So it’s a bitter end to a sweet season. Words can’t really describe how I feel right now, but the fact that I’m still up at 2:00am writing this would probably sum it up. Are there good memories? Plenty. Is there disappointment? Plenty.
I saw a tweet earlier from a fan saying that this game was like a haunting flashback to the January 20, 1991 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick against the Giants. Noted, the similarities are uncanny. The Niners had won against the Giants in the regular season, but a fumble by RB Roger Craig late in the 4th led to a field goal from the Giants and a win by 2. This fan then noted that the only difference was, in 1991 he was 8, and he cried. Tonight he didn’t.
Well, while tears may not have been streaming down my face- at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I definitely cried a little on the inside, and I think it’s safe to say there are many Faithful who share my sentiment on this cold and wet January night. To come so close, to almost be able to taste it, then have it all washed away with the rain.
This season has certainly been defining for this team, and while tonight’s heart-wrenching loss will sting for a time, it doesn’t change what Coach Harbaugh has done for this team, and for the fans. He’s definitely changed the tides around here, and this looks to be a promising return of The Dynasty.
And as for tonight’s game…it’s easy to pick a hero and a villain. In fact, it’s almost impossible for human nature to not automatically do so. Tonight’s hero? Probably Vernon Davis. Tonight’s “villain”? Without a doubt, Kyle Williams.
Despite the bf disagreeing with me (we disagree on a few things about the Niners, Ginn and Smith two examples!) I’ve always stood by my case and loved Ted Ginn Jr. and the unique addition he brings to our special teams unit, but tonight, anyone who ever doubted what he did for the Niners -and made look so easy at that- had to mince their words.
That’s fine and all, but it’s simply incorrect to place the entire weight of the loss on Kyle Williams’ shoulders. Yes, he ran towards the ball (twice), it bounced off his knee, and he forgot that on slow-mo, magnified replay from a million different angles there would have been no way to deny that one. So he tried to get away with pretending like it didn’t happen. Didn’t work. Giants score a TD on what is essentially a turnover and with great field position at that. Minus one, Kyle Williams.
Then in OT, he runs towards the ball, bobbles it, and loses it, leading to yet another turnover, and a Giants field goal that ended the game. Minus two, Kyle Williams.
But what about ALL the plays on offense that just didn’t happen tonight?! 0 for 13 on 3rd downs? The fact that it felt at times like we had no receivers on the field?! Oh, and that one horrific “forward progress” call that essentially could have and should have been yet another turnover?!
Sure maybe Kyle Williams didn’t bring it all the times he needed to tonight (and it’s true, in a championship game there is no room for error – not one, and certainly not two), but if we’re to be honest moving forward, many aspects of good game play from the 49ers simply wasn’t there. Defense was pretty much the only third of the team that played consistently tonight. Cold hard truth: 1/3 of a team isn’t enough to win a championship.
Point is, does it help any to hate on Kyle Williams? (or Alex Smith for that matter, who just a few short months ago stood in the very shoes Williams wears now) No. Williams is getting bombarded on twitter by death threats and verbal assaults, racial slurs, things that include “You, your wife, and your kids should all die because that’s what you deserve.” Who would write something like that? Those are the “fans” who shoot people after games, and who ruin it for the rest of us. These “fans” really have something to learn from the rest of the 49ers, who really are doing a good job keeping it together. Hey everyone, remember when you hated Singletary for always airing his dirty laundry in public, on national tv? This is the exact same thing you’re doing when you attack Kyle Williams.
I even have to give props to Tynes, who – in the heat of the moment, right after his field goal won the game for his team – kept his head enough to remember to be classy and acknowledge that the 49ers are a great team and put up a great fight. (He said something to the effect of, the fact that we just won it by a field goal about 10 minutes into OT says a lot...which is true.)
I like classy things, classy people, and classy behavior. Keep it classy, San Francisco. We still love the 49ers, we love Coach Harbaugh, and we aren’t called the Niner Faithful for nothing. As Harbaugh said to Williams post game, “Keep your head up.” Rock that red and gold all summer long. Be proud to let your colors shine. Keep your blood gold. And after having all the time off to work and improve on what has honestly been an incredible season, let’s bring it all back for an even better run next year. Call me a glass half-full person, but I believe it, and I stick to my guns—and my team.
(image (C) Yahoo Sports)
Who’s got it better than us?! Noooooobody. ♥
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