‘Completely imploded’: NFL tear San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo to shreds

The LA Rams pulled off a clutch comeback to book a Super Bowl spot but appear to have destined the San Francisco QB to the scrapheap.

Life is good for Matthew Stafford. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The LA Rams will have a home Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals after denying the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

It’s just the second time in history a team has had a Super Bowl appearance in their home stadium after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year.

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The Rams hit the lead for the first time with 1:49 left in the game when Matt Gay hit his second field goal of the match, a 30-yarder which put the Rams noses in front.

It proved to be decisive as with one last drive 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo couldn’t get it done, throwing an interception on the 49ers 19-yard line with just over a minute remaining.

It wrapped the match as the Rams kneeled three times and sent his side to the Super Bowl.

Before the season, the Rams traded two future first-round picks, a third-round pick and the 26-year-old Jared Goff, for the 33-year-old Matthew Stafford, and the monster trade paid off as the Rams went back to the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.

Stafford said he wanted to play in the “big games” and he stood up, particularly in the second half, throwing 337 yards with 31 from 45 passes.

Rams coach Sean McVay called Stafford “a special leader”.

Holding the NFC Championship trophy, Stafford said: “This is a whole lot better than I thought it was going to be like. This is an unbelievable team, unbelievable atmosphere tonight, and I’m so happy to be part of this team. These guys put so much work into this thing, this is for everybody.”

Only way it gets better is with a Super Bowl for Matthew Stafford. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

While it was good on the top of the podium, it continued a shocking week for 49ers QB Garoppolo.

The 30-year-old has been under massive pressure to keep his job going forward after Trey Lance was picked up with the third pick of the 2021 Draft and impressed earlier in the season.

But Garoppolo was also under pressure after ESPN host Mina Kimes pointed out their success wasn’t down to the QB’s play.

“Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t the reason they’re winning,” Kimes said. “They’re winning with him, but not because of him. . . . He posted the second-lowest QBR in 15 years (against the Packers).”

The story blew up when former 49ers QB and NFL veteran Jeff Garcia unloaded, blowing the story up.

“Who the hell is Mina Kimes and when is the last time she threw a touchdown pass in a game?” he said. “Never, ever has she taken a snap or can truly understand the ability, the mindset, the physical and mental toughness, that it takes to play the QB position or any position in the NFL.

“The fact that there are people out there given a platform to talk about something that they have never done is hilarious and that’s how you have to look at her, she’s a joke.

“So let’s just laugh at her and support Jimmy, root on our Niners to go out and beat the living f*** out of one more team. That’s what it takes. She will never know that feeling. Can I get an amen? Peace.”

Is this the last time Jimmy Garoppolo will be in a 49ers jersey? Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

Garcia had to defend himself later in the week, saying “there was nothing sexist about what I had to say”.

But it cast a spotlight on the star and saw plenty of criticism after the match.

Mina Kimes stays winning. Tough day for Jeff Garcia https://t.co/YHtDC7Ult4

— Kevin Lytle (@Kevin_Lytle) January 31, 2022

The one true solace in all this is Jeff Garcia looks dumb and Mina Kimes looks smart

— Benjamin Hoffman (@BenHoffmanNYT) January 31, 2022

Funny, it’s almost like Mina Kimes knows a little something about football 🤔🤔

— Justin Stapleton (@KPRC2Justin) January 31, 2022

Garoppolo’s final quarter was a nightmare as he completed three passes from nine attempts for 30 yards as well as an interception to close out the game.

While there has been plenty of defence of Garoppolo as the 49ers went to the 2019 Super Bowl but had injuries ruin the other two full seasons he has played with the franchise.

But with a young gun in the wings, he is widely believed to be on the trading block for the off-season.

Does Garoppolo really deserve to be skewered? I thought he was pretty darn good in second half. Bad decision on the last play but only about 6 inches from a great play.

— Jim Crandell (@JimCrandell) January 31, 2022

So that was probably Jimmy G’s final pass in a Niners uniform. Yuck.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 31, 2022

#49ers Jimmy Garoppolo went 3 for 9 for 30 yards and INT in 4th quarter. In 6 playoff starts Garoppolo has a 28.0 passer rating in the 4th, ranking last among 69 QBs w/ 30+ 4th quarter passes in playoffs since 1991

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) January 31, 2022

#49ers completely imploded on final two drives. Inexplicable decision by Jimmy G there. #Rams are going to the SB #SFvsLAR

— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) January 31, 2022

If this is Jimmy Garoppolo's last game in a 49ers uniform (and I believe it is), I think he goes down as the sixth-best quarterback in San Francisco history. Tittle, Brodie, Montana, Young and Garcia ahead of him, but I'd place him ahead of Kaepernick/Smith/DeBerg.

— Bryan Knowles (@BryKno) January 31, 2022

Garoppolo was pressured throughout. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 49ers have come out strongly in support of the quarterback, as offensive tackle Trent Williams said.

“I think he handled the season amazingly,” he said after the game. “Nobody wants to be put in the position he was put in. You can tell, Jimmy is a class act. I’m proud of him. He’s a brother for life.”

But Fox’s Booger McFarlane said that the 49ers put the game on Garoppolo’s shoulder but he couldn’t stand up in the final quarter.

“In the fourth quarter when the game was on the line, after the running game was taken away, they put it on his arm and they couldn’t win it,” he said. “Rewind back to the draft when the 49ers won out and they drafted Trey Lance, they got him for a big game and a moment like this. But he’s not ready.

“You saw the reason tonight why the 49ers brass, in their mind, they need a new quarterback. For moments like that, Jimmy Garoppolo could not handle them and they’re hoping at some point, Trey Lance can.”

Originally published as ‘Completely imploded’: NFL tear San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo to shreds