49ers Studs and Duds: No magic Jimmy G drive in the final minute this time

In the end, the 49ers’ mistakes became too significant for any miracle play to outshine.

They turned the tide of the NFC Championship Game in the second and third quarters, finding rhythm on offense and making key stops on defense when needed. In the fourth quarter, both of those wells dried up.

San Francisco held a 10-point lead over the Rams entering the final quarter but ended up losing 20-17.

Here are the game’s performers:

STUDS

Deebo Samuel

The 49ers’ do-it-all receiver took a screen pass 44 yards for a touchdown, evading four possible tacklers on his way. Center Alex Mack and receiver Jauan Jennings made key blocks on the play to spring Samuel. The receiver led the 49ers in both rushing and receiving yards even as he appeared to be playing through pain.

Trent Williams

Williams toughed out a sprained ankle to provide something close to his typical all-world blindside protection for Jimmy Garoppolo. He was called for a shaky false start penalty but otherwise played a solid game even as he was clearly hobbled.

Jimmy Garoppolo

In the game’s first three quarters, Garoppolo threw a couple of those risky passes he’s become known for. But he also threw two touchdown passes and was able to consistently keep drives alive by finding open receivers. He completed passes to six different teammates and, for most of the game, outplayed counterpart Stafford, who the Rams spent significant resources acquiring one year ago Monday.

Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk helped break open the 49ers’ first touchdown drive of the game with a catch down the left sideline, then made key plays on each of the 49ers’ next two scoring drives.

Jimmie Ward

In the first quarter, Ward made his third interception of Matt Stafford in as many games. It was a big one, too. Stafford tried to find Cooper Kupp at the goal line, but K’Waun Williams tipped the ball into the air and Ward picked it off, keeping the Rams scoreless.

DUDS

Ambry Thomas

In his return from injury, Thomas was a frequent target for Stafford and the Rams. He picked up a pass interference penalty that extended a first-quarter drive for Los Angeles, then combined with Jaquiski Tartt to give up the game’s first score, a 16-yard Stafford-to-Kupp connection on a corner route between the 49ers’ zone defense.

Jimmy Garoppolo

With the game on the line, Garoppolo threw one last risky ball — a desperation fling to JaMychal Hasty that ended the 49ers’ season. He’d gotten away with risky passes throughout the game, including on the prior play. Even without the interception, the 49ers would have been facing fourth-and-15, but if that was Garoppolo’s final pass with San Francisco, it was a fitting one as he’s toed the line over his tenure.

Fourth quarter stats
Matt Stafford 11-14 121yds TD 126.5 RTG
Jimmy Garoppolo 3-9 30yds INT 4.2 RTG

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) January 31, 2022

Third-down defense

The 49ers had five opportunities to get off the field on the Rams’ third possession and failed each time, culminating in Kupp’s touchdown catch on third-and-13 to open the scoring. Then, Kupp’s score late in the third quarter also came on third down.

Jaquaski Tartt/Jimmie Ward

On consecutive plays with 10 minutes left, Tartt dropped a sure interception and Ward picked up a 15-yard penalty for hitting Odell Beckham Jr. in the head on a 29-yard completion.

Jaquiski Tartt drops a dime from Matthew Stafford
pic.twitter.com/J6H3phOhyy

— PFF (@PFF) January 31, 2022

Vaunted pass rush

Nick Bosa recorded the 49ers’ only sack of the game’s first 58 minutes before he combined with Samson Ebukam for the second sack coming out of the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. That’s not enough for a team built around its pass-rushing prowess to help the defensive backs.