The game, which started so ideally, when a strong defensive stand being succeeded by Vernon Davis 73 yard Touchdown grab. The Giants responded, with receiver Victor Cruz putting on a catching clinic with over 125 yards before the half. The Giants went in at half time 10-7 ahead.
The first score of the second half mirrored the first, Smith connecting with Davis to put the ‘Niners 14-10 on top. This is when the road to Indianapolis became long, winding and further away.
Slot receiver/back-up return man Kyle Williams failed to avoid a punt, with it hitting him in the knee, handing the Giants golden field position to take a 17-14 lead.
This game was more back and forth than Nathan and Lucas’s relationship on One Tree Hill, and the next twist saw the 49ers tie the game up, and spurn several opportunities to win the game, including overtime.
Overtime, nervy at any time, let alone the championship game, where the nerves multiply by around…I don’t know 3 million. Both teams had a chance to win it, they both failed. Giants blew it again, and in the battle of who could choke more, up stepped that man again, Kyle Williams.
Williams (whose received the brunt of the abuse on Twitter, I feel bad for the guy), who suddenly thought he was Devin Hester returning punts, went galloping up the middle of the field, only to be hit, hit hard. The ball popped out, the Giants pounced, the air was sucked out of the stadium. The ‘stick went silent. (Brace yourselves...)
The Giants ran, and ran, then ran again. They could of kicked at ample opportunities. They didn’t. They toyed with the crowd, making them wait for their own execution. It was brutal, sadistic. The New York Giants are the Jigsaw killer of the NFL. They play hideous mind games, and make you suffer and wait for your own demise.
Eventually Lawrence Tynes made the kick. The crowd was dead. All you can hear is players screaming, all you can see is men in white running round the field. Jim Harbaugh’s face says it all. You know he’s thinking what all 49ers fans are thinking, “we can’t be pissed off, we haven’t been relevant in 10 years….but I’m still pissed off”.
The Giants go to the Superbowl, they’ll play the New England Patriots. Tom Brady will try to conquer Eli Manning, in a rematch of Superbowl 42. The Giants ended the Patriots perfect season that year. Let’s hope Brady and Bellichick make it 4, and give the Bruins’ Stanley Cup a partner, and let Boston continue as “TitleTown”.
However, with the 49ers on the cusp of reaching it, it’s a hollow victory being an “improved team”. The team was irrelevant. Jim Harbaugh came in, transformed a losing culture, a losing team and a loser Quarterback into winners. A team who could grind out results. A team whose defence gave up nothing to other teams.He's already said "this teams is not defeated" and claimed "they will be back". He will win coach of the year this year. Deservedly. That’s not the prize he would of wanted though.
Next year will be interesting, this team will have expectations for the first time in years. Harbaugh’s intensity will go from obscene, to veins popping out of all parts of his body obscene.
If only Kyle Williams could concentrate!
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