The first week of the 2012 NFL season is in the books, and yes, I’m still griping about how my 49ers’ season ended back in January.

I was so angry and upset (furious, really), not THAT my San Francisco 49ers lost the NFC title game, but HOW they lost.

They certainly did not lose it on defense. Their all-world D battled on the field for nearly 40 minutes against a good Giants offense that finished in the top 10 in both yards/game and points/game.  They sacked Manning 6 times for 49 yards, held them to under 300 yards passing (factoring in sack yards) and under 100 yards rushing. The defense was awesome and an absolute joy to watch the entire season.

They did not lose it on offense either. They put up 17 points and 328 yards against a very stout Giants defense that was playing extremely well toward the end of the season.  The 49ers offense gained only 24 fewer yards than the Giants despite having a time of possession 11 min. less.  The offense did not turn the ball over either.

You know who did turn the ball over and basically gave 10 points to the Giants?  Kyle Williams.  When I was watching the 49ers opening game this past Sunday, I couldn’t even look at the TV when he was back there to receive punts. It pains me even to type the name, so I’ll refer to him as KW from here on.

KW muffed TWO punts!  Not one, but TWO!  He wasn’t nailed by a streaking Giants gunner jarring the ball loose.  A Giants player didn’t punch the ball out of his two-handed kung fu grip.

No.  The first punt bounced off his knee because he couldn’t decide whether to field the ball or let it go.  And the second, and game-losing, fumble in OVERTIME(!!!) was knocked free by a routine tackle while he was already on the way down.

2 fumbles. 10 points for the other team. 1 person, and only 1 person responsible. Season lost.

I’ve tried to spread the blame around.  I’ve really tried.  Maybe they could have gotten that extra first down.  Maybe they could have held the Giants on one more 3rd down.  And that’s all true.  But they were playing against an opponent who was playing as hard as they were, wanted it as much as they did.

KW wasn’t playing against anyone or anything.  It wasn’t raining.  The ball wasn’t slippery.  The refs didn’t throw a flag into his face mask. None of that happened. The elements were not to blame.  It was all KW.  And that’s why the 49ers didn’t go on to win Super Bowl XLVI.

And you can’t say they might not have won in the Super Bowl.  Yes, they freaking would have.  Because the 49ers don’t lose Super Bowls.

I come from the George Seifert School of Not Getting Excited About Anything. When there’s another Super Bowl trophy in the lobby of the 4949 Centennial Blvd. in Santa Clara, maybe I’ll crack a smile. With that said, it’ll take me a while to get over this.  Here’s to another Super Bowl run.