Top 5 lessons 49ers hopefully learned from Week 13 loss vs. Ravens

Jimmy Garoppolo needs to limit turnovers

The 2019 49ers can still win games when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo turns the ball over, but San Francisco’s franchise QB would make it a lot easier on his team if he took better care of the football, particularly in key situations.

Garoppolo turned the ball over in seven of the 49ers’ 10 victories in 2019, including in a considerable number of the Niners’ blowout wins. However, Jimmy G was credited with three turnovers in the team’s overtime loss to the Seahawks, although he doesn’t deserve the blame for all three, and was stripped-sacked by the Ravens deep in San Francisco territory on Sunday:

Baltimore immediately responded with a momentum-changing touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson to tight end Mark Andrews:

Garoppolo was responsible for fumbling the football, but the sack was a direct product of backup running back Jeff Wilson failing to block Ravens safety Chuck Clark, who knocked the ball out after the 49ers’ quarterback avoided Baltimore’s initial pressure. Garoppolo doesn’t need to be flawless, particularly if Shanahan continues to force him into difficult third down situations, but he does need to improve.

Garoppolo has faced pressure throughout the season, and particularly in Sunday’s contest, as the Ravens blitzed 84 percent of the time the Niners’ signal-caller dropped back to pass, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Overall, Jimmy G excelled when Baltimore brought extra pressure, but his failure to properly secure the ball proved to be a determining factor in the outcome of Sunday’s contest:

If San Francisco plans to embark on a deep playoff run, Garoppolo will need to focus on ball security and limiting turnovers going forward.