These are the moments that define who you are as a kickers; will you go down as one of the best do ever do or will you be remembered for not getting the win for your team?
This is the tale of two kickers: Billy Cundiff of the Baltimore Ravens and Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants.
After both the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens had given it their all, the Ravens looked to kicker Billy Cundiff to tie the game at 23-23 to force overtime but it didn’t happen. Cundiff who had been lights out for the majority of the season missed a 32 yard field with only seconds remaining in regulation.
The Baltimore Ravens did exactly what they had to do in order to win yesterday’s game. They limited that explosive Patriots offense holding Tom Brady to 239 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions
What led to the missed kicked?
Yesterday Ravens’ QB Joey Flacco was having the best playoff performance of his career, he led the Baltimore offense right down the field on their final possession of the game and Lee Evans dropped what would have been the game winning touchdown in the endzone.
Come on Lee you’re a pro… You’ve gotta secure the ball before you begin the celebration sir!
Flacco completed 22 of 36 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns in the heartbreaking loss for Baltimore.
In the NFC…
The New York Giants visiting the San Francisco 49ers was just as dramatic as the AFC championship game, after both teams went back and forth the entire game it would ultimately take overtime to decide who’d win the NFC crown.
With San Francisco’s Ted Ginn, Jr. hurt the 49ers had to depend on Kyle Williams to return punts for the team. Williams, who had already fumbled once during the game coughed up the ball on a punt return deep in San Fran territory that led to Lawrence Tynes 31-yard field goal to give the Giants the 20-17 victory.
Much like the Baltimore Ravens the 49ers did all they could to win their ballgame, Alex Smith passed for 196 yards with the two touchdowns and Frank Gore ran for 74 yards in the loss.
The Niner defense sacked Manning six times but couldn’t recover from Kyle Williams’ two turnovers.
Eli Manning threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Giants back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2007 when the Giants defeated the undefeated Patriots 17-14.
Rob Calloway can be reached at robert.calloway@cbsradio.com. Follow him on Twitter at @robcalloway3
Get Caught Up On “What Everybody’s Talking About” In The Sports Kingdom!!! Sports Kings Radio, Saturday & Sunday 12n-4p on 1380 WAOK(Atlanta) and waok.com Follow “The Kings” on Facebook.com/sportskingsatl and on Twitter @sportskings1380.
