To beat Packers, San Francisco 49ers need Jimmy Garoppolo
Two years ago, the San Francisco 49ers won the NFC title game over the Green Bay Packers with Jimmy Garoppolo throwing eight times. That won’t happen on Saturday.
Do the San Francisco 49ers have another. upset in their satchel? We’re about to find out.
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If they do, it likely happens because of a punching ground attack against the Green Bay Packers and their lackluster run defense, but it won’t matter if Jimmy Garoppolo can’t make a few plays.
While the 49ers don’t ask as much from their quarterback as many other teams, Garoppolo must find ways to create chunk plays against the Packers. Green Bay beat San Francisco earlier this year, with the Eastern Illinois product going 25-of-40 for 257 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. This time, the Niners will certainly try to lessen his attempts, but also improve on the 6.4 yards per attempt we saw in Week 3.
That said, it won’t be easy.
Garoppolo, 30, is trying to reach his second NFC Championship Game in three years. The veteran is dealing with a litany of injuries to his shoulder and thumb, and while he’s practicing, it’s fair to be concerned about his effectiveness going into his NFC Divisional tilt at Lambeau Field.
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However, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t appear too worried about his signal-caller earlier this week, telling the media Garoppolo is in decent shape. Per ESPN:
“He should be fine for practice. He had to play through some pain and stuff, but he ended up checking out all right. Just a slight shoulder sprain and he should be good for [Tuesday’s] practice.”
Coming into Saturday as a six-point underdog, San Francisco will need to play near-perfect football to win. Offensively, it’s about running back Elijah Mitchell, tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel creating after contact and in space, while Garoppolo is the point guard who allows his stars to make plays.
Additionally, though, there will be a handful of moments in which Garoppolo needs to convert on third down, avoid the big turnover and keep a drive going. If he execute in those defining minutes, San Francisco has a legitimate shot to beat the NFC’s best team. If he can’t, the defense, with an injured Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, will need an otherworldly performance which probably includes a few turnovers.
The Niners don’t need Garoppolo to be great, but they need him to be impactful.
