Dramatic third-and-16 conversions keep 49ers’ hopes alive for a top playoff seed
The 49ers kept their hopes for a first-round bye in the playoffs alive with consecutive third-and-16 conversions late in Saturday’s 34-31 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
With 2:30 remaining in the game, Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein made a 52-yard field goal to tie the game at 31. That just set up the 49ers’ last-second drama.
On the first play of the drive, Jimmy Garoppolo was sacked by Rams defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler for a six-yard loss just before the two-minute warning. Garoppolo’s next pass attempt to running back Raheem Mostert went incomplete, leading to third and long.
On third-and-16, Garoppolo connected with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for an 18-yard completion to keep the drive alive.
“All of a sudden I just heard a roar when Kendrick caught the ball across the middle,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “KB steps up, making plays all the time. Everybody in our skill positions seems to have the clutchest of genes that you could possibly have. We thrive in those situations.”
Following a one-yard run from Mostert, Garoppolo was sacked again, this time by outside linebacker Samson Ebukam for a loss of seven yards. Once again, San Francisco found itself facing third-and-16.
The Rams called a timeout with 58 seconds remaining in case the 49ers did not convert on third down, allowing them a chance for their own game-winning drive.
However, Garoppolo found his top wideout, Emmanuel Sanders, streaking down the middle of the field for a 46-yard completion to get well into Rams territory at the 23-yard line.
“It says a lot for Jimmy to be able to step in there and rip it,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “I know he was feeling it today, so for him to make those plays at the end of the game is awesome.”
Sanders was being defended by Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl earlier this week. Ramsey said after the game he thought his teammate, rookie safety Taylor Rapp, had coverage over the top to help him.
“I played my technique trusting that (Rapp) was going to be over the top and he wasn’t, that’s what happens,” Ramsey said.
On the following play, Tevin Coleman rushed nine yards to the right to help drain the clock. Garoppolo knelt on the next play in the middle of the field to set up the game-winning field goal attempt from Robbie Gould.
Gould was good from 33 yards out to give the 49ers their 12th win of the season.
“It is a routine kick. I love that moment,” Gould said. “That is what you live for. When you have guys that are around you on offense that converts (two) third-and-longs, (it) makes that kick a 33-yarder instead of a 50-yarder.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 49ers became the second team in the last 40 seasons to convert multiple third- or fourth-down attempts of 15-or-more yards on a game-winning drive. The other team to do so was the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 4, 1984.
Garoppolo joked after the game that the two plays were “the exact situation we were looking for.”
“To convert two of those the way we did, it was pretty incredible,” Garoppolo said. “A lot of good execution, guys up front blocking them for as long as they needed and then, obviously, guys just making plays down the field.”
The 49ers will have eight days to prepare for a Week 17 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in a game flexed to prime-time television. The winner takes the NFC West crown and a first-round bye.
This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 7:07 AM.