So Close, But No Celebration

Disppointment reigned in spades Sunday at hundreds of Bay Area 49ers game parties -- including house parties in Healdsburg -- at the heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the New York Giants.

The loss, during the team's first NFC Championship game since 1998, ends chances of the 49ers' wildly anticipated sixth trip to the Super Bowl. Instead, the Giants will face AFC Championship winner New England Patriots at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on Feb. 5.

"It's just a shame," said Brad Cott, who wore his red 49ers sweat shirt to a game-watching party at the home of Patch columnistand his wife Karen Kallen.

who also wore red, said she was disappointed -- though, as a New Jersey girl originally, she could have also celebrated her hometown New York Giants' win as well, she said.

"But I've been here (in California) a lot longer," Linda Cott said.

Tied 17-17 at the end of regular play, the game was a nailbiter from start to finish. But the gut-wrenching mistake came during overtime, when a fumble by 49ers player Kyle Williams set the Giants up for a field goal deep in 49ers territory.

For a game recap by Sporting News, click here.