SAN FRANCISCO – Alex Smith reared back and launched a deep throw toward 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams. It was early in the second quarter, the score tied 7-7, and Williams was streaking up the middle of the field with a step, or three, on the nearest New York Giants defensive back.

Smith's pass, however, carried out of the reach of his receiver's hands.

And the closest thing to a big gain by a 49ers receiver in San Francisco's NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants on Sunday fell harmlessly to the soggy grass of Candlestick Park.

With an injured Ted Ginn Jr. inactive, the 49ers' receivers finished with one catch for three yards against the Giants. Smith found Michael Crabtree for the three-yard gain in the fourth quarter – one of nine throws he made targeting either Crabtree or Williams.

While Smith connected with tight end Vernon Davis on two deep touchdown throws in the 49ers' 20-17 overtime loss, the receiving corps was held quiet by a Giants secondary that players said challenged the 49ers' offense with multiple looks and aggressive play at the line of scrimmage.

"They mixed it up a lot today (in coverage)," Smith said. "Mixed it up a lot. There wasn't one thing that jumps out at me. …

"We stayed up all throughout the game, but we just weren't able to get into a rhythm, get any guys going outside. It limited us."

Tight end Delanie Walker, who caught two passes for 36 yards, said the Giants' defensive backs were "really trying to grab us off the ball, make sure they held us up. (They) kept safeties over the top and pressed us, trying to hold us up, not letting us get off the ball."

Smith attempted relatively few deep outside throws, instead targeting running back Frank Gore eight times and Davis five times. Gore had the most catches for the 49ers – six for 45 yards.

Smith said he and the passing game were not influenced heavily by the rainy conditions early in the game, though he attempted just seven passes in the first half.

Crabtree agreed.

"It wasn't the weather," he said. "The other (team) was catching the ball, making throws."

Crabtree emerged this season as a go-to option for Smith, finishing the regular season with a team-high 72 catches. He was the only 49ers receiver with more than 20 catches as the group dealt with health issues including nagging injuries to Ginn and the broken leg suffered by Joshua Morgan on Oct. 8 against Tampa Bay.

But after catching four passes in the 49ers' win over the New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs, Crabtree was thrown to five times against the Giants.

After Sunday's game, Crabtree was clearly frustrated by his lack of opportunities. Asked if he felt he was open at times, he said: "Half the time, you ain't going to be open. That's why they call them playmakers. You give them chances. I can't say anything else."

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