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    Shutdown Corner

    Kyle Williams’ two punt return fumbles sink 49ers Super Bowl dreams

    By Chris Chase | Shutdown Corner – Sun, Jan 22, 2012 11:16 PM EST

    The goat wasn't even supposed to be back there.

    Going into the NFC championship game, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams had returned just five punts in his NFL career. He was compelled into duty on Sunday when the team's regular return man, Ted Ginn Jr., was sidelined with a knee injury. The inexperience showed and may have cost the Niners a chance at the Super Bowl.

    The second-year wideout had two crucial fumbles in the title game, both leading to go-ahead scores by the New York Giants. The second, in overtime, led to a field goal that sent the Giants to Super Bowl XLVI.

    There may not have been overtime if not for Williams' first error. Early in the third quarter, the second-year vet inexplicably surrounded a bouncing punt that caromed off his leg and into the hands of New York's Devin Thomas.

    Williams has no business being anywhere in the vicinity of that bouncing ball. The instant he decides not to field the punt, he has to get away from it. Footballs take funny hops sometimes and can carom into an unsuspecting player if he's not paying attention. In this case, Williams wishes he had that excuse. This ball didn't take a weird bounce, it took a completely normal one. Williams' knee just happened to be in the way.

    That fumble led to a go-ahead Giants touchdown. San Francisco came back to tie on the next possession on a drive that was started by Williams' 40-yard kick return. He had saved himself, or so it seemed.

    The scoring stopped after that and the game went to overtime. With 9:42 remaining in the extra session, Williams caught a Steve Weatherford punt, turned upfield, ran 5 yards and then had the ball popped loose by Jacquian Williams. Once again, Thomas was there with the recovery.

    Five plays later, the game was over. The 49ers' unexpected dream season was done. And Kyle Williams, goat of San Francisco, was left to wonder; why did Ted Ginn Jr. have to hurt that knee?

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    Watch Full Count!
     
    • Zain
      Zain  •  4 months ago
      am i the only one who skips chase's actual article and goes straight to the comments?
      • Robert
        Robert 4 months ago
        i did. good blog stress reliver
      • Hal
        Hal 4 months ago
        you are not alone
      • chrisg
        chrisg 4 months ago
        no cuz everytime theres a chris chase article theres about 10 comments that say the same thing as yours
    • WISCO
      WISCO  •  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  •  4 months ago
      He doesn't deserve death threats at all, but he is not safe from scorn. He is paid 6 figures, catch the ball. Get your head on straight.
    • KeithJ
      KeithJ  •  Elk Grove, California  •  4 months ago
      Mistakes and fails happen Chase. You should know, most of your articles are.
    • Matt W
      Matt W  •  4 months ago
      Never mind that the 49ers went 1-for-13 on 3rd down conversions, and that one third down was the desperation heave at the end of regulation. The offense played like $^#(.
      • YeahBuddy
        YeahBuddy 4 months ago
        Agreed, both teams Offenses played terrible....But if the Giants make those same fumbles the 49'ers win and we say "never mind the Giants played like $hi!" Not a fan of either team but great games today from NFC and AFC!! Turnovers won it for 9ers last weak and killed them this weak.
      • Troy
        Troy 4 months ago
        Seriously, that's the other thing.... the play calling was awful. Who the heck was calling the plays?

        And can someone explain to me why they didn't give the ball to Gore more especially in OT? Okay throw on first then run on second down.... yeah that makes sense. There was no need to get anxious and force throws on first down in OT. Establish the run first and mix it up. My goodness I'm sick right now.
      • Jerry
        Jerry 4 months ago
        This is what happens when you have Crabtree and Kyle Williams as your receivers. Two tight end set with two receivers who can't separate from the press is unbelievaby sad. Safety Top and Lb under Vernon, who else would ya throw to? I wonder why Harbaugh let Braylon go
    • Dr. Funks Info
      Dr. Funks Info  •  4 months ago
      Ginn Jr. :(
      • tim
        tim 4 months ago
        just like he did with Buckeyes! Thanks Teddy!
      • joseph
        joseph 4 months ago
        @Tim..EXACTLY what i was thinking.
      • Tanner
        Tanner 4 months ago
        man we missed him tonight
    • jaam
      jaam  •  San Martin, California  •  4 months ago
      Williams was horrible and yes he was the main factor of the loss but the QB needs to be more consistent and the WRS need to step up,the D line is awesome.
      • Bryant monzon
        Bryant monzon 4 months ago
        No he was not it was your QB too. Stop blaming Kyle.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Jamestown, New York  •  4 months ago
      If the Giants win the Super Bowl, they need to give Kyle Williams a ring.
    • purpolhayes
      purpolhayes  •  Chandler, Arizona  •  4 months ago
      Unfortunately for Kyle, this is not the first time he has muffed or fumbled away a game on a punt return. Two years ago, he did the same thing when he played for Arizona St vs U of A. The score was tied and ASU was going to get the ball back with about a minute to go, but Kyle muffed the punt and U of A kicked the game-winning field goal. It #$%$ me off much like tonight did, but as a fellow Sun Devil, I feel for the guy.
    • Slurpy
      Slurpy  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  4 months ago
      he will not be a 9er next year.
    • z
      z  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  4 months ago
      Any word yet on Kyle Williams' release ?
    • Biofuel1
      Biofuel1  •  4 months ago
      If this was soccer, he'd be a marked man.
    • thats right
      thats right  •  4 months ago
      As Jim Rome would say.......... who wrote this story, chris evert?
    • Occupie DeezNutts
      Occupie DeezNutts  •  4 months ago
      In both of today's games the punt return guys made ridiculous mistakes. Their lack of understanding that role & the basics of it is unbelievable
    • IMS
      IMS  •  White Oak, Texas  •  4 months ago
      I sensed trouble for this kid when he DIVED to catch a punt.....Then came the two fumbles.
      What a MAROON!!!!!!!!
    • Duane J
      Duane J  •  Dallas, Texas  •  4 months ago
      Just think how the 9ers may be if they only had a quarterback!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fire the Yorks and bring back Eddie D
    • slapshot
      slapshot  •  Mesa, Arizona  •  4 months ago
      The ball bumping his leg was bad enough, but the fumble was just a disaster. Thats a bad day at the office
    • No Mittens
      No Mittens  •  4 months ago
      "Early in the third quarter, the second-year vet inexplicably surrounded a bouncing punt". It was the 4th quarter you idiot, not the 3rd quarter, that's what made it so devastating. Jeez, that is the whole point of the story, can't you get it right????
    • Robert Wilkins
      Robert Wilkins  •  Tulsa, Oklahoma  •  4 months ago
      They teach you in grade school football to stay away form a lose ball...period...your a pro..should know this...cmon
    • kieran
      kieran  •  Pleasanton, California  •  4 months ago
      I am not a niners fan but this writer Chris Chase is a bigger a hole goat than poor Williams. Give the guy a break. A bad game yea, a goat,no need for calling him that.Your the fool,typical press guy,never fielded a ball in your life,you goat
    • tim
      tim  •  Dallas, Texas  •  4 months ago
      Chris Chase is the true GOAT!
     Post a comment

    Meet The Shutdown Corner Team

    Regular Contributors:

    MJD, Chris Chase, Maggie Hendricks, Kristian Dyer, Shane Bacon