San Francisco 49ers center linebacker Fred Warner, left, celebrates with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) after the 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL wild-card playoff soccer recreation in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. (AP Picture/Roger Steinman)
ARLINGTON, Texas – How do sportswriters have fun after beating a playoff-game deadline on the highway?
The microwavable pizza went in for 4 minutes, a bottle of Texas’ most interesting Yellow Rose IPA was cracked, and Room 426’s tv kindly replayed the 49ers’ win over the Cowboys.
Therefore, extra writing was executed whereas my colleagues and I had our personal re-watch social gathering. My notes, after reserving journey to Inexperienced Bay for Saturday’s subsequent playoff tilt:
— If the 49ers win once more, Aaron Rodgers falls to 0-4 in opposition to his childhood staff in playoff video games, fairly a stain on a Packers’ legacy that might finish Saturday.
— If Rodgers desires to defect to the 49ers like final spring, can a two-time reigning MVP actually be stiff-armed, in additional favor of Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance? Properly, a six-time champ was, and now he has seven rings (see: Brady, Tom).
— Final one on Rodgers: his three years on the bench behind Brett Favre will likely be Exhibit A if the 49ers sit Lance one other yr, behind a playoff-conquering Garoppolo (or Rodgers). A lot for mimicking Patrick Mahomes’ one-year apprenticeship.
— Was Nick Bosa executed in by a second shooter in Dallas? Earlier than his head collided with the best hip of 305-pound teammate D.J. Jones, Bosa took successful to the helmet by proper sort out La’el Collins, whose takedown of Bosa drew a holding penalty.
— Bosa’s thumbs-up to the gang was harking back to the 49ers’ final playoff opener. Two years in the past in opposition to the Vikings, Bosa rose from an damage scare, pointed to the house crowd chanting his identify and playfully strutted to the sideline. Fairly certain the 49ers Trustworthy bellowed out “Bosa, Bosa!” in Dallas, too
— Why should tv and press-box announcers insist on calling Bosa by his brother Joey’s identify? By the way in which, it’s cool that Nickelodeon was exhibiting/sliming the sport — or was it on Joeylodeon?
— “I’m furious if I’m a Cowboys fan,” says famous Cowboys fan Tony Romo, who was excessive and excessive strung as CBS’ shade man throughout Dallas’ comeback. John Madden didn’t choose sides, apart from his love of linemen and turducken.
— Twenty years after his dad performed for the 49ers, Cedrick Wilson Jr. misplaced a ball within the solar, fumbled one out of bounds, dedicated one in all Dallas’ 14 penalties, and was Dak Prescott’s goal on Okay’Waun Williams’ interception.
— Williams third-quarter theft atoned for giving up Prescott’s lone landing go within the first quarter. Every week earlier, Williams didn't play as he recovered from COVID. He’s apparently the 49ers’ solely unvaccinated participant; he wore a masks to Sunday’s postgame interview.
— “Horrible,” Jimmie Ward mentioned of failing to catch a 55-yard bomb, which he appeared to alligator arm because the objective line approached him.
— Travis Benjamin’s first reception as a 49er – and first since 2019 – got here on Garoppolo’s first go Sunday. It went for 17 yards. Benjamin wears No. 17, when you didn’t know who that was.
— Greatest route: Final two minutes of the third quarter, Brandon Aiyuk jukes All-Professional rookie Trevon Diggs, and though it’s overthrown, Aiyuk tried to make a leaping catch. Such additional effort received him a third-down conversion earlier within the recreation.
— No kicker in NFL playoff historical past is extra correct than Robbie Gould (18-of-18 on area objective makes an attempt, 31-of-31 on point-after kicks).
— The final two minutes had been like a NBA recreation, lengthy after Gould had drained his 3-pointers like Steph Curry.
— Garoppolo’s fourth-quarter passer score in 4 playoff begins: 19.4, the NFL’s lowest within the final 30 years, in accordance with Josh Dubow of the Related Press. Garoppolo is 9-of-20 for 93 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns. Oh, he’s additionally 3-1.
— “Hope the devoted present my man @JimmyG_10 the love he deserves. There's a motive he has a lot love and respect from his teammates.” — Richard Sherman tweeted (and Lance retweet with an emphatic endorsement).
— Greatest penalty: Guard Daniel Brunskill getting wrestled to the bottom and drawing a holding name on Dallas’ Randy Gregory, leading to a primary down after Samuel received stopped for no acquire, in what would have been third-and-9 with 1:31 to go.
— Dallas ran seven instances on its second-quarter landing drive. The remainder of the sport: 14 carries and 49 go performs, together with 5 sacks and a faux punt completion.
— Josh Norman certain received fooled on the Cowboys’ faux punt, perhaps as a result of he thought it’d clank off the overhead jumbotron, like an earlier do-over. Possibly Norman ought to be executed fooling the 49ers.
— This was the 49ers’ first playoff win in Dallas, the place they misplaced their 1971 and ’93 groups misplaced within the NFC Championship Sport.
— Unsure who Kyle Shanahan awarded the sport ball, nevertheless it gained’t high what Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor did after the franchise’s first playoff win in 31 years. Taylor honored the locals by dropping off recreation balls at three taverns. A genius method to bar hop.
— If the Cowboys sack Mike McCarthy, they will keep away from the interview charade that eight different groups are doing now for vacancies. They need to promote defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who received his NFL begin 20 years in the past with Steve Mariucci’s 49ers.
— My next-coach predications: Broncos – Quinn; Vikings — Jim Harbaugh; Giants — Brian Flores; Bears – Doug Pederson; Jaguars – Byron Leftwich; Dolphins – Brian Daboll; Texans – Josh McDaniels; Raiders – Wealthy Bisaccia.
— Garoppolo and George Kittle lastly received on the identical web page for at the least one catch – and one postgame prepare of thought concerning the wild ending. Stated Garoppolo: “It made for some good TV, I suppose.” Stated Kittle: “I believe the Niners make for excellent TV.”
I’ll you'll want to watch the replay Saturday night time in Inexperienced Bay. Everybody’s invited to my room. Once more.