Jimmy Garoppolo can't throw outside the numbers. He can't move outside the pocket. He's got poor arm strength. He's got a $26.9 million cap hit for 2022. He's never played in the cold.
And I'm here to tell you, it doesn't matter.
The 49ers just defeated the Green Bay Packers in a defensive slugfest, but, with help from Jimmy Garoppolo in a 2-minute drill, Robbie Gould drilled the game-winning field goal to get the 49ers a 13-10 win, leading them to the NFC Championship game for the second time in three years.
Let's look at Jimmy Garoppolo's stats: 11/19 for 131 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. Surprisingly, those are almost the exact same numbers he threw for during San Francisco's 2019 playoff win against Minnesota, when he was 11/19 for 131 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
And, it didn't matter.
It's fair to say that, in his career, Jimmy Garoppolo has been pretty terrible in the playoffs. In his five career playoff games, Garoppolo's had a 62.5% completion rate, throwing for 730 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. If you heard those numbers, you would never know that San Francisco was 4-1 in those games.
Why is that?
Because, in 2019 and in 2021, San Francisco has shaped their team around a strong, suffocating defense with a strong rushing attack and good complementary offensive pieces around Garoppolo, along with an elite coaching staff.
Garoppolo is an average starting-caliber quarterback. Yet, he's faced off against the likes of Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers, and he's the one still standing, because the 49ers play team football, where the offense relies on the defense to get crucial stops, and the defense relies on the offense to maximize their opportunities.
Kyle Shanahan has proven that he can work with any type of quarterback: he's won six games in a season with replacement-level quarterbacks, and has taken the 49ers to a conference championship when he's been dealt with average talent at the position.
Every week, some of the keys for the 49ers to win are no turnovers, and a clean, efficient offensive performance. Yet, Garoppolo hasn't done either of those in the last two weeks, and San Francisco's continued to win. It's mind-blowing.
But, what's even more mind-blowing is that fans continue to harp on the offensive failures, rather than enjoy the fact that their organization has made it to a place only three other elite teams have reached.
Garoppolo is, by far, the worst starting quarterback left in the playoffs. That's indisputable. But, through the usage of Kyle Shanahan's scheme, and with the help of weapons Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, alongside running back Elijah Mitchell, Garoppolo has found a way to do just enough to put the 49ers in a winning position each and every week, despite his poor decisions at times.
And that's all San Francisco needs for a win, with how defensively talented this team is, which is why the 49ers are in the position they're in right now.
Now, is Jimmy Garoppolo going to be on this team in 2022? It's extremely unlikely. As I said above, he holds a $26.9 million cap hit and San Francisco needs to extend their young stars Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa to likely massive contracts this offseason, while also potentially having to bring back the likes of D.J. Jones, K'Waun Williams, Azeez Al-Shaair, Jaquiski Tartt, Arden Key, and more. There simply isn't enough money to go around, plus San Francisco has their quarterback of the future, Trey Lance, waiting in the balance.
But, that doesn't mean everyone can't sit back and enjoy the historic run that San Francisco is on with this group of individuals right now, and that includes what Garoppolo's doing for this team.
He's compiled multiple game-winning drives this season, and while his mistakes have hindered this team, his ability to consistently be resilient and produce in clutch moments is the reason why the 49ers are competing for a Super Bowl right now.
Jimmy Garoppolo's winning games, and I'm here to enjoy it while it lasts.
- Rohan Chakravarthi
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Written by:Writer/Reporter for 49ers Webzone
