Devastating

Roger Craig

The San Francisco 49ers have a great history of Super Bowl wins which makes them one of the elite franchises in the NFL but they also create disasters for themselves by having a unique practice of blowing playoff games at home.   Kyle Williams kept this tradition alive Sunday and should be wondering if he will be with the team next year.  His two incredible fumbles will be remembered for fifty years as the only reason the 49ers did not play in Super Bowl XLVI.

The great 49er running back Roger Craig playing on his last leg was forgiven for his fumble in 1990 that cost the 49ers a playoff game against the Giants and their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The 49ers did not recover in time and they missed making the 1991 playoffs for one of the few times during this historic era. The hangover did not last long for it was just a few years later that the 49ers were World Champions for the fifth time.

Preston Reilly a reserve wide receiver was traded after he muffed an on-side kick in 1972  allowing Dallas to rally with two touchdowns in the closing minutes to beat the 49ers.  The Forty Niners won only 5 games the following year ending in last place in their division. Then one that really hurt was back in 1957 when the 49ers blew a 20 point 3rd quarter lead to the Detroit Lions who then the following week went on to win the NFL Championship game by 44 points. The Forty Niners never recovered in 1958 which included a 56 -7 thrashing by the Los Angeles Rams before 96,000 fans at the LA Coliseum.

This Forty Niners loss Sunday cannot be calculated because it is so devastating.

The offense was very inept at times but the defense and kicking game seem to have control of the game until the first Williams fumble gave the Giants great field position which resulted in a touchdown and the complexion of the game changed.

The Forty Niners probably would have won their sixth Super Bowl XLVI since New England does not have one of their great teams this year and is very vulnerable.

The seasons following very disappointing playoff losses have been a disaster for the 49ers.  It's been my experience that teams that 'blow' championship games do not recover.  The 2002 San Francisco Giants had the World Series Championship in their grasp when they let game 6 slip away and it took the Giants eight years before they returned to the series.

The Ty Willingham curse is now hanging over Highbaugh. New coachers that far exceed their expectations in the first year rarely follow with similar success. (See November 30, 2011 article)

The 49ers 2011 season was a real test and a hugh success until the Giant game. The challenge will even be greater in 2012 because the expectations will be so high.

Homer Sweeney