The San Francisco 49ers went on an incredible, improbable run to make the NFC Championship Game, but they’re surely kicking themselves after losing the game 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams.
The 49ers had a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter, but they proceeded to make big mistakes — and blow great opportunities — on both sides of the ball to assist the Rams’ comeback and victory.
San Francisco’s three drives in the fourth quarter featured two punts and a game-sealing interception. And the 49ers’ usually-effective run game wasn’t able to do much of anything — 20 carries for 50 yards and no touchdowns in the game — against Aaron Donald and company, which prevented San Francisco from being able to at least chew clock and move the chains. That also forced quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to have to try to make more plays, which didn’t go well- especially on the final drive.
"I"m afraid that it's going to have to be Jimmy Garoppolo that gets it done." 😬 – Troy Aikman pic.twitter.com/aUyhfFKtzb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 31, 2022
The biggest missed opportunity for the 49ers came when they had a 17-14 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining, and Los Angeles had the ball at its own 15-yard line. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford gifted an arm punt to San Francisco’s Jaquiski Tartt, and the safety flat-out dropped the ball.
Jaquiski Tartt drops a dime from Matthew Stafford
https://t.co/J6H3phOhyy— PFF (@PFF) January 31, 2022
Jaquiski Tartt couldn't believe he dropped this would-be INT 😳 pic.twitter.com/WwuXir28M1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 31, 2022
And on the next play, Stafford connected with Odell Beckham Jr. for a 29-yard play, but 15 more yards were added on due to a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jimmie Ward.
Stafford 29-yd pass to OBJ + 15-yd Unnecessary Roughness by Ward#49ers 17 #Rams 14 Q4 pic.twitter.com/d0w9xfPWZ1
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) January 31, 2022
Three minutes after the Tartt drop, the Rams tied the game on a Matt Gay field goal.
Tartt tweeted about the dropped interception after the game:
https://twitter.com/quaski/status/1487982641949249537
The Rams took a 20-17 lead on another Gay field goal with 1:46 remaining.
Matt Gay gives LA the lead with 1:46 remaining. #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/7ovFuYqKSj— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
That still gave the 49ers time to tie the game or go 75 yards to win it (they also had one timeout remaining), but the ensuing “drive” was a disaster.
On first down, Garoppolo threw an incomplete pass.
On second down, Garoppolo threw a checkdown pass behind the line of scrimmage to Jauan Jennings that wasn’t at all worth it considering the time remaining and their field position. Even worse, it turned into a three-yard loss.
On 2nd & 10, Garoppolo pass to Jennings loses 3-yds#49ers 17 #Rams 20 Q4 pic.twitter.com/9rKFd8KlM7
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) January 31, 2022
And on 3rd-and-13, well, yikes. Garoppolo tried to avoid being taken down by Donald for a sack and made a desperate toss that was picked off by Travin Howard for a game-sealing interception.
AARON DONALD CREATES THE TURNOVER. #RamsHouse #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/pcltmPm9EP— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
As called on Rams radio: pic.twitter.com/k7TBm3tVqZ
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 31, 2022
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan also made a very questionable decision in the fourth quarter, choosing to punt on 4th-and-2 at the Los Angeles 45-yard line with 10 minutes remaining
Here’s how the football world reacted to the 49ers’ miscues:
Two-play meltdown from Tartt and Ward. Completely changes the game
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 31, 2022
The three-play sequence that completely turned this game around:
Kyle punts on 4th-and-2
Tartt dropped INT
Ward PF after OBJ catch— Jeff Deeney (jeffdeeney on Threads) (@PFF_Jeff) January 31, 2022
Shanahan has chosen to punt three times at or inside the Rams 45 this game
— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) January 31, 2022
the decision to punt on 4th & 2 when you’re winning in the 4th qtr vs. *this* offense is worse than tartt’s drop. there’s no defending that decision. you have a chance to put a team away and you don’t. both offenses have been rolling this half. read the room. go for it.
— KP (@KP_Show) January 31, 2022
People are going to put this loss on Jaquiski Tartt’s drop, but Kyle Shanahan’s decision to punt on 4th-and-2 and Jimmy Garoppolo’s horrendous final two drives had just as much of an impact.
— Marc Delucchi (@maddelucchi) January 31, 2022
Jaquiski Tartt gonna need therapy if the Niners lose this game
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 31, 2022
Gonna be a rough night trying to sleep for Jaquiski Tartt.
I truly feel for him.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 31, 2022
Jimmy Garoppolo finished 2-of-10 with an Int when pressured.
Garoppolo threw an NFL-high 8 Int when pressured this season, 5 of them since Week 18. pic.twitter.com/u0Qx7HtUlB
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 31, 2022
And in the end Jimmy finished the game in the most Jimmiest of fashions!! Football always has a way of making sense to me.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 31, 2022
Jimmy Garoppolo is the pitcher who has a 4.97 ERA with 18 wins.
— Rich Keefe (@Keefe21) January 31, 2022
I wish I played the game in the NFL so I could comment on that Jimmy G pass.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) January 31, 2022
Jimmy G's final 2 drives as a 49er with the NFC championship on the line:
1-6, -3 yards, INT
— Kyle, a Madson (@KyleAMadson) January 31, 2022
Jimmy G wanted to leave no doubt that Trey Lance will be the 49ers QB in 2022.
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) January 31, 2022
Jimmy Garoppolo made it easy for the 49ers. Trey Lance is the team’s 2022 starting quarterback.
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) January 31, 2022
