Jimmy Garoppolo turned in an impressive performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Some would argue that it was his most efficient outing in a long time. It was a divisional matchup, and a loss would have put the San Francisco 49ers two games below .500.
The Niners are 3-0 against NFC West opponents, with two games against the Arizona Cardinals and one against the division-leading Seattle Seahawks remaining.
Garoppolo completed 84 percent of his passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 132.5 against the Rams. He earned his highest Pro Football Focus grade (75.6) of the season. The quarterback's highest (87.5) came in Week 4, also against the Rams.
"Jimmy, we all know he's got the capability to deliver it," Lynch told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "He played nearly flawless [against the Rams], and it was awesome to watch."
Garoppolo didn't do it alone, though. Despite giving up three sacks, Lynch points out that the 49ers' offensive line deserves some praise for their effort against the Rams, giving the quarterback the time he needed to make things happen.
"I think the common thread, where Jimmy extended [plays], he had the time to," Lynch explained. "It takes everybody, and we certainly have the skill. I like where our O-line is at."
Then you have Christian McCaffrey, the running back acquired via a trade on October 20. McCaffrey showed the 49ers why he was worth the draft picks surrendered to the Carolina Panthers. He had 149 total yards and two touchdowns against the Rams, the team that competed with the 49ers in trade discussions. One score was a rushing touchdown, while the other was a receiving touchdown. McCaffrey pulled off the hat trick, also throwing a touchdown to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The 49ers believe McCaffrey's presence will improve everyone around him, including Garoppolo. Maybe we saw that influence last weekend against the Rams.
"I do believe that—you've heard Jimmy say it—Christian sees the field like a quarterback," Lynch said. "I believe they have an incredible synergy already, and I think a lot of that is how smart of a football player that Christian is."
We'll see if that carries over into the second half of the season. The 49ers are off this weekend and exit their bye week with a November 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium.
