INGLEWOOD (Calif.) — The end came sooner than expected and in a more devastating fashion than the San Francisco 49ersCould have imagined.
The Niners surrendered a 10-point lead to the Niners in the fourth quarter, a result that reminded them of their Super Bowl LIV loss. Los Angeles RamsOn the way to a devastating 20-17 lossIn the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
It was the end of a spectacular run where the Niners were within touching distance of qualifying for Super Bowl II for the second consecutive year. It was the end their season, the end their six-game winning streak versus their NFC West archnemesis, and perhaps the end their quest for the Super Bowl. Jimmy Garoppolo era as San Francisco’s quarterback.
To make these endings, the Niners had another late-game collapse. A team that had been 3-1 in the postseason, with a leading fourth-quarter of 10-plus points since 2019, lost another one. The rest of the NFL is 23-0 in those situations during that span, per ESPN Stats & Information data.
“We came up short today and that’s part of sports and part of life and we’ve got to deal with it,” said coach Kyle Shanahan, “so those guys are hurting now, but they’ll rebound and be stronger for it.”
The Rams were trailing by double figures in the second period of the Rams’ 2017 season. They were at 1-23 before Sunday. It was fitting that the Rams scored their second win in the NFC Championship Game. The other was against the Falcons in 2018. New Orleans Saints.
A Niners defense that had spent most of the day on field seemed to be running out of gas as it held a 17-7 lead at the end of the fourth quarter. For a touchdown of 11 yards, the Rams moved quickly. Matthew StaffordWide receiver Cooper Kupp. The Rams added a field goal to tie the score. They also got another defensive stop and a 30 yard field goal to take control of the game.
Garoppolo and Niners’ last ditch attempt at evading defensive tackle failed, when Garoppolo’s attempt to pass the QB by was unsuccessful Aaron DonaldThe result was the Rams linebacker Travin HowardRunning back after a pass was intercepted JaMychal Hasty‘s hands.
Now the 49ers are entering an offseason with many questions. Garoppolo and the quarterback position are the biggest. It was always the plan to get through the season and then turn the keys over to rookies. Trey Lance.
“Emotions are high after a game win or loss and it’s one of those things you’ve got to be glad it happened, smile from it and think about the good things,” Garoppolo said. “We’ll see what happens in these next couple days, weeks, whatever, but I love this team.”
Although Garoppolo was able to give the Niners enough to make another NFC Championship Game appearance Sunday, his limitations were again on display as San Francisco’s offense struggled for consistency. Garoppolo was 16-of-30 for 231 yards, with two touchdowns as well as the interception. A failed attempt to score a touchdown was also missed by Garoppolo. George KittleThe first half.
It wasn’t bad, as it was often with Garoppolo’s Niners stint. It wasn’t all bad. It wasn’t enough.
Pivotal play:The game was still 9 minutes and 55 seconds long when Stafford of the Rams made a deep pass to no one in particular at the middle. Safety Niners Jaquiski TarttIt was a good spot for an easy intercept and we camped underneath it. We then… dropped it.
“It’s a moment a lot of athletes I know dream of, just being in this moment, tie ballgame and you can make the game changing play,” Tartt said. “For me, that’s something I was thinking about all week. I know I can make that play, and when the play came up, I didn’t make it. I know that was a big play in the game, a big opportunity for me and for the team, and as a player I just feel like I let my brothers down.”
Tartt’s missed shot on a day where points were important proved to be disastrous. The Rams raced into Niners territory and then settled for a field goal. These three points tied the game at 17. They set the stage for Los Angeles’s departure to San Francisco in the offseason.