San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 games of the decade

No. 6: 49ers @ Saints: Week 14 — Dec. 8, 2019 

For the majority of the 2019 season, NFL analysts and pundits seemed to agree on one short-sighted and mind-numbing belief: Jimmy Garoppolo is nowhere near an elite field general in the league.

They have said he is good, but not elite. As Pro Football Talk’s talking head, Chris Simms, said, Garoppolo can lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl, but only because he has players like George Kittle at his disposal.

Isn’t that what great quarterbacks do? Effectively utilize their weapons in order to win games?

This is precisely what Garoppolo has done as this season has progressed to the here and now. Jimmy G got his 49ers to the No. 1 seed in the NFC after earning a bye and a week off to heal up. Not to mention his play ratcheted up in previous weeks out of necessity.

This was the game where his increased level of play began, as it turned out, it was an absolute necessity. Drew Brees was Godlike in this contest, going 29-of-40 for 349 yards and five touchdowns.

Not to be outdone, though, Garoppolo went 26-of-35 for 349 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw an interception on a pass, which was tipped by receiver Emmanuel Sanders and was, after watching the replay, not entirely Jimmy G’s fault.

From the start, it appeared the winner of this game would come down to who had the ball last.

Thankfully the team with the final possession was the 49ers, and they did not disappoint.

Starting from their own 25-yard line, Garoppolo and Co. looked all but done as an 8-yard pass, followed by two incompletions, led to a 4th-and-2 from their own 33-yard line.

Then this happened.

Because you can never see this play too many times.

The catch, along with the blatant facemask from safety Marcus Williams, put the Niners well within range for the game-winning field goal. Kicker Robbie Gould delivered, and San Francisco had its first signature win of the 2019 season.