Play of the game

The final play of the Niners/Giants game on Sunday was truly incredible. Yes, Justin Smith got his hands up and blocked that ball, preventing a completed pass. But, if you watch the play again, you will see Giants tight end Jake Ballard, who made two great catches during the game and runs 6'6" 275 lbs. covered by Patrick Willis, the best linebacker in the entire league. Willis didn't just cover him, he was all over him. He stuck with Ballard's every move and prevented Manning from being able to make a big play to tie the football game. Patrick Willis was quoted in the San Francisco chronicle recently, saying " To be on track the way we are, to be able to be winning, I'll do whatever it takes. I don't care if I have to go back and play in the middle of the field." Well, that's EXACTLY what he did on the final play of the most important game in Niners football this decade. He covered the guy that was going to get the ball, he made sure that there was absolutely no way the ball would be completed to his guy and he put his teammates in a place to make a big play, which Justin Smith did.

Willis was asked about his stats (he is on pace for a career low 123 tackle season) and it was brought to his attention that his stats were down and he wasn't on track to have as many tackles as in years past. He said "It's not about the tackles or sacks or stats, It's about winning, that's what we're doing and that's what I am all for." Often times we hear players say that and then with their actions on the field, they tell us a different story, but not Willis. He's the team MVP on defense, he's the captain of men, but he's the consummate team player on a football team that has proven that this is not about one guy, it's about everyone on this team pulling in the same direction, doing what's best for the team.