore gets 20 carries, and it happened again, with Gore toting the ball 23 times in the victory. Even rookie Carlos Hyde (four carries, 36 yards, one touchdown) got into the act.

PASSING DEFENSE: B-plus — Drew Brees passed for three touchdowns — and almost a fourth that would have won the game for the Saints in regulation. But in the end, two interceptions helped the 49ers build a lead, and a strip-sack in overtime put San Francisco in position to kick a game-winning field goal. Brees threw 47 times and yet still did not reach 300 yards (292).

RUSHING DEFENSE: C-minus — The Saints were able to win the time-of-possession battle (36 minutes to 34) on the strength of running back Mark Ingram’s 120-yard effort. But the 49ers were able to keep Ingram out of the end zone on his 27 carries, and limited his effectiveness when they needed to stall the Saints in overtime.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B — 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has so much confidence in kicker Phil Dawson, he called upon him immediately after his club recovered a Drew Brees fumble in New Orleans territory in overtime Sunday. It was no chip shot. Phil Dawson’s 35-yard field goal was the 23rd game-winner of his career.

COACHING: A — The 49ers went to New Orleans, where few visiting teams have success, and beat Drew Brees with their three best linebackers and top cover corner out of action. A decision to rely heavily on the ground game helped produce an early lead. And when it came time for the ultimate decision — when to attempt a potential game-winning field goal in overtime — Harbaugh wasted no time in calling for Dawson on first down. The coaching grade might be an “F” had Dawson missed and the Saints gone on to win.