49ers grades: Garoppolo good in key moments of dramatic win over Rams
The 49ers went down to the wire, again, and took down the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31, despite being outplayed for a significant portion of the game.
Here are our grades.
Passing offense: B-
Jimmy Garoppolo’s night had a rough beginning. He completed just 1 of 5 and threw an interception to star cornerback Jalen Ramsey on the first play after the 49ers were gifted good field position via a bad punt from Johnny Hekker. Garoppolo to open the second half threw a pass to Emmanuel Sanders in traffic that wound up getting intercepted by defensive back Darius Williams. San Francisco’s defense opened the second half with four straight scoreless series and one first down. Garoppolo re-took the lead midway through the fourth by connecting with George Kittle on his fifth touchdown of the season. Kittle had a long catch and run earlier in the series, and backup tight end Ross Dwelley made a 25-yard reception that included a 15-yard flag for a hit to the head and neck area that set up the score.
Garoppolo got San Francisco in range for the game-winning field goal on the final drive by converting back-to-back third-and-16s. The second was an enormous 46-yard gain to Sanders that could prove to be one of the biggest plays of the season. Garoppolo’s final line: 16 of 27, 248 yards, one touchdown, two picks, six sacks, 71.2 rating.
Rushing offense: B
The 49ers badly needed a spark after falling behind, 14-3, early in the second quarter. So 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan went into his bag of tricks, dialing up two runs to rookie receiver Deebo Samuel, who went 19 yards off left tackle for his second rushing touchdown of the season. Raheem Mostert late in the second quarter scored his fifth rushing touchdown in as many games when he ran 16 yards through the left side of L.A.’s defense.
Matt Breida didn’t register a carry in game after missing time recently with an ankle sprain and fumbling last week versus the Falcons. Still, San Francisco averaged 5.2 yards per carry and ran for two scores.
Passing defense: F
The 49ers allowed the Rams to go the length of the field on the opening series culminating on Brandin Cooks’ second touchdown catch of the year. Jared Goff completed all four of his throws, which all came off play action. Linebacker Fred Warner made one of the biggest plays of his season when he intercepted Goff in the right flat on a pass to a running back, and stumbled to a 46-yard touchdown return. It was the first interception and touchdown of his career.
Goff finished with 323 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and an 85.7 rating.
Rushing defense: B+
The 49ers allowed Todd Gurley to get the left edge and score from 5 yards out on the first play of the second quarter. Gurley scored his second rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter to make it 21-10, capping an impressive 11-play, 64-yard drive. L.A. struggled to get anything going for most of the game, however, finishing with 72 yards on 24 carries (a 3.0 average).
Special teams: A
Richie James Jr. took San Francisco’s opening kickoff return 81 yards to the Rams’ 18 leading to the 49ers’ 26-yard field goal from Robbie Gould. Ane Mitch Wishnowsky provided four punts downed inside the 20-yard line. San Francisco did well to avoid jumping off sides as the Rams lined up to run a fake on four-and-1 early in the fourth quarter, instead leading to a Rams punt. Gould hit the game-winning field goal as time expired from 33 yards out.
Coaching: C
The 49ers were never quite themselves. They struggled to extend drives, going just 4 of 10 on third down, and couldn’t generate a consistent pass rush against Goff and L.A.’s lackluster offensive line. It’s tough to pin the issues entirely on coaching as two starters along the offensive line were missing and San Francisco’s well-chronicled depth issues along the defensive front. But the team will take the win, and its 12-3 record, heading into next week’s NFC West-decider in Seattle.
This story was originally published December 21, 2019 at 8:34 PM.