Jimmy Garoppolo throws amazing TD, redeems self after interception

It’s been up and down for Jimmy Garoppolo so far in Super Bowl LIV, with both an embarrassing interception and an impressive touchdown pass.

When I spoke with Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner this week about Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo, the two Super Bowl LIV quarterbacks, Warner’s vision of the two was radically different. Warner said that Mahomes may turn out to be the NFL’s most complete quarterback ever, and he had serious concerns about Garoppolo. Not about Garoppolo’s ability to make big plays; this was more about Garoppolo’s ability to stay within himself and avoid killer mistakes if he was tasked with bringing the 49ers back from any deficit.

“I definitely think he can deliver,” he said. My biggest thing with Jimmy is that, not that he can’t make every throw in bog moments… but there are times where he seems to, with play-action and the things they try to do to attack the field, sometimes he misses defenders. Either his vision gets clouded, or he’s so focused in trying to make the throw, he misses guys.

“Kind of like the game a couple weeks ago [against the Vikings]: They had a couple of opportunities for easy interceptions. They made one, and they didn’t make the other. I believe there will be a few of those plays for Jimmy in this game. I think that’s where he’s at as a quarterback. He’s done really good things, and he’s really good in the moment, but he’s just not there yet at seeing and deciphering and playing the game in that direction.”

With 14:15 left in the first half, Warner’s words proved prophetic. Down 7-3 and facing second-and-12 from his own 41-yard line, Garoppolo tried to get the ball out under pressure — first from defensive lineman Chris Jones, and then from defensive lineman Mike Pennel, Garoppolo threw up a prayer that was intercepted by cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

The Chiefs capitalized on the resulting possession by increasing their lead to 10-3 on a 31-yard Harrison Butker field goal.

But on the next drive, Garoppolo topped it off with an impressively accurate throw on the move to fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a game-tying 15-yard touchdown. You can’t spin it in there much better than this.