49ers biggest studs, duds from NFC Championship loss vs. Rams

The 49ers lost a heartbreaker to the Rams in a back-and-forth NFC Championship game that is sure to be talked about for years to come.

In a rough and tumble game, the San Francisco 49ers were on the verge to make it to the Super Bowl but fell short in their last drives. In a hard-fought contest, the Niners were poised to win the NFC Championship game, but the Los Angeles Rams brought more fight to the game than their last two previous matchups.

As a result, San Francisco fell victim to LA by a 20-17 score, now eliminated from that chance at a Super Bowl.

While the 49ers have an obvious weakness at the cornerback position, the game was mostly lost on the Niners’ atrocious last two offensive drives.

None worse than the last offensive drive. The team was poised to make a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, except its offensive line failed to provide quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo any time to make a play.

If a few more plays were made, San Francisco would be set to face off the Cincinnati Bengals in a repeat of Super Bowl XXIII.

Unfortunately for the Faithful, the team once again failed to defend a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Let’s take a look at the game’s biggest studs and duds.

49ers Dud: Safety Jaquiski Tartt

In this game, there is no bigger dud than starting safety Jaquiski Tartt.

Tartt had a solid game up to the point when Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a ball right at Tartt. It should have been an easy interception, which would have made it easier for the team to bleed the clock.

However, the interception was dropped, and the Rams moved the ball and capitalized on the non-turnover with a field goal, tying the game.

It was not a difficult catch to make, which makes the drop even more painful.

Tartt is an excellent safety who normally makes the play by bludgeoning offensive players. In this play, though, the 49ers just needed him to make the easy interception.