NFC Championship Game 2012: 5 Most Disappointing 49ers Performances

The temperature was low in San Francisco on Sunday, but expectations ran high for the NFC championship game.

The San Francisco 49ers were the team that no one expected to be there. Not only were they playing for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but they were doing it at home against a team they had beaten once already, the New York Giants.

It truly seemed like there was something preternatural about this 49ers season.

With a win in the NFC championship game, San Francisco would burst into the spotlight and refuse to be ignored. The national media could not avoid giving Jim Harbaugh and his staff their due credit once they had made it to the Super Bowl.

Alex Smith and Vernon Davis were not only having unexpected seasons, but possibly career-altering ones. The once-proud organization that had suffered in turmoil for the better part of the last decade was at last returning to glory.

What transpired was a hard-fought matchup that the 49ers had opportunities to take control of, but failed to do. In a game that will likely be remembered for two major mistakes, there are other reasons why the New York Giants came off the field with a gut-wrenching overtime win.

Here are the five most disappointing performances from the NFC championship game.

1. Kyle Williams

In the sometimes cruel world of professional sports, players’ careers can come to be defined by their ability to perform in single games and in single moments. For people like Joe Montana and Tom Brady, that reality turned them into sports heroes.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Kyle Williams.

Until he gets another chance to prove himself in the playoffs, Williams will be fighting the image of not one, but two critical fumbles that led to the 49ers’ NFC championship defeat.

Coming into Sunday’s matchup, the 49ers’ turnover margin was a ridiculous plus-28, with only 11 turnovers in their 17 games. Thus, Williams’ fumbles were an anomaly and would have been difficult to watch by themselves. 

However, the results of each fumble and the critical junctures at which they occurred make for one of the most disappointing playoff performances of all time.

It is unfair to place the loss squarely on the shoulders of one player, but when that player’s two fumbles led to a go-ahead touchdown and the winning field goal in overtime, the performance is impossible to ignore.

2. Alex Smith

This season, there is no doubt that Alex Smith turned his career around. For the first time since he was drafted, he appeared comfortable in an offensive scheme.

In fact, after what he accomplished in the week prior against the New Orleans Saints, some were saying he might be ready to be mentioned as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Sunday, though, was not his best performance.

Statistically, his play was acceptable: 12 completions on 26 attempts, 196 yards and two touchdowns. However, he failed to do what elite quarterbacks are capable of—seemingly will their team to victory.

The conditions were poor and the Giants defense was certainly doing their part with good coverage and pocket pressure, but Smith should have been able to do more.

Unfortunately, one cannot overlook his inability to move the football toward the end of the game, not to mention a 1-for-13 showing on third down.

On the heels of his work from the previous Sunday, Smith’s failure to execute and lead the team with the game hanging in the balance was frustrating to watch.   

3. 49ers Wide Receivers

In a word, the 49ers wide receiving corps was lifeless on Sunday. Exactly one receiver had one catch for San Francisco—a three-yard, third-down completion to Michael Crabtree that was a yard short of the first down marker.

In a game where points and yards were at a premium, that performance was simply unacceptable. It is especially difficult to stomach when New York had three wide receivers combine for 16 catches, 214 yards and a touchdown

After Vernon Davis caught two touchdown passes, the 49ers needed someone else to step up, catch a few passes and get first downs.

In order to take control of the game, a star needed to emerge. Unfortunately, that did not happen, as no route or cut was good enough to beat the Giants secondary.

In order to truly contend for the Super Bowl next year, such uninspiring performances must be avoided.

4. 49ers Defensive Front

The defensive unit for the 49ers has been their calling card all year. Without them, the NFC championship game does not reach overtime and the 49ers probably aren’t even in the playoffs.

In fact, their second-half performance nearly allowed them to win the game. However, in the first half of Sunday’s matchup, they did not get enough pressure on Eli Manning.

The Giants converted five of their first six third-down attempts. Manning was simply allowed to sit in the pocket and wait for one of his receivers to break from the 49ers secondary.

Even though it was early, the inability to get the Giants offense on the sideline was costly for two reasons.

Those conversions allowed for prolonged drives that kept the 49ers defense on the field, and the Giants defense off it. It also gave Manning and his receivers a chance to get in a rhythm that the 49ers offense never seemed to enter. 

5. Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman

Prior to the NFC Championship game, Harbaugh and Roman were already being credited by many as two of the main men responsible for the 49ers' turnaround. Their mindsets and schemes had turned an awful offense into one that could win football games.

On Sunday though, their play-calling was at best unimaginative. New York’s defensive adjustments were simply not met with an equal offensive change.

When the 49ers were struggling to pass the ball, wouldn’t it have made sense to try throwing a wrinkle at the Giants?

Unfortunately, the failed attempt at a sweep in the first half was a different look that seemed to scare the 49ers more than the Giants.

All year, the 49ers had been showcasing a variety of unique plays that were not only exciting to watch, but more importantly, were effective as well. It was therefore strange to see the bland nature of the play-calling in this game.

The good news though for the 49ers and their fans is that this was just the first year. As with the majority of their team, Harbaugh and Roman will learn from the loss and be better for it in future seasons.