Williams is consoled by his teammate after committing the turnover that likely cost the Niners a Super Bowl trip.
As what often happens in playoff football, the outcome hinges on the play of special teams. Such was the case on Championship Sunday as the Ravens’ BILLY CUNDIFF and the 49ers’ KYLE WILLIAMS committed critical errors that led to a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl XLVI rematch.
Williams fumbled in OT to set up Lawrence Tynes’ game-winning 31-yard field goal to send the Giants to their fifth Super Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal attempt that would have sent Baltimore into OT with the Patriots.
“You hate to be the last guy that had the ball, to give it away in that fashion and to lose a game of this magnitude,” Williams said. “It is what it is. We’re going to move forward as a team. Everyone has come to pat me on the back and the shoulder to say it’s not me.”
But it was. Williams committed an earlier turnover on a punt return that provided the Giants with the opportunity to grab the lead and stay in the game. If you didn’t know any better, one would assume dude had the fix in for New York.
Cundiff has the awful look of anguish on his face after missing the game-tying FG Sunday at Foxboro.
Cundiff provided similar gift-givings for the Patriots and their fans.
“I think we can keep things simple: It’s a kick I’ve made a thousand times in my career,” said Cundiff, who connected from 20 and 39 yards earlier in the game. “I just went out there and didn’t convert. There’s really no excuse for it.”
No excuse at all. Now Cough-It-Up Kyle and the Niners and Billy Goat Cundiff and the Ravens have all off season to ponder what could have been. Smdh.
