49ers – Rams NFC Championship Game Live Blog

Posted By on January 30, 2022

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers (12-7) NFC Championship Game matchup with the Los Angeles Rams (14-5) from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

2:15 Trent Williams is ACTIVE for the 49ers today.

2:16 Inactive for San Francisco today are: WR Mohamed Sanu, QB Nate Sudfeld, RB Jeff Wilson Jr, LB Marcell Harris, DB Deommodore Lenoir, OL Aaron Banks, DL Maurice Hurst

2:20 Inactive for Los Angeles today are: S Taylor Rapp, OL Joe Noteboom, QB Bryce Perkins, OLB Chris Garrett, OL Tremayne Anchrum Jr, TE Bryce Hopkins, OLB Terrell Lewis

3:05 Ambry Thomas lines up opposite Emmanuel Moseley with the starting defense during warmups. Looks like the rookie is back in the starting lineup after missing last week with a knee injury.

3:40 49ers have won the toss and defer to the second half. Rams will have the ball to start the game.

3:46 Both defenses for three and outs to open the game. 

Garoppolo had Kittle open and overthrew him down the middle. It’s electric in this building and they need to settle in.

3:56 Jimmie Ward with the first big play of the day. After the Rams drive down to the 49ers 3, Matt Stafford’s pass is broken up and Ward comes up with the interception, returning the ball out to the 22. 

4:03 The 49ers move the ball to the Rams 40, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s throw on third down to Brandon Aiyuk is broken up. The 49ers special teams downs the punt on the 3, giving Los Angeles a long field.

The 49ers need to look to throw on first and second down more often as this game plays out.

4:12 Rams are moving the ball as the first half comes to a close. The 49ers need to be concerned a bit here with the Rams ability to move the ball on the ground in the opening quarter. This could open them up to being susceptible to play action passes and it’s grinding down the clock.

4:27 The Rams cap off a 97-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kupp over Ambry Thomas in the right corner of the endzone.

If the 49ers can’t stop the Rams running game this is going to be a long night.

Only 8:46 remains in the first half and San Francisco’s ran 9 offensive plays. 

Rams 7 49ers 0

4:34 What an answer by the 49ers offense. Garoppolo goes deep down the left sideline to Aiyuk for 31-yards and Deebo Samuel takes a screen pass 45-yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7.

The key for the 49ers defense now is to get stops on 3rd down. They’ve allowed Los Angeles to convert on 71% on their three first half possessions.

4:48 Rams move the ball well, but the 49ers defense comes up with a stop on third down when Stafford throws incomplete to Beckham. 

The Rams attempt a 56-yard field goal and it sails wide right. 49ers take over at the 44 with the game tied at 7 and 1:50 left in the first half.

5:00 Jimmy Garoppolo completes passes to Kittle, Hasty and Aiyuk before scrambling for 4-yards, getting the ball to the Rams 20. Robbie Gould comes on and drills the 37-yard field goal to send the 49ers into halftime with a 10-7 lead.

That San Francisco has the lead right now is a big statement. The Rams ran 42 plays to only 20 for the 49ers, and they still trail.

San Francisco will receive the ball to start the second half.

5:11 San Francisco with only 19 yards rushing on 8 carries in the first half. Los Angeles with 73 yards on 17 carries. 

5:23 49ers are forced to punt after getting the ball out to the Rams 43. Garoppolo had Brandon Aiyuk wide open deep but checked it down to Mitchell for a 12-yard gain instead. 

5:33 49ers defense comes up with another big stop, holding Stafford short on a quarterback sneak. The offense will take over at their own 43. 

Big possession coming up for San Francisco’s offense.

5:43 Jimmy Garoppolo hits George Kittle from 16 yards out and the 49ers now lead 17-7.

Los Angeles is doing a good job of shutting down the 49ers rushing attack, but Garoppolo made them pay on that possession. His 11-yard completion to Jauan Jennings on 3rd and 10 kept the drive alive and two plays later came the touchdown.

5:51 Headed to the 4th quarter. Rams are driving as Matthew Stafford has a couple of big hookups and the 49ers defense gave the Rams a free 15 yards with a personal foul. There’s still a long way to go in this one.

5:56 Stafford finds Cooper Kupp over K’Waun Williams from 12-yards out for a touchdown to pull Los Angeles back within three. 49ers 17 Rams 14

Feels like the 49ers need to get points on the board again on this series. 

6:16 Jaquiski Tartt had an interception in his hands and dropped it. Stafford threw it up down the middle and the ball hit Tartt in the chest before falling to the ground.

The Rams took advantage, driving into field goal range, hitting from 40-yards out to tie the game at 17 with 6:49 left to play.

6:22 Garoppolo is hit while throwing on first down and the ball falls incomplete. After a delay of game moves them back five, Garoppolo is almost intercepted on second down before Travis Benjamin drops the ball on third down. He wouldn’t have picked up the first down anyway

6:28 At the 2-minute warning, the Rams have the ball on the 49ers 13. San Francisco needs to hold for a field goal here and keep some time on the clock for the offense.

6:32 Rams hit the FG and the 49ers hav 1:46 left to save their season. 

That missed interception by Tartt may haunt this team.

6:35 The Los Angeles Rams are going to the Super Bowl to face the Cincinatti Bengals.

This article has 150 Comments

  4. And another big gain to Kittle taken off the board. Garappolo to Kittle has been a disaster for weeks now. Please do better.

    1. Everyone should assume on third downs the ball is going to Kupp or Beckham. Like what are we doing. Sheesh. And stop looking in the backfield. Watch the da*m receivers.

      But thank God JG loves to play under pressure.

  7. Wow! I will give Jimmy credit, that is a pass you pretty much never see him make to Aiyuk.

    DEEBO! Magic Deebo time!

  12. whaoooooo DEEEEEBOOOO- KShan is not calm – we usually run that play from the 20 – rams blocking the edges well

  13. Defense is not playing well. Hopefully wave after wave of pass rushers can wear the Rams OL down.

    1. Plenty of hits on Stafford so far. Holding that big strike team to 7 very hard earned points. The game is trending to Niners strength.

  14. Our secondary has ALWAYS been skeptical. Can we please go and get some legit S’s and CB’s. Ugh

  15. So far the Rams are out playing the NINERS.
    Need a stop here. They need to tighten up the coverage.

  18. I think we’re ho.ding up well. If the D can keep banging on Stafford good things will happen.

  21. Rams looked much better and to lead them at the half is huge. No major mistakes from Jimmy really helped.

    1. If we don’t turn the ball over and do a better job at stopping their run in the 2nd half, we win this game. JG just need to keep doing what he is doing.

  22. I hope Demeco can make some serious halftime adjustments, gotta put a stop to the Rams run game and get more pressure on Stafford. I hope the offense is awake and can continue to put some points on the board.

  23. Getting the running game going and limiting the Rams running game will be big keys to winning this game.

  24. I think we just need some sustained drives in the second half. We did score twice but they were relatively quick strikes. The defense has played a lot of snaps and need them rested for the fourth.

    1. We have a 20 minute to 10 minute time of possession deficit and the Rams have twice as many plays on offense. That needs to change.

      1. that was crazy… i said it as i was typing this and everybody in my house heard it and then Boom!!! lol

      1. that was crazy… maybe I shoudl called everything from here on out and it might manifest lol

  32. Gotta love Deebo and Jennings on that drive. Multiple Rams unable to bring them down short of the line of gain.

  33. Time to give him credit. Jimmy is making the throws. Let’s keep it up.

    Time for the defense to make a statement.

    1. Not just making throws but more important, not making mental error… JG really managing the game really well!

  36. Not sure how you leave Kupp unabated one on one there in that situation.

    Now it’s paramount Jimmy doesn’t force stuff. We still have an advantage as long as we protect the ball.

  37. SMH. I’m sorry Bosa and Jimmy G for talking trash about you two. We NEED to seriously invest in our Defensive Backfield. That was way too easy.

    1. Can’t fault KW on that one. That was a bad defensive call to leave him 1:1 on a critical 3rd down.

      1. He should never be that wide open. DB’s have to get their eyes out of the backfield and on the receivers numbers.

  38. I don’t understand why Cupp isn’t double covered anytime the Rams are inside the NINERS 30 yard line.

  39. Every time they fake the Trent Williams motion it does not work. Why bother with the tricky dick crap when you can just play to your strengths?

  40. Terrible 3rd down call. The Rams gave been blowing up the run game all day. A couple of nice runs and the Niners are still at 2.5 ypc.

  46. We’re totally self-destructing here.

    Can’t miss that easy INT and can’t get that head hunting penalty. Uggh.

  49. Well if Shanahan has been saving any clever plays all season, we might see it on third down on this drive.

  52. That Tartt drop is so agonizing. Our chance to ice it. He had no one near him either.

  56. This is nuts. And torture. And what was a dominant 3rd quarter has turned into a completely crap the pants 4th quarter.

  60. That was a pathetic series of downs. Alex Mack sleeping and gets the delay penalty. Then more awful OL play.

    It is way past time for the defense to make a quick stop!

  62. I thought I knew a lot about football but I learned a lot today. Delay of game penalties don’t apply to the Rams. Weird.

  65. Guaranteed Offensive Holding call kills the 49ers next drive. NFL wants the Rams in the Super Bowl to help build the La market. Shades of Saints.

  67. No more free rides Jimmy! No more riding on your teammates coat tails!

    Let’s see what you got!

  72. I’m very proud of my team. They played one hell of a game against a very good team. These are probably the 2 best teams in the league.

  73. KS offense in the 4th has failed us again… the last 3 games has been bad for this offense. That’s on KS!

  74. Well the Rams thoroughly outplayed the Niners across the board. Jimmy’s mojo finally disappeared. The offense was helpless here at the end.

    Time to move onto the Trey Lance era. This was the final note. Jimmy just isn’t good enough.

  75. Well boys (and girls) a great run comes to an end.

    The Trey era begins. I know it’ll be just as exciting.

  76. What a FITTING way for Jimmy to end his career with the NINERS! He single handedly cost the 49ers another Super Bowl, IMO!

    1. Nah, can’t do that and call yourself a Niners fan. Ok, maybe root for Jimmy as long as Niners come out on top.

          1. That was a tough day… i remember watching that game with my dad and it was a bitter sweet watching Joe beat us that day…

  81. I wonder if Shanny ever regrets not taking shots at the end of halfs. This is now the third heartbreak loss in which we came up just short and those extra few points would have made a huge difference. Let’s see how he plays it next year with a different quarterback but you can’t just keep being conservative your entire tenure when it’s come up empty for you time and time again.

  82. It’s amazing that we got the NFC Championship Game. I was convinced the season was lost after the Indy game. We made several adjustments on the D line and got guys back from injury which resulted in a a very serious run into the playoffs. We have a lot to be happy and proud of. Now it is time to fix those things which are broken.

    1. Broken??? Start with the hapless ownership. Not a single Super Bowl victory in 23 years
      with the Yorks in control and in charge.

  83. Great year. Sad it ended the way many of us prayed for it not to. On Jimmy G throwing an interception at any point in the game. I don’t think the loss is all on him. He actually threw the ball away today.

    We HAVE to have some better DB’s. Have to. That’s been the weakest position group on the team for over a decade. Something has to change.

    1. QB has been the 2nd weakest position next to CB, and unfortunately, it’s a quarterback driven league, and you can’t win a Super Bowl in this day and age with a Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. FACT!

    2. I don’t disagree with you BUT this game is ultimately on the DB’s. How do you continuously let Kupp get wide open. At the snap, they were all flat footed while Kupps running at them.

  84. I’m finally sending out a text message that I’ve been waiting to send out for what seems like a lifetime now -I am sending a picture of TREY LANCE out to all of my hundreds of contacts, with the caption: The FUTURE is NOW!

    I tried to tell you guys months ago, but nobody was willing to admit the truth!

    You can make a lot of noise with a Jimmy Garoppolo, you just can’t win it all with a Jimmy Garoppolo!

    1. My guess is that you’re blocked by all of your contacts. I’m sure they have the same thoughts about you that everyone on this blog has.

      1. Kyle.

        But don’t be pulling for a Niners failure just to prove a point to a Jack@ss. That’s a pure Reasons play.

    1. Imagine how Tart’s feel right now… a huge play in the game but cannot pin the loss on him too…

    2. You know what cubus … I no longer care about your Garoppolo delusion, or anyone else’s.

      Why? Because HE’S GONE!

      And now I know longer have to listen to anymore of yours, or Ribico’s, or anyone else’s pathetic defense of the pretty-boy, porn-star Jimmy, and his sub-par quarterbacking! Hallelujah for that!

      Jimmy has been, without a doubt, the weakest QB on the field for at least the last 8 straight 49ers games, and in that regard, I’m glad I don’t have to suffer through another one of his miserable performances, hoping the defense and Deebo can cover for Jimmy!

      Jimmy’s is the weak-link!

      And if that wasn’t bad enough, I had to listen to Jimmy fanatics defend his lackluster play, apparently at all cost, as if admitting the 49ers quarterback isn’t good enough was somehow being a trader, or something silly like that.

      Wake up and smell the fricken coffee, cubus & Ribico!

      Trey Lance couldn’t even get ONE snap? Kyle is weak-kneed HC, that’s for darn sure! Let’s just hope Kyle doesn’t find a way to ruin Lance, like he loses the lead in every big game!

      1. You are the one who is delusional and sadly you are blinded by your hatred of Jimmy G. Did he steal your girl friend, lunch money, or both?? I didn’t see Jimmy play even 1 down on defense this year, did you?

  86. Can we finally end the stupid Jimmy Garoppolo charade and just be honest about the quarterback position?

    What do you say, Ribico?

    But let’s not let Kyle off the hook either. He’s the one who doesn’t even have faith in himself, and kept marching a clearly injured QB out there, game after game. Kyle had to know he couldn’t keep winning these games with SMOKE & MIRRORS offensively, didn’t he?

    And BTW, it’s not a coincidence that Kyle can’t hold onto a lead if his life depended on it! When you coach scared, it’s going to eventually catch up to you.

    1. As Shakespeare once wrote “as told by an idiot, full of sound an fury, signafying nothing. “

    2. What do I say? Unlike the pathetic POS you are I support every Niner to the hilt, win or lose. Hundreds of contacts…. LOL. Celebrate somewhere else and get your delusional @ss out from here, how dare you defile the grief of the Niner fans here with your clown show.

        1. Jimmy was Jimmy, and Kyle CHOKED … again!

          OWN IT!

          Oh, and let me know if you want me to post Jimmy’s updated postseason stats again, Rib.

          A word of warning though, they are OBSCENELY BAD, and not appropriate for younger readers!

          1. Get lost dipsht, no one here GsAF about your obsessive vomit.

            You are obviously in need of psychiatric help. Get it before next season.

          2. OK, I couldn’t resist posting Jimmy’s postseason numbers because they validate everything I’ve been complaining about. Jimmy was the EXACT same, extremely bad QB this postseason, as he was in 2019!

            Here they are. Jimmy Garoppolo’s postseason stats:

            2019/20 – 3 games, 37 for 58, 63.8 %, 427 yards, 7.4 avg, 2 TD, 3 INT, 75.9 Passer Rating, 45.8 QBR

            2021/22 – 3 games, 43 for 74, 58.1 %, 535 yards, 7.2 avg, 2TD, 3 INT, 72.8 Passer Rating, 51.9 QBR

            Who could of guessed?

            1. This one really hurts bad, because without a doubt, the 49ers had the most talented roster in the NFL, OUTSIDE of their veteran QB.

              And that’s why you can’t afford to waste these opportunities! I knew Jimmy wouldn’t be able to get it done. That was never in question. the real question for me was …. how did you guys not understand this?

              1. #ShanaCHOKE!

                Jimmy Garoppolo – the only $27M ROOKIE QB, playing in his 8th season!

                It’s TREY TIME … Finally!

    1. They CHOKED, and Jimmy lead the way, while Kyle coached scared! That’s twice in the last 3 seasons!

      Niners will be lucky to get a 3rd round pick for Garoppolo. I say they won’t even get that much.

      And for those of you who want to blame it on a lack of a running game … let me explain how the sport of football works – When a team doesn’t respect your QB, they can sell out and take way the run without worrying about paying a price.

      And that’s exactly what happened yet again!

      1. Some of that falls on play calling. KS didn’t call a play action rollout the entire game if I’m not mistaking.

      2. How does it feel to know that everyone thinks your an idiot and yet you just keep on spewing your nonsense? I guess you don’t have any self respect or you’d slink back under that rock you came from

  89. My disappointment is on KS. The Def has gotten us in the NFCCG and the offense has only score a total of 3 pts in the 4th of the entire playoff games! And that 3 pts came in the last 5 secs of the GB game.

  90. A note of big thanks to Hammer. You made this blog must-reading all throughout this remarkable season. Can we start next season like, right now?

  92. “I love Jimmy,” Shanahan told reporters. “I’m not gonna sit here and make a farewell statement. That’s the last thing on my mind. . . . I love coaching Jimmy.”

    “The proper conjugation of that last verb possibly is “loved”. With the game on the line, he failed to step up like championship quarterbacks do. The Rams knew they had a quarterback like that in Jared Goff, so they got Matthew Stafford. The 49ers went another way. Unless they fear that Lance needs another full season of seasoning before he’s truly ready to go — and if he does, why did they give up so much to get him? — Jimmy’s time as a 49er is over.”

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