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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo entered Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams with a 4-1 career playoff record as a starter. He led San Francisco to two dramatic road wins in the playoffs leading up to the game.
With Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on the line, it sure looked like Garoppolo was going to lead his 49ers to a second big game in three seasons.
The 49ers found themselves up 17-7 after Garoppolo threw a touchdown to George Kittle late in the third quarter.
This would prove to be Garoppolo’s final touchdown of the season (and potentially in a 49ers uniform). San Francisco’s offense struggled to do anything of substance in the final stanza, culminating in this absolutely brutal interception from Garoppolo with the 49ers down 20-17 late in the fourth quarter.
You have to see the pick to believe it.
AARON DONALD CREATES THE TURNOVER. #RamsHouse #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2022
: #SFvsLAR on FOX
: https://t.co/vywGt5Kgfz pic.twitter.com/pcltmPm9EP
Sure, it was desperation time with San Francisco facing 3rd-and-13 and boasting just one timeout. However, you can’t make that throw in the NFL. Jimmy Garoppolo legitimately threw it up for grabs behind his back. The pass was picked off by Rams linebacker Travin Howard to send Los Angeles to Super Bowl LVI.
A lot will be written over the next weeks and months about San Francisco’s season ending via another late-game meltdown. A lot will be written about Garoppolo’s questionable future in Northern California after the 49ers traded up for Trey Lance in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
For now, all eyes are on Garoppolo following a brutal fourth quarter performance. After all, he completed 3-of-9 passes for 30 yards with an interception in the period. Garoppolo now has a 28 passer rating in the fourth quarter over the span of six playoff starts.
Jimmy Garoppolo throws game away, is blasted by NFL world
That was Jimmy Garoppolo’s last play as a 49er.
— Big CROCKY⚡️ (@eric_crocker) January 31, 2022
And that's how the Jimmy Garoppolo era ends….
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) January 31, 2022
It hurts. Oh, it hurts….
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
Tartt’s dropped INT. Ward’s penalty. Allowing 11-18 third down conversions. The offense collapsing on the final two possessions.
— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) January 31, 2022
Too many mistakes for the #49ers to overcome.
And it looks like Jimmy Garoppolo’s final pass with the team was a tragic interception. Bitter ending
Jimmy Garoppolo is not clutch. Good luck to him and his next team.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) January 31, 2022
That should be the last pass Jimmy throws for the #49ers. We've seen the zenith of the Garoppolo era. It was good, not good enough. It's clear, obvious. And the pick is already in. Welcome to the Trey Lance era. Who knows where it goes? We OFFICIALLY know where Jimmy tops out.
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) January 31, 2022
More must-reads:
- NFL world reacts to Matthew Stafford, Rams earning Super Bowl berth
- Watch: George Kittle gives 49ers two-score lead with TD catch from Jimmy Garoppolo
- The 'Losing quarterbacks from every Super Bowl' quiz
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