This is without a doubt one of the most difficult days for me as a sports fan. The depression I feel on this day is perhaps only paralleled with game 7 of the 2003 ALCS when the Red Sox lost to the Yankees.
The 49ers went into Candlestick park with rainy conditions and looked for a fight with the New York Giants. Man, did they get one. It was a defensive game throughout with both offenses under performing, especially from the 49ers. Despite this fact, the 49ers were winning 14-10. It was then one of the costly mistakes was made when a bouncing punt went off of Kyle Williams knee and recovered by the Giants though not initially ruled that way. Review found the mistake and corrected it. Manning and the Giants would benefit from the good field position and throw a TD pass to Manningham. The 49ers would get a FG to tie it and force OT.
Once again, it was a defensive struggle with Eli Manning unable to do anything vs. the 49ers defense and the 49ers offense continuing to struggle. The 49ers were going to get it for the second time in OT when Kyle Williams fumbled the ball after being stripped of it and the Giants recovered it with great field position again. It was essentially over. A few hand offs later for better field position gave Lawrence Tynes a 31 yard FG opportunity. He made it. Giants win, 20-17 in OT.
I must first say, while eating some crow, congrats to the Giants as they played a fine game going for mistake free football. Second thing I will say, and I know this seems being a sore loser, WE SHOULD'VE WON THIS GAME!!! If Ted Ginn Jr. wasn't injured this week, Williams wouldn't have been out there. Hell, if Williams doesn't make those costly mistakes, we would've won this game. The 49ers defense had them beat and wasn't letting Manning do a thing. It was those two costly mistakes that gave the Giants good field position and momentum to score. The Giants didn't win this game, the 49ers lost it.
As for the other game, the Ravens and the Patriots played a close one, themselves, in Foxboro. After being criticized for his play this last week, even by a teammate, Joe Flacco wanted to prove himself the next "Joe Cool." He actually had the better game over Brady, stat wise. Flacco and the offense actually had a chance to win the game at the end there but failed to get into the endzone. They could still tie the game late with a FG. But Billy Cundiff came out and shanked a 32 yarder to the right with 11 seconds left. Pats hang on to win, 23-20.
The mistakes that cost both losing teams were made on special teams. What a depressing theme. Anyway, we are getting a Super Bowl rematch for the Super Bowl XLVI: the Giants vs. the Patriots. GO PATRIOTS!!!
P.S. Despite the sour taste in my mouth right now, a fine season from the 49ers. Not what I was hoping for going into the postseason but definitely more than what I expected from them at the start of the regular season. Not a bad first year for Jim Harbaugh but now the bar is set very high. Let's meet it next season.
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