49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo flips a second-quarter go within the NFC divisional playoff sport Saturday evening in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.
Certainly one of these quarterbacks shouldn't be just like the others.
There's Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow and . . . drum roll please . . . Jimmy Garoppolo.
Three franchise quarterbacks who delivered in spectacular vogue over a spectacular weekend of NFL divisional playoffs and a man who's awaiting a commerce or launch to play elsewhere in 2022. Two might be within the Tremendous Bowl on Feb. 13.
Mahomes introduced his crew again twice within the ultimate 1:02 Sunday evening, driving the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to a game-tying discipline objective regardless of getting the ball for the final time in regulation with 13 seconds left. After which taking Kansas Metropolis the space in time beyond regulation. It was 42-36 over Buffalo, an on the spot all-time traditional, positive to ignite arguments for a change in time beyond regulation guidelines as a result of the Payments’ Josh Allen by no means noticed the ball.
Stafford was 28 of 38 for 366 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He prevented the Rams from a whole collapse with a 44-yard strike to Cooper Kupp with 28 seconds left. It arrange a 30-yard Matt Homosexual discipline objective on the gun for a 30-27 win and gave the Rams a 3rd shot on the 49ers.
Burrow someway weathered 9 sacks and accomplished 28 of 37 passes for 348 yards in a 19-16 win over Cincinnati, coolly finishing a 19-yard out path to Ja’Marr Chase with 20 seconds left. The Bengals eradicated Tennessee on a 52-yard discipline objective by Evan McPherson.
Garoppolo was no much less dramatic, however as common, statistically inferior. In frigid situations, Garoppolo was 11 of 19 for 131 yards and an interception. He had key completions to Deebo Samuel and George Kittle on a game-winning drive that arrange Robbie Gould’s 45-yard discipline objective in a 13-10 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
However when it received to third-and-7, coach Kyle Shanahan opted to run the ball with Samuel for 9 yards fairly than threat having Jimmy G go up prime. You suppose that occurs with Mahomes, Burrow or Stafford? They're every the way forward for their respective franchises and might throw any route at any distance with precision.
Garoppolo struggles on sideline passes and normally has one inexplicable turnover per sport. And that was earlier than having torn ligaments in his throwing thumb and a sprained throwing shoulder. Garoppolo led his crew to 6 factors in a divisional playoff, however in the event you polled the gamers, they wouldn’t need anybody else.
Jimmy G wins, and it’s actually all they care about. They’ve watched how Garoppolo has dealt with the arrival of Trey Lance and functioned in Shanahan’s system. He delivers when it issues even when it isn’t all the time with the breathtaking go or broken-field scramble.
Can Garoppolo ship two extra wins and a Tremendous Bowl ring? If that's the case, he’d be the primary quarterback to depart his crew after a championship since Baltimore’s Trent Dilfer gained with a defensive juggernaut in 2000 and located himself in Seattle in 2001, with the Ravens choosing Elvis Grbac as a substitute.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/c7Ju98M1i7
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 24, 2022
This week’s rankings with postseason data:
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis (8-2): Mahomes needed to get extra affected person this season due to the best way he’s defended, had an early run of turnovers, however has the Chiefs within the driver’s seat to SoFi Stadium and the Tremendous Bowl. His duel with Allen was a clinic in fashionable quarterback play.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati (2-0): Burrow by no means misplaced his composure regardless of seeing his offensive line overwhelmed by Tennessee and was unfazed by his lone interception. The Bengals actually owe it to themselves this offseason to get Burrow some bodyguards within the draft and free company and he’ll be particular for a very long time.
3. Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams (2-3): Stafford was downright dangerous within the Rams’ Week 10 regular-season loss to the 49ers after which pale after a powerful begin in Week 18. Sure, he misplaced to Garoppolo twice. And in the event you lined up 32 NFL expertise evaluators and informed them they may choose the one they need, they’d all take Stafford.
4. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (4-1): If Garoppolo beats Stafford a 3rd time, it’s possible a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LIV in opposition to the Chiefs and Mahomes. He’d be compelled to relive the missed put up to Emmanuel Sanders numerous occasions. If it’s Cincinnati, it will be the third time the 49ers confronted the Bengals within the Tremendous Bowl. Joe Montana gained in opposition to Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason. Hopefully one or the opposite occurs. Nice story both approach.
WHAT. A. BEAUT.
📺: @NFLonCBSpic.twitter.com/zgKSB4yG7z
— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) January 24, 2022
Assessing the vanquished
Josh Allen of the Payments by no means received a shot in time beyond regulation within the “sudden dying” state of affairs the place the Chiefs scored a landing on their first possession. He accomplished 27 of 37 passes for 329 yards, 4 touchdowns to Gabriel Davis, had 68 yards speeding and threw eight landing passes with no interceptions in two postseason video games. The time beyond regulation rule is getting skewered, however the largest drawback was a Buffalo protection that allow Allen down.
Have a tough time believing Tom Brady goes to hold it up after main the Bucs from a 27-3 deficit to a 27-27 tie solely to see all of it vanish on an ill-timed zero blitz by his personal protection. The Rams’ turnovers helped, however Brady seems to be like he’ll nonetheless be a pressure at age 45 if he needs it.
Aaron Rodgers all however mentioned he’s headed out the door in Inexperienced Bay, which suggests both retirement or a brand new crew (Denver?). Sadly, his playoff legacy, which is light-years from his regular-season legacy, will go along with him. It’s heavy baggage after the best way he was shut down by the 49ers.
Dak Prescott of Dallas might be answering questions on his ill-fated, time-killing quarterback keeper in opposition to the 49ers within the wild card spherical till such a time he wins a Tremendous Bowl. He additionally advocated followers throwing particles at officers. Dangerous look, even with the apology.
The Raiders’ Derek Carr threw it wanting the objective line on the ultimate play of the season in opposition to Cincinnati with the sport on the road. Now he awaits a brand new basic supervisor, will most likely have a brand new coach, after which will discover out if he’s getting a brand new begin elsewhere. Has polarized the fan base for eight years. A handful of groups would like to have him.
It was an especially disappointing postseason debut for Arizona’s Kyler Murray, whose panic-stricken pick-six in opposition to the Rams helped gas a 34-11 loss within the wild card spherical.
Tennessee made it to the highest seed with mirrors underneath Mike Vrabel, and in addition with a quarterback in Ryan Tannehill who threw three interceptions and had a 66.7 passer score in dwelling loss to the Bengals.
New England rookie Mac Jones was useful and principally error-free for a lot of the season. However he was saved underneath wraps by Invoice Belichick and Josh McDaniel and pale when it mattered.
Does Philadelphia have its quarterback of the longer term in Jalen Hurts? Hurts can transfer like Mahomes and Allen, however there’s no proof he can throw like them.
Assuming it’s over for Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers, who achieved greater than you'll have anticipated the final couple of years for somebody who can not throw the ball downfield.