On one hand, it should come as no surprise that the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl 54 on the strength of 285 rushing yards on 42 attempts against the Packers in the NFC championship game, with San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo having little impact on the result.
On the other hand, in a season when leaguewide numbers for passer rating, completion percentage, total completions and touchdown passes all ranked in the top five for highest in a single season in NFL history, it's absurd that the 49ers were able to deliver a blowout in the title game while their QB completed just six passes.
SUPER BOWL ODDS:
Chiefs open as slight favorites over 49ers
The box score attached to San Francisco's 37-20 win on Sunday says Garoppolo went 6-of-8 passing for 77 yards, an average of 9.6 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 104.7. He technically attempted 11 passes, but three were negated by defensive penalties.
"I think I threw more (in warmups)," Garoppolo joked after the game.
The 49ers are now one of just three teams that have finished a playoff game with 10 pass attempts or fewer in the Super Bowl era — although the 1971 and 1973 Dolphins are hardly representatives of the passing era in which these 49ers play.
Fewest pass attempts in a playoff victory - Super Bowl Era
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 20, 2020
Bob Griese (MIA): 1973 AFC Champ vs OAK 6
Bob Griese (MIA): Super Bowl VIII vs WASH: 7
Bob Griese (MIA): 1971 AFC Champ vs Colts: 8
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF): 2019 NFC Champ vs GB 8
Including Sunday's total, Garoppolo has thrown for 208 yards in two playoff games this year. Contrast that with his QB counterpart in Super Bowl 54; Patrick Mahomes has thrown for more yards in the second quarter alone in the Chiefs' wins over the Texans and Titans.
Below are all 11 throws Garoppolo made Sunday against the Packers, including the three that were negated by penalties.
They illustrate just how easily the QB cruised to the Super Bowl while running back Raheem Mostert and San Francisco's rushing attack terrorized Green Bay's overwhelmed defense all night.
- Throw 1
First-and-10 at the 49ers' 11-yard line; 16-yard completion to Deebo Samuel
- Throw 2
Second-and-5 at the 49ers' 32; 30-yard completion to Samuel
- Throw 3
Second-and-4 at the Packers' 32; 4-yard loss on a completion to Raheem Mostert
- Throw 4
Second-and-6 at the Packers' 47; incomplete pass
(Play negated by roughing the passer penalty)
- Throw 5
Second-and-6 at the Packers' 28; incomplete pass
- Throw 6
First-and-10 at the 49ers' 25; incomplete pass
(Play negated by defensive pass interference penalty)
- Throw 7
Second-and-8 at the Packers' 15; incomplete pass
- Throw 8
Third-and-8 at the Packers' 15; 6-yard completion to Kendrick Bourne
- Throw 9
First-and-10 at the 49ers' 27; 19-yard completion to George Kittle
- Throw 10
Third-and-3 at the Packers' 47; incomplete pass
(Play negated by defensive pass interference penalty)
- Throw 11
Second-and-11 at the Packers' 43; 10-yard completion to Mostert
Some notable nuggets related to Garoppolo's passing performance:
— He didn't attempt a pass in the entire third quarter (though the 49ers had only one possession in the third) and attempted just three passes in the fourth quarter. Two were completed; the lone incompletion was negated by defensive pass interference.
— Between the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the fourth, he went 24 game minutes without attempting a pass.
"If it's working, you stay with it," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of the run-heavy approach Sunday. "Our guys were running so hard. Our line coming [off] the ball, our backs. All 11 of our guys how they've been all year. The guys fought hard as heck. We're going to put it all in their hands."
Chances are, San Francisco will need more from Garoppolo in the Super Bowl, especially if Mahomes continues his hot streak. The Kansas City QB just tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (11) for the most TD passes through a player's first four career playoff games in NFL history. He did that a week after becoming the first player with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdown passes and 50 rushing yards in a single NFL postseason game.
Of course, the 49ers could not care less how many passes Garoppolo attempts or completes. They're 19-5 in his 24 starts since 2017, not including what's now a 2-0 record in the playoffs.