Dangerous thumb and all, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo delivered within the clutch because the 49ers beat the Rams 27-24 in extra time to shut the common season.
Think about the 49ers down by a degree Sunday in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in entrance of 80,000 screaming followers.
They’re at their very own 20-yard-line, the two-minute warning is approaching, and the complete season is on the road.
Nervous?
Not Jimmy Garoppolo.
“As a quarterback, these are the moments, the drives, that you just reside for,” Garoppolo stated in a video convention Wednesday prematurely of their wild-card playoff recreation in opposition to the Cowboys. “You wish to have the ball on the finish of the sport.”
Garoppolo desires the ball virtually as a lot as his teammates need him to have it. Backside traces being what they're within the NFL, Garoppolo will carry with him an overthrow of Emmanuel Sanders and a tough fourth quarter in a loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LIV.
However the reality is, Garoppolo has typically been at his greatest when the scenario is dire. That was the case in a 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 that gave the 49ers (10-7) a No. 6 seed within the playoffs and a date with No. 3 Dallas (12-5), champions of the NFC East.
The 49ers trailed the Rams 24-17 and have been at their very own 12-yard line after a good catch of a Johnny Hekker punt by Travis Benjamin. Only one:27 remained on the clock.
Garoppolo acquired it executed with 26 seconds to spare, throwing a 14-yard game-tying landing go to Jauan Jennings on the fifth play of a drive that by no means made it to 3rd down.
All that was left was for Garoppolo to guide the 49ers to a 69-yard, 12-play drive in extra time that led to a 24-yard discipline objective by Robbie Gould, and for Ambry Thomas to ship an interception to clinch a victory in a recreation the 49ers trailed 17-0 within the first half.
All with a extreme thumb sprain that was taped and numbed by painkillers.
Even for a franchise that boasts Corridor of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Younger, it was spectacular stuff and sufficient to make you marvel why a lot of the media and fan base have been pushing so arduous for Trey Lance to get a head-start on the long run.
Garoppolo’s limitations aren’t a secret. Must play in rhythm. Not significantly cellular. Has hassle throwing outdoors the numbers to the boundary. Uncorks the occasional head-scratching interception.
However Garoppolo is 31-14 as a 49ers starter, and in 9 of these video games he’s introduced his crew from behind within the fourth quarter.
Coach Kyle Shanahan lauds Garoppolo’s penchant for “letting it rip” in large moments, and by no means was that extra evident than a 43-yard go to Deebo Samuel to the Los Angeles 19-yard line in the course of the game-tying drive.
Garoppolo gave a post-game glimpse of the second and all that it entailed by way of processing the protection and understanding the scenario.
“They performed a shell, I believe (Jalen) Ramsey was the cloud and I used to be doing a high-low with him, making an attempt to get him to chunk on George (Kittle),” Garoppolo stated. “He took one step to it, I knew I had a window to Deebo and it was fairly tight . . . when you may have the fellows that we've, these guys are going to make performs for you. That’s all I used to be making an attempt to do, let these guys make performs and be particular.”
Jimmy G to Deebo saves the #49ers season. pic.twitter.com/d2jWbRYDuo
— NFL Limitless (@NFLUnlimited) January 10, 2022
If that sounds complicated, consider Garoppolo processed all that in a cut up second. It’s one thing he’s executed typically since becoming a member of the 49ers after being acquired by commerce from New England on Oct. 30 in 2017.
In his 49ers beginning debut in opposition to the Chicago Bears, Garoppolo led an 86-yard, 14-play drive in a tie recreation with Gould delivering a game-winning 24-yard discipline objective on the gun.
Two weeks later, the 49ers and Garoppolo acquired the ball with 1:07 left and took the offense 48 yards in seven performs for Gould’s 45-yard discipline objective and one other game-winner in opposition to Tennessee.
When the 49ers went 13-3 in 2019, Garoppolo drove the 49ers for a game-tying discipline objective in opposition to Seattle with one second left by Chase McLaughlin though they misplaced 24-21 in extra time. A 48-46 street win over New Orleans was made attainable by a 63-yard drive within the last 53 seconds, and a nine-play, 60-yard drive in opposition to the Rams within the final 1:17 enabled the 49ers to win 34-31.
In that recreation, Garoppolo twice transformed on third-and-16 to arrange the successful discipline objective.
In Week 3 this season in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, Garoppolo drove the 49ers 75 yards in eight performs, throwing a 12-yard landing go to Kyle Juszczyk for a 28-27 lead with 37 seconds left. The 49ers misplaced when Aaron Rodgers acquired the Packers in place for game-ending discipline objective.
A 95-yard, 12-play drive in Seattle went for naught when Carlos Dunlap batted down Garoppolo’s fourth-down go with Jennings ready ultimately zone on fourth and objective with 22 seconds left.
A 26-23 extra time win over Cincinnati got here when Garoppolo led the 49ers to landing after the Bengals had scored on the primary extra time possession. In a 20-17 loss to Tennessee, the 49ers tied the sport with 2:20 left on a 2-yard go from Garoppolo to Brandon Aiyuk.
Shanahan credit Garoppolo’s fast launch and talent to keep away from sacks when the go rush is at its most intense.
“For those who get sacked, normally the drive is over,” Shanahan stated. “Jimmy’s executed an actual good job with the ability to eliminate it.”
Juszczyk stated Garoppolo had an “aura” about him earlier this season, and it’s clear Garoppolo additionally attracts power from their perception in him when it issues most.
“When crunch time comes, we've guys you possibly can inform need the ball of their arms,” Garoppolo stated. “That’s what it actually comes all the way down to.”