The 49ers’ win over the Rams twice came down to Jimmy Garoppolo.
First, early in the fourth quarter, the 49ers trailed 28-24 and had the ball at their own 9-yard line. Garoppolo went to work hitting George Kittle for 36 yards to open the drive. Then he threw a dime to Ross Dwelley for 25 yards. Eventually on a third-and-goal from the 10, he escaped pressure, rolled right and found Kittle again for a go-ahead touchdown.
The Rams wouldn’t go away though, and kicked a game-tying 52-yard field goal with 2:36 left.
Garoppolo was money the rest of the way. He threw a strike to Kendrick Bourne for 18 yards to convert a third-and-16. Prior to that, the 49ers were 0-for-20 on third downs of 15+ yards per ESPN’s Ben Fawkes.
San Francisco again found themselves in a third-and-16 thanks to LA’s sixth sack of the night. Again, Garoppolo converted. This time he stepped up into pressure and unleashed a bomb to Emmanuel Sanders, who streaked past Jalen Ramsey for a 46-yard completion down to the Rams’ 28-yard line.
The 49ers would eventually kick the game-winning 33-yard field goal as time expired to take home a 34-31 victory.
Garoppolo’s play in the early going was part of the reason the Rams were in the game. Through three quarters, Garoppolo was objectively bad. He went 10-for-18 (55.6 percent) for 114 yards (6.3 yards-per-attempt) with no touchdowns and two interceptions. A 35.2 passer rating would’ve been the worst of Garoppolo’s career.
Then he came to life in the fourth quarter and showed why his teammates all have such immense trust in him. By the time the dust settled in the fourth, Garoppolo completed six-of-nine throws (66.7 percent) for 134 yards (14.9 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and no interceptions. That’s good for a 146.8 rating.
Garoppolo wasn’t the best version of himself Saturday, but he made key plays in the biggest moments of the game. He’ll need to be better the first three quarters if the 49ers are going to make a run in the playoffs, but his dynamite fourth quarter is a positive sign that San Francisco can win any game as long as they give their quarterback a shot at the end.