49ERS REPORT CARD
Here is how the 49ers (10-7) graded in their 27-24 overtime win over the Los Angels Rams (12-5), which secured the NFC’s No. 6 seed and Sunday’s wild-card playoff game at the No. 3 seed Dallas Cowboys:
PASS OFFENSE: A
Jimmy Garoppolo solidified a spot in 49ers QB lore – a good spot – by leading a last-minute touchdown drive to force overtime, then delivering more in the extra session (4-of-5, 50 yards) to set up the winning field goal. Garoppolo has never claimed to be perfect, and no one expected that with a sprained thumb, so harp on his strip-sack fumble and interceptions, but that late-game grit and leadership (plus 316 yards) is why he’s a captain and an inspiring winner among his teammates. Getting just enough gas on a pass to Deebo Samuel for a 43-yard reception to the 19was critical, setting up the 14-yard tying touchdown to Jauan Jennings, whose breakout game (six catches, 94 yards) included OT catches for 34 and 9 yards. Overlooked were Brandon Aiyuk’s 107 yards, George Kittle’s all-around effort and don’t forget the offensive line overcoming Trent Williams’ absence, with Colton McKivitz starting at left tackle in his first reps all season.
RUN OFFENSE: B+
Slow traffic in the first half eventually cleared up as Elijah Mitchell ran for 85 yards, giving him 963 yards in his rookie season (and 37short of becoming the 49ers’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Gore in 2014). Samuel, stopped for a 2-yard loss on his first carry, came on strong, as expected, and had twice as many carries (eight, 45 yards) as receptions (four, 95 yards), plus a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jennings to tie it at 17 in the third quarter. Garopppolo’s only carry: converting on a third-and-1 sneak, sore thumb and all.
PASS DEFENSE: B
Let’s just cut to the end and praise rookie Ambry Thomas for his win-clinching interception, on Matthew Stafford’s 42-yard heave out of the two-minute warning. And let’s praise the consistent pass rush that led to five sacks and 13hits on Stafford. Huge efforts by Arik Armstead (2½ sacks), Arden Key, Nick Bosa, D.J. Jones, Kentavius Street and Fred Warner to disrupt Stafford. Now, Cooper Kupp won the NFL’s receiving triple crown, and his seventh catch (118yards) went for a go-ahead touchdown. He was a tough matchup for anyone, especially Dontae Johnson, who filled in at nickel back (for K’Waun Williams) before spelling an injured safety Jaquiski Tartt. Kupp had five catches in the first half as the Rams built a 17-0lead, with Stafford going 15-of-16for 153yards and two touchdowns to tight end Tyler Higbee. The 49ers’ pass defense wasn’t perfect, never will be with the pass-happy NFL rules, but things changed in the clutch.
RUN DEFENSE: A+
This is arguably the 49ers’ hottest unit. The Rams averaged just 2.4yards per carry, with Sony Michel gaining 43 yards (21 carries) and fresh-legged Cam Akers producing 3 yards on five carries. Dre Greenlaw had 12 tackles in only his third game this season, having been limited to 50 snaps earlier in the year because of a groin injury on his Week 1 pick-six. Armstead and Bosa each had two tackles for loss. “Man, we’ve been doing a great job stopping the run for some time,” Armstead said. “That was a point of emphasis to not let the run game get going, because it opens so much of their offense with play-action and boot game.” As Fred Warner aptly added: “That game was wild.” SPECIAL TEAMS: B+
Bravo, Robbie Gould. He not only kicked in the winning points (24-yard field goal) as well as the 49ers’ first points (42-yard field goal to end the first half), give him golf-clap applause for averaging 45yards on two fourth-quarter punts after Mitch Wishnowsky (concussion) got hurt covering a 31-yard return. Gould’s punts were his first since three in 2005-07, and he also was a touchback machine on kickoffs. Kyle Juszczyk replaced Wishnowsky and expertly held on Gould’s kicks. If the 49ers can muster a breakaway kickoff or punt return in the playoffs, well, that’d be something. COACHING: AFalling into a 17-0hole is just how Kyle Shanahan scripted it, huh? Imagine how he felt having to scratch Trent Williams before kickoff. This was a great reward for instilling resiliency in this team, not to mention sticking with a wounded Garoppolo. Shanahan’s loyalty to his quarterback paid off in clutch moments, which makes you wonder if that will remain the case into the 2022 season. The road ahead back to L.A. for Super Bowl LVI starts Sunday in Dallas, then don’t be surprised to then see Green Bay, then Tampa, then SoFi Stadium, where the 49ers Faithful showed up in force this game.