The 49ers could not overcome two muffs by Kyle Williams as the Giants took advantage of both for scores as they overcame the road and continue to look like the last Giants team that entered the Super Bowl.
Heck, Kyle Williams just may have been the Giants MVP.
Going into the championship game, 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams had returned just five punts in his NFL career. Sunday the team’s regular return man, Ted Ginn Jr., was sidelined with a knee injury. Williams’ inexperience showed and may have cost the Niners a chance at the Super Bowl.
One of the muffs was a fumble and that happens, it’s a tough game, but the first error was inexcusable as when you decide not to field a punt, get the hell away from it. Now Williams, rightly or wrongly is the pariah of San Francisco.
Nonetheless, this season the NFC belongs to the Giants, a team that just 6 weeks ago was thought to be in search of a new offensive coordinator and possibly a new head coach after this season. Quite a turnaround for a historic franchise.
The Giants a historically ground based attack now have the air attack to fear when you talk about Mannings playing quarterback, it may just end up that the best one is named Eli, not Peyton.
Manning went 32 of 58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns and overcame six sacks in his record fifth road playoff win, New York’s fifth in a row overall.
Five months ago, Manning declared he was in the same class as Tom Brady. Now, he’ll get another chance to outdo him. During this playoff run, he’s already outplayed Aaron Rodgers and the defending champion Packers, and fellow former No. 1 pick Alex Smith.
Another Super Bowl win and he goes one up on Peyton as well. Plus he just looks more like a qb, he is always dirty and beat up looking and Peyton looks like he is fragile.
Now he will get his chance on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis when the Giants face the AFC champion Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII – one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history.
Notes:
Victor Cruz continues to be amazing as he had 10 catches for 142 yards (8 for 125 in the first half)
We think Tom Coughlin has earned the right to coach the Giants pretty much as long as he wants to.
Lawrence Tynes has two game winning kicks in championship games now. 2 for 2.
Video:
Jim Basquil and Eric Allen break down the Giants’ overtime win against the 49ers to set up a rematch with the Patriots in the Super Bowl
