San Francisco's Kyle Williams - muffs punt in 4th quarter, leading to a Giants TD a few plays later that puts them up 17-14. SF later ties to get the game to OT, where Williams fumbles again, allowing the Giants to kick a game winning FG a few plays later. (interesting note, these were the first 2 "fumbles" of Williams' career) Baltimore's Billy Cundiff - misses a gimme FG 32 yard FG which would have tied the game and sent it to overtime.
I am going to go with Williams here. I don't know if SF was favored or not, but they did have home field advantage and they had the lead until his first muff allowed NY to take the lead. His second fumble put NY in FG range to win. Baltimore was a bit of a long shot to beat the Patriots and his FG would have only tied the game. That being said, an NFL kicker should make a 32 yarder 95% of the time IMO.
Don't forget the Baltimore WR that had a TD pass knocked out of his hands that would have won the game on the previous play. Make that catch and it's superbowl for sure
San Fran had low expectations. Williams was a back-up. He had the ball stripped on a freak play. S**t happens. Baltimore was superbowl or bust. Cundiff missed a total gimmie. He's the bigger goat.
Cundiff just screwed his team plus he's a kicker, would anybody be surprised if he wasn't brought back next year?
Kyle Williams. I don't care if he is the backup, he is a pro. Dude should be smart enough to know when to try and return it or how to secure a football. Giants were shut down in that second half. Those gifts by Williams deep in 9er territory were the only reason as to why the Giants won. So ****ing ridiculous. **** the Giants. Hope the Patriots beat that azz.
Kinda do feel sorry for the kid. The question is, who would you rather not be. At the end of the day, Cundiff is a Pro Bowl kicker who is guaranteed to be on a team next year. Williams is a second year player, pretty unknown, had a decent overall year (given limited opportunities) but will have to fight to make a team next year.
Kyle Williams messed up more, but Ravens players and fans were more crushed by what Cundiff did. Since the start of the season, the Ravens felt this was their year to win it all. To have those hopes smashed by a missed FG is much IMO.
what people tend to forget (and why I still think Jacoby is an even bigger loser) is that It wasn't really Williams job to return punts. He was placed in the spotlight without any warning. Jacoby and Cundiff were starters.
Cundiff hands down... Why don't they pay these fools by the kick?.. Bet you'd see some record setting field goals statistics then....
Williams was filling in for Ted Ginn, and the "game over" fumble wasn't as much a gaffe - the Giants popped it out. He could have secured it better, but returners going full speed aren't double gripping the ball. Cundiff just Nick Anderson'ed. Something not mentioned enough was there was absolutely no wind. The flags were completely still on the posts. He just shanked it at point blank range.
The biggest factor here is that several important playoff games have been marred by fluke plays this season (including the Texans). Really great games have ended on poor play as opposed to good play. Really, really crumby way to end an exciting year in football.
For all the FG's the guy kicked against us this year... I get some sort of relief that he can actually miss one... albeit a very big one. Every team has their version of Jacoby/Williams (can't include Cundiff cause he's been money more times than not) the great teams weed those players out and keep them on the bench.
