Jimmy Garoppolo: 5 best games from 49ers quarterback

No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers outduel Drew Brees, Saints in Week 14 of 2019

If there’s going to be one statement game from Jimmy Garoppolo that he talks about 50 years from now, the Niners’ epic back-and-forth win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 14 of the 2019 season should be up there towards the top.

And for now, it’s No. 1 on the list. No other game should come close.

The red-hot Saints presented a challenge for Garoppolo and a playoff-hopeful San Francisco squad anyway, given the game was at the always-hostile Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and then-Saints quarterback Drew Brees was having yet another one of his Hall of Fame-caliber seasons.

Garoppolo would need to be on his A-game, putting it lightly.

Fortunately, that’s exactly how Garoppolo played. Despite the 49ers falling behind early, 20-7 early in the second quarter, Jimmy G and the Niners managed to close the gap, take the lead, surrender it again before George Kittle had that epic catch-and-run fourth-down grab to set up another game-winning field goal by Robbie Gould.

That’ll be the play etched in San Francisco fans’ heads, yes. But let’s not overlook the fact Garoppolo went 26-of-35 for 349 yards, four touchdowns, an interception and a passer rating of 131.7, effectively outdueling Brees despite the latter tossing five touchdowns of his own

Pretty darned good.