Playoff Goats Face a Long Offseason

Added on Jan 23, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

There are several reasons why the Ravens and 49ers find themselves wondering “what if” today. Inaccurate throws, dropped passes, ill-timed penalties, poor third-down conversion rates, to name just a few. However, most fans and pigskin pundits will remember both games for three game-altering plays and ignore the rest: Billy Cundiff’s potential game-tying 32-yard field goal sailing wide and returner Kyle Williams’ two muffed punts.

Cundiff owned up to being the goat after the loss. What else is he supposed to do? It’s his responsibility to make kicks, especially pressure kicks that are very makeable for a professional kicker. He didn’t get the job done. Sure, there was no guarantee the Ravens would’ve won the game if he did connect, but they never got the chance, which is the most agonizing thing about such a crushing defeat.

The defense got the ball back. The offense marched down the field. Joe Flacco shook off a bad interception to put his team in a position to tie the game. All Cundiff had to do was what he’d done a hundred times before. Needless to say, it will be a torturous offseason for Cundiff, who should he be retained next season won’t be greeted with a warm reception by the Ravens faithful.

The Niners’ Kyle Williams wasn’t even supposed to be returning punts on Sunday. He was filling in for the oft-injured Ted Ginn. Two costly muffed punts later, including one in overtime that set up the Giants winning field goal, will likely haunt Williams the remainder of his career.

One botched return is excusable, but two? It’s difficult not to point the finger of blame at Williams. In a tightly contested game dominated by defense, turnovers that yield short fields are critical. Sure, Alex Smith missed a couple of wide-open receivers, the offense as a whole was horrendous on third down and the defense allowed a 3rd and 15 touchdown, but when it comes right down to it, two fumbled punts proved to be the difference.

Billy Cundiff and Kyle Williams both know how the other feels. They’re not solely responsible for their teams losing, but that fact offers little consolation today.