49ers' Kyle Williams wants to atone for fumbles against Giants
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams lays on the ground after losing a fumble during overtime of the NFC Championship. (Jan. 22, 2012) Credit: AP
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The words from the 49ers' Kyle Williams had a touch of irony. He was talking about Sunday's game against the Giants at Candlestick Park by referencing the teams' NFC Championship Game there last January.
The game in which Williams had two crucial turnovers that helped the Giants win, 20-17, in overtime.
"We look at it as something we should have had," Williams said Tuesday at the 49ers' training complex. "Going into this year, we're going to make sure we don't leave anything like that on the field again."
Anything like the football? With the Niners ahead 14-10 in the fourth quarter, Williams, back to receive a punt, was grazed by the ball as he tried to step away. The Giants recovered, and Eli Manning threw a touchdown pass to Mario Manningham (now a 49er) for a 17-14 lead.
A 49ers field goal sent the game into overtime, when Williams fielded a punt at his 19-yard line and was stripped by Jacquian Williams. Devin Thomas recovered the fumble and Lawrence Tynes kicked the field goal that sent the Giants to the Super Bowl.
Kyle Williams, son of White Sox general manager Ken Williams, received death threats on Twitter afterward, but he said he has moved beyond his mistakes and the threats.
"I'll be comfortable this weekend," he said. "I can't wait."
Williams caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith on Sunday as the 49ers set a franchise record of 621 yards in a 45-3 rout of the Bills.
He admitted that when the NFL schedule was released in April, he noted -- "100 percent" -- the game against the Giants, which Smith labeled unfinished business.
"After what happened last year," Williams said, "I definitely want to get back at these guys, but nothing out of the ordinary. We want to beat the teams that beat us, the Ravens, Arizona. We want to win every single game."
After the NFC Championship Game, Jacquian Williams was quoted as saying the Giants knew Kyle Williams had suffered four concussions and were trying to "take him out of the game."
Kyle Williams never used the concussions as an excuse.
"I don't think it was something that was a major focal point then," he said. "It sounds stupid when you look back at it. You are playing football. Everybody is trying to get to the ball, and everyone is trying to make a play on the ball.
"I think we're a stronger team than last year. We had an offseason to work together. We've got more weapons, added a few guys, and they've helped us."
