49ers' Williams ready for next return vs. Giants
No one could blame Kyle Williams if he didn't want to see the New York Giants in Candlestick Park ever again, Not after the way his rookie season ended on the same field against the same opponent.
Williams fumbled twice in the NFC Championship game in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Giants, who two weeks later hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions.
Williams said he made a point of noting the game with the Giants when he first saw the schedule. Teammates came to his defense that day, as did coach Jim Harbaugh, when the season ended in January 2012. They're all just as eager to see Williams get a chance at redemption this week.
"There's a few teams that I look forward to -- of course, after what happened last year, I definitely want to get back at these guys," Williams said.
The 49ers are setting the standard in the NFC with a 4-1 record, behind only the undefeated Atlanta Falcons in the conference, but are also following Harbaugh's ideal that to be the champ, you must first beat the champ.
"We look at it as if they have something that we should have had," Williams said. "We're going to make sure we don't leave anything on the field again."
The Giants are 3-2 and get back one of the principles on the two botched special teams plays this week -- safety Tyler Sash, who is expected to be reinstated from the reserve/suspended list and could be active for Sunday's game.
Williams caught a touchdown pass in last week's victory over the Bills and said he's feeling entirely comfortable in his return role and in the base offense after a full offseason to get to know his role.
"I'm comfortable in the way I approach every single game," he said. "I'll be comfortable this week going into it. I can't wait. I'm not trying to do too much. We don't need anyone to do too much on this team. ... We're a great team."
Williams, who has 10 returns with no fumbles this season, said he didn't feel like he was a target against the Giants in January. He had missed the final regular-season game with a concussion. Giants wide receiver Devin Thomas said after the game the Giants wanted to 'put a hit on that guy.'
"It sounds stupid when you look back at it. You are playing football," Williams said. "Everybody is trying to get to the ball and everyone is trying to make a play on the ball."
