If it’s true, as the saying goes, that “defense wins championships,” the NFL’s conference title games offered ample evidence that special teams can lose them.
“You’re going to need special teams. A kick will win a game more often than a run or pass will win the game, and a special teams tackle can make a big difference,” former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green said in a telephone interview Monday.
“There’s nothing like it when it all works,” added Green, now an NFL Network analyst. “And there’s nothing worse when it doesn’t work.”
The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers found that out the hard way Sunday.
First, the Ravens wasted an easy opportunity to force overtime in the AFC championship game when Billy Cundiff pushed a 32-yard field-goal attempt wide left, letting the New England Patriots escape with a 23-20 victory.
Then, in a windy and rainy NFC championship game a few hours later, the 49ers handed the Giants the football and great field position in overtime when fill-in returner Kyle Williams fumbled a punt — his second turnover of the game on a return — and New York soon was celebrating its 20-17 victory on Lawrence Tynes’ 31-yard kick.
“Those games
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