K’Waun Williams comes up big for 49ers in NFC title game

San Francisco 49ers nickelback and Pitt alum K’Waun Williams came up with a big play as well as a solid overall performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, as he forced a fumble and ranked second on his team in tackles in the contest.

The forced fumble came at the 5:39 mark in the second quarter, with the 49ers already well ahead of the sputtering Packers 17-0. Williams blitzed and caught Packers right guard Billy Turner out of position, giving him an open lane to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Taking advantage of the oblivious signal-caller, he stripped the ball, and it was recovered by 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

The 49ers would score on the ensuing drive, adding three points on a Robbie Gould kick to go up 20-0. As for Williams, he would go on to amass seven tackles, including two for losses, as well as a quarterback hit. He was also credited for a sack after stripping Rodgers.

The Packers would mount a comeback attempt in the second half, but they would ultimately fall short, losing 37-20. And with the win over the Packers, Williams and the 49ers are heading to the Super Bowl. This will be Williams' first appearance in the Super Bowl, and it will serve as the finale of his first season on a winning team, as he spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Cleveland Browns before joining the 49ers in 2017.