Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
-Last game of the season on the road vs. Rams
-1st playoff game on the road vs. Cowboys
-Then on the road vs. Packers
-Next on the road vs. Rams for NFC title
Going into each of these elimination games vs. tough teams, I definitely thought the Niners had an excellent chance of coming away with a victory, and a big reason for that was who this team had running things at QB, Garoppolo. Regardless of his injured thumb & then shoulder in the Dallas game.
Another reason I thought they had an excellent chance was the D, yet this past year's D was by no means elite. An elite Niners D is what I saw in '89 holding a great Broncos' offense to 10 points in the SB (who remembers the D talent on that roster?). This past year's D was very good at times, including the playoffs. But you watch them play closely on the whole and the limitations would show up...the starting secondary alone of Moseley, Thomas, Ward & Tartt plus Williams each had their many moments in showing this. Far from what I've seen as an elite or even very good secondary, and a team with the Rams' talent at QB & WR ultimately took advantage.
Another reason for the confidence going into each of the above games was this team's running game. However, I was only somewhat confident in the running game as it meant relying pretty much mainly on Mitchell and some Deebo. Mitchell, despite having a very good rookie season, was still just that - a rookie - going deep into a 17-game NFL season + playoffs. Deebo got more carries as these last games went on, something I wasn't sure about given how valuable of a playmaker he is at WR and how much this team needed him consistently on the field & not injured on the sidelines. Fortunately, it worked out to the very end (yet was still wondering where was Wilson - maybe still injured somewhat, though he was active - and also Hasty as a quick, change of pace option here and there).
Add in Shanahan's play calling as another factor.
So, you've got this team's D, the running game, Shanahan...and definitely Garoppolo at the most important position on the field as big reasons why I was very confident going into each of those above games. Complementary football, and this team can do it as well or better than any team in football. IMO it would have carried over to a victory in the SB, too, vs. the Bengals as this team had already beaten them once in Cincy (they were dominating them for a lot of the game and then should have won in regulation) and I liked the way the Niners matched up w/ them.
I've watched the four above games multiple times. It's always been about football for me - NFL or college - and all other sports are just filler. Garoppolo had some very good moments throughout the course of each game in either helping set the tone (Dallas game - some key throws and running the O to get them up 23-7) or helping them to have a chance at the end (first Rams game & Packers). In the NFCCG, they have all the momentum in the 3rd Qtr. after they stop Stafford on the 4th-and-1 QB sneak and the offense goes right down the field where Garoppolo throws the TD to Kittle and they're up 17-7 going into the 4th...and then bad play after bad play happens...Al-Shaair with the stupid personal foul, the Niners get a good-looking drive going into Rams' territory and then can't get a yard on 2nd & 3rd-and short...Tartt then drops the easy "punt" INT at the Rams' 35 with room to run to get into Rams' territory (and better the chances of the Niners scoring), Ward with the unexplainable spear shot on the very next play, and then you have a couple of bad series from not only Garoppolo but the OL (didn't help having Williams on one leg plus Compton & Brunskill getting whipped by the Rams talented DL). Garoppolo also had some stretches of bad play in the other three games, some of which may have been contributed to his injuries. Regardless, his sometimes streaky play and poor decision making was frustrating, just as it's been at times in the past. Yet he battled & battled along with this team and never once, this year or in the past, did the playoffs "stage" ever look too big for him or the team.
To me, when you get close to winning it all, you keep at it with your key pieces that helped you get close and you keep pushing & adding the right talent here and there, and then you break through and win it all. I've definitely seen it happen before. Garoppolo has been a key piece, but maybe not key enough plus his injuries and thus, the move for Lance.
I believe Garoppolo, when healthy and of course with surrounding talent, is the kind of QB that can help get over the hump and win it all - he knows firsthand what winning it all looks like being with Brady & Belichick in winning two SBs, and he and this team were half a quarter away in doing just that against a very good Chiefs team. Of course he's not like a Mahomes or other top talent that can just put the team on his back almost at the flip of a switch. You don't find those types of QBs often at all - hoping Lance turns out to be one - but you can definitely beat those types of QBs/teams with a very good all-around team that has a very good (doesn't have to be great) QB.
When healthy, and unfortunately that's been a big issue, Garoppolo's definitely a Top 12, better-than-average NFL QB. I'm factoring in everything involved with the QB position to include his intangibles such as leadership, toughness, and others that make him a competitor from start to finish in each game along with being a great teammate. I for one will miss a lot of what he brought to this team and can only hope Lance brings the same intangibles along with better QB talent/production that strongly correlates with getting wins and ultimately SBs for this franchise. I've seen all five but you always want more and not just get close...losing those last two doesn't sit well.
Yes, it's risky for teams to acquire Garoppolo now and then have to wait until June or July to not only see if he has fully recovered from his shoulder surgery but also to integrate him into their roster & respective schemes plus the salary cap consideration. That said, the bottom line in the NFL is winning games. If I were to make a prediction about the upcoming season, one would be that you can right now write off the following teams as having zero chances at anything close to a deep playoff run or SB run if they keep their current QB1s: Steelers w/ Tribusky, Commanders w/ Wentz, Colts w/ Ryan, and Saints w/ Winston (there are others but won't mention since they have such weak rosters...Falcons, etc.). Injuries plus $ make it somewhat risky, but if I were the Steelers, Commanders, Colts or Saints, I would have either already tried to acquire Garoppolo or would wait and try to acquire him after the shoulder is fully healed. I could see this still happening for one of these teams (outside of the Colts as long as Ryan's healthy - he gives his team the best shot of these four IMO) as things can change and there's a lot of offseason left. Garoppolo as QB1 on at least the Steelers, Commanders or Saints - and maybe the Colts - gives them a better chance this season than what they currently have IMO. We'll see how it plays out.
With Lance most likely this team's QB1 going forward, really hoping he can raise the bar beyond what Garoppolo provided and give us fans that confident feeling going into each game of getting a W with this team's talent. As for Garoppolo, I'll be rooting for him as long as he's not playing the Niners or where his team winning negatively affects the Niners. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him play very well on his next team and to see that team not only be very competitive in each game but to also win games.
The Saints with Winston were 5-2, and he actually looked very good—better than Jimmy did, which makes me wonder how many 49ers fans actually watched the Saints last year before deciding Winston played like garbage. He had all the things last year: quick game, deep game, mobility, all of it. Except this time only 3 interceptions. It's almost like he learned something from Brees sitting on the bench in 2020.
But on the other hand, that was also with Payton.
