https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=vfdPvSCmA4-1685653-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxacb60r3mr0ac player_id=none image=https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
It’s hard to talk about 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo without turning an eye toward what’s next. It’s also hard to shed any preconceived notions about the signal caller when any discussion about him involves at least a modicum of debate on whether he’s good or bad. Sunday’s outing against the Falcons though, in a vacuum, was very, very good for Garoppolo.
In a game the 49ers had to have, their quarterback was excellent in a way that Garoppolo typically isn’t. He was decisive, accurate and avoided any disastrous mistakes while completing 18-of-23 throws for 235 yards and a touchdown to post a 123.7 rating.
It helped that San Francisco’s offensive front was dominant against a bad Falcons pass rush, but there was something different about him Sunday. The array of bad misses that typically mar his otherwise good outings didn’t stand out. There were no turnovers and no near turnovers. He didn’t take any bad sacks and he continually put his throws in spots that allowed his receivers to make plays after the catch. Garoppolo also targeted eight different receivers and completed passes to seven of them, and 11 of San Francisco’s 23 first downs came through the air.
The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but the 49ers got the best play from their quarterback when they needed it. Atlanta is not a good team, but a couple bad turnovers or missed third-down conversions could’ve swung the game the other direction and left San Francisco with a costly loss. Avoiding that scenario was based largely on what Garoppolo was going to offer, and he brought his best.
The key now is that there are more games like this one moving forward. If Garoppolo is going to be as good moving forward as he was Sunday, the 49ers are going to be one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams going into the postseason.