Losses and gains
The fact is, we lost. The theory is, that's not entirely a bad thing.
There's little shame in my San Francisco 49ers going down, 20-17, in overtime to the New York Giants (I'd say "no shame", but that last-minute fumble was reprehensible). By going the distance with the east-coast crew, the Niners proved themselves one of the four best teams in the NFL. They showed they didn't make the playoffs by fluke or chance: they had unquestionably earned their place amongst 2011's elite. That's what the Niners are. What they're not is the best football team in the league.
It's all in the fumble. That sloppy, inexcusable botch is emblematic of our season-long weaknesses. For all the rebuilding we've done, the victories we've had and changes we've made, you can't win a Superbowl with field goals, high penalties and a low-ranked offence. That's the stuff of second-tier teams, and the second tier is where we've ended up. We're the most improved team of 2011 but we're not champions (yet). And that, I think, is as it should be.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted that Superbowl berth so damn badly. My hands shook as the Giants took the win and, had I not been at work, I'd likely have screamed in frustration (Kyle Williams should be milked, for he is a goddamn goat). None of that changes bitter-tasting benefit of defeat.
See, the 49ers have a history of both excellence and arrogance. We're a bunch of self-entitled pricks who like being football royalty. Had we won today and gone on to the big dance - win or lose - there's a chance that attitude could have returned. The hungry underdogs of 2011 could become 2012's fat cats and all the progress we've made would be lost. This could have been a Cinderella story that ends with an evil queen's coronation (to abuse the metaphor).
Perhaps it's better we chase the dream for a little longer. Superbowl winners have no room for improvement; Superbowl losers lean on cliches like "the better team on the day". Second-tier teams, conversely, have lain eyes upon the promised land and wept over its loss, leaving them even hungrier for the season to come. This is just enough of a loss to keep the 49ers driven, not a defeat so great as to crush spirits. It is, again, bitter-tasting medicine than noxious poison.
We can only get better... and more dangerous... from here. Those who face us in 2012 are screwed.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
There's little shame in my San Francisco 49ers going down, 20-17, in overtime to the New York Giants (I'd say "no shame", but that last-minute fumble was reprehensible). By going the distance with the east-coast crew, the Niners proved themselves one of the four best teams in the NFL. They showed they didn't make the playoffs by fluke or chance: they had unquestionably earned their place amongst 2011's elite. That's what the Niners are. What they're not is the best football team in the league.
It's all in the fumble. That sloppy, inexcusable botch is emblematic of our season-long weaknesses. For all the rebuilding we've done, the victories we've had and changes we've made, you can't win a Superbowl with field goals, high penalties and a low-ranked offence. That's the stuff of second-tier teams, and the second tier is where we've ended up. We're the most improved team of 2011 but we're not champions (yet). And that, I think, is as it should be.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted that Superbowl berth so damn badly. My hands shook as the Giants took the win and, had I not been at work, I'd likely have screamed in frustration (Kyle Williams should be milked, for he is a goddamn goat). None of that changes bitter-tasting benefit of defeat.
See, the 49ers have a history of both excellence and arrogance. We're a bunch of self-entitled pricks who like being football royalty. Had we won today and gone on to the big dance - win or lose - there's a chance that attitude could have returned. The hungry underdogs of 2011 could become 2012's fat cats and all the progress we've made would be lost. This could have been a Cinderella story that ends with an evil queen's coronation (to abuse the metaphor).
Perhaps it's better we chase the dream for a little longer. Superbowl winners have no room for improvement; Superbowl losers lean on cliches like "the better team on the day". Second-tier teams, conversely, have lain eyes upon the promised land and wept over its loss, leaving them even hungrier for the season to come. This is just enough of a loss to keep the 49ers driven, not a defeat so great as to crush spirits. It is, again, bitter-tasting medicine than noxious poison.
We can only get better... and more dangerous... from here. Those who face us in 2012 are screwed.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF