49ers 5 toughest quarterback matchups for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021

No. 1: Week 13 — 49ers vs. Russell Wilson, Seahawks

On a positive note, Jimmy Garoppolo managed to do what no other 49ers quarterback had done since former QB Alex Smith did it back in 2011: beat the Seahawks in Seattle.

This was Week 17 back in 2019, of course, where the Niners used that heroic goal-line stand featuring linebacker Dre Greenlaw to hold off that late surge by Russell Wilson and Co.

San Francisco 49ers

Getting back to Garoppolo, though, he was more than effective enough despite the magnitude of the game and the hostile crowd at Lumen Field, going 18-of-22 for 285 yards with zero touchdowns, albeit no interceptions, and a passer rating of 118.7.

Wilson, too, was solid during the game, tossing two touchdowns and finishing with a passer rating of 95.1. But when asked to deliver in the game’s most decisive moment, Greenlaw made sure San Francisco got the victory.

There’s going to be no shortage of pressure within this Sunday Night Football contest. By Week 13, both the 49ers and Hawks could be jockeying for positioning not just within the NFC West, but also within the conference playoff standings as a whole. There’s likely going to be some serious postseason implications from this bout.

And considering fans are going to be returning to venues this season, unlike last year, one has to figure the crowd at Lumen Field will be just as raucous as ever before.

All the while, Wilson looming to outperform Garoppolo.

Like any other game, Jimmy G doesn’t have to be perfect. He just has to edge out Wilson as he did in Week 17 last year.