The 49ers were never in serious danger of losing the NFC championship, but things started getting dicey when Green Bay cut the lead to 34-20 with 8:13 to go.
San Francisco needed a long drive with some points to make it a three-score game and effectively ice the game. They responded with a 19-yard completion to George Kittle on first down.
Two quick runs picked up seven yards and put the 49ers in a third-and-3 situation at the Packers’ 47 with 5:56 left. Jimmy Garoppolo dropped to pass and fired a pass toward Kittle that fell beyond his reach. Flags flew – defensive pass interference. The 49ers’ drive continued and Robbie Gould booted a 42-yard field goal with 3:36 left to seal the victory.
It turns out head coach Kyle Shanahan called the out route for Kittle knowing it would come with a penalty. Inside the NFL on NFL Network had video and sound of Shanahan telling the official on his sideline before the play that the cornerback, Will Redmond, wasn’t going to let Kittle release outside.
When you have a Coach who knows exactly what’s going to happen before it even happens .. there is nothing to worry about. #6 is comin’ soon !! #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/VEV4EEk1Zy
— J.G. 🇺🇸 🇵🇭 (@JGPinoy916) January 22, 2020
This was a pretty cool detail for a couple reasons.
First, Shanahan worked the official to ensure his eyes were on Kittle and not on the myriad other things happening on the field during a play. Each official has specific things to watch, but a penalty like that can easily go missed or chalked up as incidental contact. Getting that side judge to put his eyeballs directly on that matchup ensured the flag would come out.
The second detail is the fact Shanahan dialed up that play, knowing what matchup he’d get and how the corner would respond. Kittle is a load, and the 5-11, 185-pound Redmond wasn’t going to be able to legally stick with the play if the tight end put a body on him. If the corner doesn’t interfere, Kittle makes the catch and turns the corner and might wind up taking several Packers for a ride the way he did to the Saints in New Orleans.
The understanding of how a defense will react to a given play is the kind of attention to minute details that’s allowed Shanahan to be a premier offensive play caller for nearly a decade. It’s also part of the reason the 49ers are in the Super Bowl in his third year at the helm.