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Kurtenbach: Jimmy Garoppolo has joined the NFL’s elite, so the 49ers look like the team to beat

December 8, 2019 by The Mercury News Leave a Comment

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NEW ORLEANS — Jimmy Garoppolo had been trending in this direction for weeks.

The 49ers quarterback, who is in his first full season as a starter, had been showing more comfort in the pocket, a clearer vision of the field and a clearer understanding of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s defense-gashing offense.

The numbers were starting to rack up, and people around the league were starting to take notice.

But on Sunday, at the Superdome in New Orleans, Garoppolo took it to a whole other level.

From the start of the contest, Garoppolo was putting what New Orleanians would call “lagniappe” on his throws — a little something extra. Big or small windows, long or short throws, it didn’t matter — whatever the 49ers needed, Garoppolo provided with zeal.

He was elite in the 48-46 win over the Saints.

Not solid.

Not above-average.

Elite.

He made a statement.

And in turn, the Niners did too.

(AP Photo/Brett Duke) 

Sunday was the biggest game of the season for San Francisco, a season-defining contest, win or lose. In it, Garoppolo played his best game as a professional and led the 49ers to a come-from-behind win over a staunch conference rival.

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He was able to out-duel Drew Brees in the future Hall of Famers’ own house. Because of that, the 49ers remain in control of their own destiny when it comes to securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs heading into the final three weeks of the regular season. A loss Sunday likely would have resigned them to an extra playoff game and three road contests to reach the Super Bowl — a tall order, even for the most talented of teams.

But because of the win and Garoppolo’s play, if the 49ers’ defensive lapses Sunday were a one-time exception — every great defense is allowed one mulligan game — then San Francisco is the team to beat not only in the NFC but in the entire NFL.

The 49ers might pride themselves on being a power football team — a squad that will run the ball whether the defense likes it or not, and a defense that will play as fast as any offense and will pack a punch — but the NFL is still, at its core, about two positions: head coach and quarterback.

In Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have a Super Bowl pedigree and the best offensive mind in the game. He’s proving, week after week, that he’s one of the league’s elite coaches.

And now he has a quarterback that’s on his level.

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) 

Yes, the 49ers’ supposed “weak link” has evolved into one of the NFL’s best QBs in recent weeks.

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Garoppolo completed 74 percent of his 35 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns Sunday — one interception (which wasn’t his fault) his only a blemish. Since Halloween, he’s completed nearly 70 percent of his throws, for nearly 300 yards a game — stats as good or better than any of the league’s household names.

Those numbers tell a story, one that should put every other Super Bowl contender on notice.

“He’s at the top of the league,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said of Garoppolo after the game. “We’ve known that. We’ve known that for a long time, and I don’t know why everybody on the outside has doubted that. Jimmy is the man. Jimmy is the only guy we want at the helm”

But it’s the unquantifiable things McGlinchey alluded to and Garoppolo displayed Sunday that should scare the 49ers’ rivals most. His confidence in the San Francisco offense, his moxie under pass-rush pressure, and his steely demeanor in the biggest moments — the stuff that you just can’t teach and so few quarterbacks truly have — give everyone reason to believe that Garoppolo’s new, top-flight form has staying power.

Well, everyone outside the 49ers’ locker room, that is.

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) 

It was telling that Garoppolo didn’t make some out-of-this-world throw to win the 49ers the game Sunday. Miracle throws aren’t sustainable.

There’s no doubt that Garoppolo made plenty of outstanding throws against the Saints, but the toss that effectively won the game for the 49ers went about 10 yards through the air.

It was simple, on-time and accurate.

The NFL’s best tight end, George Kittle, did the rest, carrying the ball and then two Saints defenders nearly 35 yards in total to set up Robbie Gould’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.

But that routine throw — the kind that Garoppolo has made countless times before — came in the biggest moment of his NFL career.

The 49ers took over possession down by a point with 75 yards of green in front of them — 50 yards until they were, conservatively, in field-goal range — and only 53 seconds to play. That dunking 10-yard throw to the flat came on fourth-and-2.

The 49ers’ fate — their dreams of winning the NFC West, of hosting playoff games, of having home-field advantage in the NFC Championship Game, should they make it — rested on Garoppolo executing at that moment.

He did.

And make no mistake about it: Many quarterbacks would have crumbled under the pressure of that moment.

  • San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a win over the New Orleans Saints after a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a first down during a NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a game-winning field goal against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after kicking the game-winning field goal during a NFL game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith (10) scores a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers defensive back Marcell Harris (36) in the second half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) celebrates his fumble recovery with defensive back K’Waun Williams (24) in the second half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates his touchdown in the second half an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) carries for a touchdown in the second half an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) dives to the pylon for a touchdown against New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) in the second half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) celebrates his interception with outside linebacker Demario Davis (56) in the second half an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) dives to the pylon for a touchdown against New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) in the second half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates his touchdown in the second half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 35-yard touchdown thrown by Emmanuel Sanders #17 against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) pulls in a touchdown reception as New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) covers in the first half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates with his teammates Michael Thomas #13 and Erik McCoy #78 as he scores a 38 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) celebrates a touchdown in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) carries for a touchdown in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) pulls in a touchdown reception in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) carries for a touchdown against New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43) and strong safety Vonn Bell (24) the first half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 and Mike Person #68 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Josh Hill #89 of the New Orleans Saints scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) celebrates his interception in the second half an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) hurdles over San Francisco 49ers free safety Jimmie Ward (20) in the first half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (23) hits New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook (87) as he pulls in touchdown reception in the first half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

  • New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) scrambles as he throws a touchdown pass in the first half an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 35-yard touchdown thrown by Emmanuel Sanders #17 against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints catches a 26-yard touchdown catch thrown by Drew Brees #9 against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates as he scores a 38-yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 08: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a 6-yard touchdown against Marshon Lattimore #23 of the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter in the game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 08, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

  • San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) pulls in a touchdown reception as New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) covers in the first half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Maybe he was born with the ability to uncannily rise above the fray. Maybe he learned it from the Patriots when he was Tom Brady’s backup on Super Bowl-winning teams.

Whether it’s nature or nurture or a confluence of both, Garoppolo’s best came through in the most harrowing circumstances an early-December game can provide. It was able to come through because his even-keeled demeanor has earned him the trust of his teammates over the last three years. And in recent weeks, he has begun to trust in himself, allowing his talent to shine.

Kittle’s “lagniappe,” his incredible run down the Saints’ sideline, defensive backs hanging off him like lions on a hippo, will prove the lasting image of one of the most entertaining football games you’ll ever be fortunate to watch.

But it was Garoppolo’s 60-minute announcement to the NFL that he is anything but the weak link on this 49ers team that will be this memorable contest’s lasting legacy.

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