I woke up about 4 times last night thinking that it was Sunday morning. Can’t WAIT for this to go down. As much fun as this has been, and as improbable as it all is, I want these guys to get in to the Super Bowl. Bad. I’ll be severely disappointed if they don’t. Mainly because I found out yesterday that the Niners are 5-7 in NFC Championship games. We’re still undefeated in the big one, but that championship record kinda sucks.
On the other hand, it shows that this has been one of the more competitive teams over the past 41 years. Anyhow, the talk is over, the back and forth done, the injuries are taped up, and the puking is over with. There’s nothing left to do but play the game. Everyone around here seems to think that the Niners win, either close or by a big margin. The Giants have a lot of bluster, but I think we lay the wood on the field.
I’m leaving early tomorrow for a party, so I won’t be posting (unless I can commandeer my friend’s son’s computer at half time). Last week was insanely intensely fun. I don’t want it to end.
From Alex Smith, Frank Gore, to Adam Snyder (2005 draftees), to the few holdouts from the Donohue era (Soap and Spencer), to the myriad role players, draftees, and free agents that have coalesced to make this improbable run to glory, I tip my proverbial cap, and give a knowing nod. Win or lose, it has been a hell of a ride. SO many players have gotten their just desserts just by getting to the NFC Championship game. The wait has been long and painful, but as of now the team is on the edge of a new dynasty. Things are finally looking up.
Go NINERS ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Forty Niners Forever 
Two incredible blunders by Williams. I’m leaning toward Twinfan’s thinking, both offenses had their problems, but Williams blew it. Williams NFC Championship game: punt return muffdive to send it OT and fumble to send the Giants to the Superbowl. Rough, very rough.
They need wide outs- I don’t think Crabtree was ever open tonight. But bottom line- they win the game except for the kick returner..
Better if we had Ginn in there but we are not a deep team…Yet… With a better offense we score more than 17 points. Wonder why they went away from VD after 3rd quarter?
Our offense, our defense, special teams, Williams— this came down to the Giants making plays at the right time— that’s what football has always been about, not some Neanderthal belief that it’s qb vs qb. Epic loss. Epic season.
Flavor: Agree that this was an epic season and qb v qb is is a bunch of bullshit. But this game came down to 2 horrific turn overs handing the Giants 10 points, the Niners set it up for them to win which is what they never did during this incredible season. Still a great game to watch.
thanks 49ers and harbuagh for a great season !
too bad for kyle williams , but he’s the goat of the game
To fair, Alex missed Kyle on what should have been a TD. That might have been the only WR open all night. But great season-the start of another dynasty..
At beginning of year anybody had said “Yer gonna win yer division, go 14-4 and lose the NFC Championship game this year” my reply woulda been “Fantastic!”
Far better even that Skeebs 11-5 prediction. Fantastic
Pardon me for posting the same comment from Skeebers blog. But I can’t say much more than this:
I’m crushed. I know I’ll get over it, and see the positive, but I have to go through the five stages of grief, or whatever it’s called.
Their D outplayed our O, our D outplayed their O. It is easy to blame Williams, but going in I saw that we had a significant flaw, and that flaw bit us in the butt. We’ve harped on our WR corps. It needs to improve.
I am really, really proud of the character of this team. The pain hurts. I thought we were going to pull it out. Really did. You never know when you’ll get that close. But I also have to tip my hat, painfully as it is to do so, to the NYG. They are a very, very good team. They put some serious pressure on AS, and I’m not going to be a whiner and complain about a crappy non-fumble call or a KW’s gaffes. Nope. It hurts, but we got beat today by a better team…today. We played our hearts out and barely, barely lost.
The ups and downs of being a true fan are part of an epic emotional roller coaster. I know every one of you has been, and is there. I appreciate being able to share it.
The 49ers fracking rock.
Barley the pill is bitter today, yes…and it will be all the sweeter soon enough, you watch.
Just remind me I said so, okay?…..
Uh, they Giants were given 10 points and did nothing to earn them but punt the ball to Kyle Williams. They weren’t a better team team today, don’t want to call them lucky because it sounds lame, I’m in pain as well
That is absolutely correct. There have many goats over the years, probably none more directly responsible for a loss than Williams. Riley hasn’t lived it down after 40 years…
We’re just not deep enough and it cost us today…even when Craig cost us everything we were pretty damn deep but one fuck up is ll it takes…and he fucked up for sure.
And our weak to invisible WR corps is quite a bit stronger (all things being equal but they never are) IF Coach has Morgan out of the game or not being the primary receiver going for a TD with a 45 POINT LEAD against TAMPA. But we’ll be getting more and receivers and better players all around
I think I saw the ghost of Preston Riley out there tonight!
Great Season tho
Dog if you told me we were going to win the Div, go 14-4 but lose in OT in the NFC Championship game. I’d a thunk you were nutz but I’d be smiling for the rest of the season!
Bust….
Huh?
Haven’t read the posts, just got home, but what a crappy shitty lousy fucking way to lose the game. I didn’t think Ginn’s injury was the one to haunt this team. Crabs was a ghost. They showed him running routes where he never turned his head for the ball. He’s basically worthless. KW? No go routes? I don’t understand some of the reasoning behind these plays. A double reverse on a wet sloppy day? The go route with Walker? Why not a fast guy? I think we didn’t run enough in the 4th quarter, and some of those runs were gimmick plays. They lost yards. NY’s defense did a good job, but not that good. We gave them a ton of opportunities, and stopped them repeatedly. I’ve never seen the offense this out of synch. Goldson was a bit out of control. He singlehandedly broke up 2 picks. I know it’s hard to back off going for the ball, but he should have looked on the 2nd one. I’m rambling, but this was a masterful game by the defense. They were hitting shit all over the field. But we had the game in hand.
Great stunning awesome season, but what a flat shitty way to go. Rolle was wrong. The only way they won was by the Niners giving it away. I feel bad for KW, but I don’t think ANY of these WRs are on the roster next year. Morgan maybe. NY’s WRs must have caught 20 balls. Did Crabs get one? One last thing. Why can Packers players jump into the stands without a penalty being called, but you can’t stand on a camera podium? Too edgy? Retarded.
Gawwwd. What a pisser. PR, meet KW. Another player whose name shall not pass my lips again.
Chuck I heard on the KNBR broadcast Eric Davis raised same point about GB and the retired ref Mike Pererria said “IT’s grandfathered in since the start of the NFL for the Packers” said Ted Robinson
And, how did you all feel about that forward progress call? Looked like a fumble to me. The pisser there is that isn’t reviewable.
I think the forward progress call was correct. He was being pulled backward and then the ball was jerked out. I don’t have a problem at all with it, and I would if I thought it were a bogus call…
Tuck rule
My bugaboo whine for half the season about the shit WR corps bit the Niners in this one. How can you have only 1 pass to a WR in the second half — I think that was the stat. Williams is a goat, but the whole WR corps needs to be replaced. The Niner D played its ass off, it is not to blame. And on the OT Williams fumble, he caught the ball and carried it on the inside side of the body — I thought you’re supposed to pack the puppy on the outside towards the sideline when you’re running near the sideline. He carried it with one arm, knowing that you absolutely cannot get stripped, and he did. I assume that was not a coaching issue. The kid is just not very good, fast, but undersized, not strong enough, not very good. Fine surprising, season, but the Giants are a little better team, all around. Niners could have won, but I can’t say they absolutely should have. It was a toss up, and the Niners just came up short in the talent dept. on the offense, and not having Ginn. I’m not sure at all if Williams doesn’t fumble in OT, whether the Niners O would have gotten past the 50 anyway. It was pathetic in the second half. I have to question some of the play calling, too. They were making progress with Gore off tackle, why not more of that? Every first down seemed a pass, with Alex running out of pocket and throwing it away. So, onto the offseason. Draft a receiver, get a FA receiver, and a veteran FA QB to make Alex compete. I wouldn’t give Alex more than a 3 year deal with an option. He will not be a hot item for other teams., He’s improved, but let’s see how far he can get better with better wideouts. And, draft a 215 Lb RB that can go inside and outside, Gore is looking long in the tooth. Defense can stand pretty much pat, maybe a cornerback. Otherwise, SF should compete to win the division again, at minimum..
“I have to question some of the play calling, too. They were making progress with Gore off tackle, why not more of that?”
While we’re pissing and moaning: Was VD open after his 2nd TD because we stopped throwing to him seemed to me. Our ONLY pass catcher! I’m going to listen to this game again as the audio finally died not long after the video did again today. Another fucking holiday here, no bandwidth
So….bust. Go Raiders!
NFC Western Division Champs, 14-4 record, lose in OT in NFC Championship game. THis is “bust”? Rally?
Yeah maybe compared to what da Rayduhs been accomplishing lately?
Uh no.
Recall 1983, losing to the Redskins in Wash, one of our (now) 8 NFC Championship losses? Yeah I do. Following form, next yeah we came back with one of da best dang teams EVAH! We smoked the fucking league and had San Diego as a snack in the SB. So if Harbaugh can take a pack of under-performing guys and bring ’em to the NFC title game only to lose in OT who has the stones to say we don’t do similar in ’12?
Denny? Spit? Maybe, butt I don’t think so…
We beat Miami in 1985 (’84 season) Super Bowl.
That’s correct. I knew that snack had a different flavor. It turned into a blowout just the same and I think we’ll be real good next year
I’ll break my rule to say one thing here: yeah, Williams made two awful blunders, but at least he was trying. Crabtree went through two playoff games as quiet as a mouse. He is the Tinman: no heart. We need to draft some receivers this Spring, come back next year and kick some asses.
Absolutely NO reason for any 49er fan to feel bad about this season. We will be back…
Sadly Crabtree is not a leader or a fighter on the field but he does have a real nice wardrobe. Just more evidence that WR needs serious upgrading
Okay, so a little calmer now. Great game, of course it came down to what team was going to make the fewest mistakes. Unfortunately it was the Niners who made the mistakes. plus no scoring from about the middle of the 3rd quarter on. not good. Still a hugely successful season for the Niners. Harbaugh will get coach of the year. and Alex Smith is definitely in contention for come back player of the year. GO NINERS
Every team, including NY last night, has plays that don’t work, passes that are incomplete, running plays that go nowhere- those are not mistakes. Kyle made 2 huge mistakes. That was the difference or we’re in the Super Bowl…
Agree, we had no margin for error with 17 points and we (he) made two. Season.
Yup. Even the one in OT, while being an error, was caused by a hit. Not getting away from the punt in the 4th quarter was the killer. It was totally an unforced error. He runs away from that ball, the Niners likely win.
I’m surprised the game was as clean as it was given the wet windy conditions at the STICK. I’m not ready to run some kid out of town for some stupid mistakes so put away the tar and feathers and tell the raging torch carrying ruffians to take a hike. NINERS were wonderful this season!
Last year’s 6-10 Niners were a couple bonehead plays away from the Super Bowl. THat’s fantastic
I’m gonna go back an read these.
However, there’s a new post up . . .