Fourth-and-2 with 39 seconds left. The San Francisco 49ers trailed the New Orleans Saints by one. Jimmy Garoppolo finds tight end George Kittle, who goes Beast Mode and WWE on the 49ers’ defense.
You think Kittle wanted to get the team in field-goal position for a shot and the victory and put San Francisco in great position for home-field advantage in the NFC playoff race? The pass went for 39 yards and tack on a facemask penalty on Marcus Williams and suddenly what looked like a Saints victory in a thriller turned into the agony of defeat for the home team.
Check this out:
4th & 2 at SF 33
(0:39 – 4th) (Shotgun) J.Garoppolo pass short left to G.Kittle to NO 28 for 39 yards (M.Williams; C.Gardner-Johnson). PENALTY on NO-M.Williams, Face Mask (15 Yards), 14 yards, enforced at NO 28. Pass 7, YAC 31
GEORGE KITTLE WON'T GO DOWN EASILY 😤💪
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/L9QWMZle2x
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2019
Facemasks, headlocks… the Saints really tried everything to bring George Kittle down 😂😂
Beast. pic.twitter.com/6SCfVCL71R
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) December 8, 2019
And that set this up: Robbie Gould for the win! San Francisco 49ers 48, New Orleans Saints 46.
What. A. Game.
Robbie Gould walks it off and sends the 49ers to the top seed in the NFC playoff picture.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/dsQsrvLAQ9
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 8, 2019
Pat McAfee put it into perspective, as always.
George Kittle pic.twitter.com/O88ib2hYUc
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 8, 2019
BEAST MODE IS HENCEFORTH RENAMED GEORGE KITTLE MODE https://t.co/riXI0gsnU8
— Go Iowa Awesome (@IowaAwesome) December 8, 2019
GEORGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@gkittle46 #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/G7JAByoZur
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 8, 2019
NO FEAR.@gkittle46 | #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/g3vprcCOpX
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 8, 2019
George Kittle with the man play of the year in the NFL game of the year.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 8, 2019