San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) huddles up along with his group whereas enjoying the Minnesota Vikings within the first quarter of their NFL recreation at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
LOS ANGELES — The NFL appears on the verge of a tectonic shift. 9 franchises are hiring new coaches. Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterbacks are in limbo. Chaos can start any second.
Then there are the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, NFC West rivals closing in on a Tremendous Bowl return.
One might be the subsequent champion, the subsequent dynasty.
Their race to the NFC summit finishes Sunday, with certainly one of them successful the Halas Trophy at SoFi Stadium, the place the victor returns for Tremendous Bowl LVI two weeks later.
In fact, the dynasty-forming Kansas Metropolis Chiefs is perhaps ready for them, of their third straight Tremendous Bowl in the event that they win the AFC crown towards Cincinnati.
Looking forward to a Tremendous Bowl is taboo. Reflecting on a move Tremendous Bowl defeat, nonetheless, is an appropriate inspiration.
“It was actually powerful to lose that particularly with the group we had,” Nick Bosa mentioned.” Now it’s turning into extraordinarily actual that we will be there once more.”
The 2018 Rams and the ’19 Niners sustained Tremendous Bowl losses, then missed the playoffs the subsequent 12 months, per hangover protocol. Now, they’re on the hunt, for overdue vengeance, one may say.
“The factor I keep in mind most from watching (Tremendous Bowl LIV) and listening to it was George Kittle saying we’re going to be again, and again with a vengeance,” kicker Robbie Gould mentioned. “That’s one thing that’ at all times caught in my thoughts since we misplaced to KC.
“However much more essential, you’ve obtained the proper group of hungry guys from ’19 but in addition some nice additions type different locations which were by way of the identical expertise.”
Virtually half (22) of the 49ers’ 2019 roster stays. Solely 12 Rams stay from 2018.
Will the Rams really feel like they’re entitled to the Tremendous Bowl berth as a result of that Lombardi Trophy will probably be awarded on their house area Feb. 13? Will the 49ers play as determined and efficiently as their previous three elimination video games?
Listed here are 5 methods for the 49ers to advance to their eighth Tremendous Bowl:
1. RUN AT AND PAST THEM
The 49ers ran for 125 yards after halftime final assembly. That got here after simply 10 yards on 5 carries en path to a 17-3, first-half deficit.
Racking up carries, yards and minutes is what the 49ers’ offense does greatest. Nicely, that and coming by way of within the clutch, like they did towards the Rams in Week 18, to not point out Saturday night time at Inexperienced Bay, the place Deebo Samuel’s third-down conversion run arrange Gould’s game-winning kick.
Samuel took a beating final recreation, with hits to his proper leg and shoulder. He’s powerful, nonetheless, and the 49ers’ most bodily imposing receiver/rusher because the likes of Anquan Boldin, Frank Gore and Terrell Owens.
Elijah Mitchell is averaging 3.4 yards per carry within the playoffs, with solely certainly one of his 44 carries going for a landing, and his longest run has been 16 yards. There’s extra in these rookie legs, and his imaginative and prescient is required to seek out lanes by way of an imposing defensive entrance, with assist of the mastery Shanahan appears to scheme up every assembly.
Left deal with Trent Williams’ ankle harm is a priority, and though he missed final recreation towards the Rams with an elbow sprain, he doubtless received’t miss his first NFC Championship Sport. Simply don’t count on him to line up as a lead-blocking fullback like he did twice in Inexperienced Bay.
However count on the Rams’ zone protection to be as susceptible as ever towards the 49ers’ speeding assault.
2. BETTER PASS RUSH
Say neither group can run and management the clock. Say one has to air it out in a comeback. Then catastrophe awaits if these punishing defensive fronts can assault such a one-dimensional scheme.
The Rams’ supply star energy in Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, and others. Every assembly, the 49ers linemen and blockers surprisingly reply that problem, even on the proper aspect the place guard Daniel Brunskill appears to magically rework into Donald’s kryptonite. Proper deal with Tom Compton’s move safety regressed at Inexperienced Bay, so he’ll should be on his A-game, maybe with assist from Kittle or different double-team blocks.
The 49ers sacked Matthew Stafford 5 instances of their regular-season finale, then Dak Prescott 5 instances in Dallas, then Aaron Rodgers 5 instances within the divisional spherical.
This defensive entrance is certainly deeper and warmer than their 2019 famed unit. Arik Armstead and D.J. Jones are keys to disrupting this recreation from the inside, caving within the pocket whereas Nick Bosa (18 sacks) brackets in Stafford together with former Rams’ move rusher Samson Ebukam. Others to observe are Raiders castoff Arden Key, Packers’ punt blocker Jordan Willis and ex-Texans prospect Charles Omenihu.
Such strain will assist a secondary that’s come on so sturdy it deserves a nickname, reminiscent of “The Secret Service,” contemplating its veteran presence and willingness to step up currently within the line of fireplace.
3. OFFENSIVE CATALYSTS
Samuel and the Rams’ Cooper Kupp made first-team All-Professional, and so they didn’t cease there.
These offensive catalysts have come by way of within the playoffs. Which might make the larger affect?
The 49ers’ key to containing Kupp isn't letting him get behind the safeties and into the open area for one or two of Stafford’s down-field daggers. Let Kupp get his 100-plus yards on beneath routes along with his nifty footwork and certain fingers.
Samuel should will the 49ers’ offense, but once more. All eyes will probably be on him. He, like Garoppolo, is 6-0 towards the Rams. When the 49ers aren’t ushering Samuel across the edge with the ball, going to him within the air will work simply effective, too.
“Often, broad receivers are prima donnas and guys who don’t need a lot contact,” Bosa mentioned. “… Clearly, Deebo is only a savage soccer participant. Nothing extra to it. He’s a beast.”
4. TURNOVER TIME
What group can fumble away 4 of its remaining 10 possessions and nonetheless survive? The Rams. Nicely, then, the 49ers will simply should power 5 turnovers this recreation, proper?
No, only one might do the trick if it’s well timed.
Stafford’s aggressive nature contributed to a career-high 17 interceptions within the common season. That included two towards the 49ers in Week 18 – an athletic effort by Emmanuel Moseley on a deep shot, after which the game-winning clincher in time beyond regulation by Ambry Thomas.
How comfy will the Rams be at hand off to Cam Akers, who fumbled twice Sunday in Tampa?
Conversely, the 49ers don’t ever get too comfy on a Garoppolo move. He’s yielded six interceptions the previous 4 video games. General, he’s totaled 14 interceptions towards 20 landing passes. The 49ers are 7-0 when none of his passes are intercepted (187 makes an attempt in these begins), and, as Garoppolo’s staunch supporters love to notice, he's 35-15 because the 49ers’ starter and 4-1 in playoff motion.
The 49ers haven’t misplaced a fumble within the playoffs, and rookie working again Ellijah Mitchell (to not jinx him or something) has zero misplaced fumbles in 274 touches.
5. SOMEBODY UNEXPECTED
Garoppolo owns two Tremendous Bowl rings as Tom Brady’s backup in New England, and that is his second NFC remaining in three years. He is aware of the quirks that include playoff soccer.
“Each postseason that I’ve been paying shut consideration to over the previous years, there’s at all times any individual who you received’t count on to make the play, (and so they) make the play,” Garoppolo mentioned. “And whether or not it’s our group, one other group, it’s simply one thing that I’ve observed through the years.”
Did anybody discover Jordan Willis was even on the 49ers earlier than he blocked a punt, which rookie Talanoa Hufanga recovered for a tying landing, making each gamers family names, not less than in 49ers’ houses?
“What he did was unimaginable and he performed an enormous half in successful that recreation for us,” Garoppolo added of Willis. “So when you could have guys do this, that’s what makes for a superb group, man. That’s what makes you powerful to beat.”
So who're the candidates for unlikely heroes?
Nicely, by definition, that may’t be a Professional Bowler. That guidelines out the 49ers’ Williams, Samuel, Nick Bosa, Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle; and, the Rams’ Donald, Kupp, Jalen Ramsey, and kicker Matt Homosexual.
It might be a 49ers’ defensive linemen with a strip-sack. Linebacker “Huge Play” Dre Greenlaw would make sense, as would any cornerback who makes an interception. Perhaps it will likely be Ebukam, who was on that 2018 Rams’ group that misplaced within the Tremendous Bowl to Brady’s Buccaneers.
SoFi Stadium would be the remaining cease, a technique or one other.
“The one factor I’m missing now could be being a world champion,” the Rams’ Donald mentioned. “However to get to that time, we’ve obtained to win this week.”