My take:
-The Patriots showed they can win without 400 YDs by Brady, but still, that defense seems suspect to me, especially that secondary against Eli Manning...SB XLVI looks to be a shootout.
-I wouldn't say he's better overall with a win, but with a 2nd SB win, and with his just starting to come into his own, really coming into his prime now...I could definitely see Eli surpassing Peyton soon (supposing, of course, that Peyton IS done.)
-YES, Joe Flacco proved himself...a lot of respect earned for him...
-It was at least close enough to look at...I'm not sure I'd overturn the call, and I have to think, with a trip to the SB on the line, he could and should have held onto the ball tighter...
-No getting away from it, a TERRIBLE miss for Billy Cundiff, and it cost the Ravens a shot at OT...at the same time, unlike OTHER misses on Sunday, Cundiff's boot didn't turn a near-win for his team into a sure-loss...they were already trailing...it's a boot, and he has some blame there, but it's certainly not the WORST gaffe...
-YES, I DO, rather heavily and objectively, lay the blame for the loss on Kyle Williams...probably a very nice guy, but that's just inexcusable, 0 catches and 2 fumbles, the ONLY turnovers the 49ers gave up on special teams all year, AND it gave the Giants their ONLY trips inside the SF 30 Yd line from the 2nd half and OT...take away Kyle Williams, and the 49ers win that game and are in the Super Bowl thanks to their brilliant defense, Vernon Davis, Alex Smith throwing a couple of key passes and NOT throwing an INT and blowing the game, and Jim Harbaugh's bringing the team together like that...10 turnovers all year for SF, tying a league record for lowest ever...and it ends with a backup KR fumbling twice, once letting a ball hit his leg and then not going back for it, and once not protecting the football in OT--nice guy, but INEXCUSABLE.
-As for Alex Smith, I'll out it this way--I was so sick of him before this season I got rid of the #11 jersey I got when he was first drafted...by playoff time, I was in possession of a new #11 jersey...he's NOT Eli, or Brady, or Brees, and not Montana or Young or even Garcia, for that matter (though he does remind me a bit of the latter, with his grit and willingness and ability to run) but he's done a good job all year, league-low 5 INTs, and while he didn't have a good game, he didn't have a bad one, either--196 YDs, 2 TDs, and 40 Yds of rushing, which set up another FG...Alex led the 49ers to 17
, and if not for Williams' TWO gaffes, that very well could have been enough...Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers have already said they plan to bring him back next season, and I'm glad...he's not a Top 5 QB, probably not Top 10, but he IS at least an on par QB who can run, manage the game, make a good throw deep, put up a couple TDs, and let Davis and the Defense win the game...he's not Eli Manning, but not Mark Sanchez, either.
Gunboat - new game
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