SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo and Matthew Stafford are under immense pressure Sunday to quarterback the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams into the Super Bowl, respectively.
Pressure, in football parlance, also means having maniacs trying to wallop star quarterbacks.
“Usually the teams at this point in the year all have good pass rushes,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. “It’s pretty hard to get here without one. But I think we’re two of the top.”
The 49ers produced five sacks in each of their past three games, staving off elimination each time with harrowing wins to reach Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, the latest escape being Saturday night’s 13-10 win at Green Bay.
The Rams escaped Tampa Bay in the divisional round after pressuring Tom Brady 17 times, including nine by Von Miller, their trade-deadline acquisition who won Super Bowl MVP honors six years ago.
That attack surely won’t surprise Garoppolo, whose shoulder sprain has eased to that point it’s not listed on the injury report, though his Dec. 23 thumb sprain remains an issue, especially with Aaron Donald & Co. coming after him Sunday.
Garoppolo’s quick release combats such pass-rush pressure, and he doesn’t enter games putting a stopwatch on whether he’ll have two or three seconds to throw from the pocket.
“It’s more of a feel thing. You talk to guys on the sideline, how they’re feeling about it,” Garoppolo said. “If you get the ball out, it makes everyone’s job easier.”
Shanahan recited a long-running scouting report when it comes to the Rams and said it all starts with “the generational talent” of Aaron Donald. But there is more to that pass rush.
Miller, acquired from Denver for 2022 second- and third-round picks, made his Rams’ debut in their Nov. 15 loss at the 49ers, and he had no sacks his first four games with them. He has at least one in each of the six games since then.
“They have as good as a group as I’ve ever seen, and to add Von Miller with their scheme, everyone saw it last week vs. Tampa, and that’s usually how it’s going to look,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully you get them to play other stuff and we can make it a different type of game, but that’s what these guys are made for.”
Simply put, the 49ers want to run, not pass.
As for the fine line of risky throws, Shanahan added: “One of the hardest things with Jimmy is when people are covered, he believes he can just put the ball in the right spot, which he does a lot.” Shanahan then pointed to a third-down pass Garoppolo whizzed to Jauan Jennings — “One of the most talented throws I’ve ever seen,” the coach said of the first-quarter pass that Jennings dropped.
Garoppolo got sacked once in a Nov. 15 home win over the Rams, and he endured three sacks along with two interceptions en route to the Jan. 9 win. “You always have an awareness where Aaron is presnap, then after that, you’re trying to read the defense and react as the pocket allows,” Garoppolo said.
Conversely, the 49ers’ ever-improving pass rush pressured Aaron Rodgers 11 times in Saturday night’s comeback win at Green Bay. That 32.4-percent pressure rate was the most he faced this season. It was also the seventh straight game the 49ers had a pressure rate over 30 percent.
The 49ers’ nine-man rotation on the defensive line is paying off, as evident by the 13 sacks and five sacks it had against the Rams’ Stafford on Jan. 9. In their two subsequent playoff games, the 49ers have been led by Arik Armstead (three sacks, five quarterback hits), Nick Bosa (2.5 sacks, three hits), Charles Omenihu (1.5 sacks, four hits) and former Rams’ linebacker Samson Ebukam (1.5 sacks, two hits).
WILLIAMS ‘IS PLAYING’
Left tackle Trent Williams’ ankle injury is arguably the 49ers’ biggest health concern, and even though he’s being held out of practice, he isn’t expected to miss his first NFC Championship Game.
“In Trent’s mind, there’s no way he’s not playing,” Shanahan said. “That’s why he was so crushed last game, he believed he would and his (elbow sprain) wouldn’t let him. Hopefully we’ll have better luck this game. I know he believes he’s playing and so do I. We’ll see how that pans out as the week goes.”
Resting, as has been routine on Wednesdays, were running back Elijah Mitchell (knee), defensive end Nick Bosa and center Alex Mack. Limited was cornerback Ambry Thomas, who did not play last game because of a bruised knee. Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (ankle) did not practice.
THE ‘RED SEA’
Garoppolo commended the 49ers’ fans — “The Faithful” for their tremendous showing at away games, and never was that more obvious than how many were among 74,447 that saw the 49ers outlast the host Rams 27-24 in overtime Jan. 9. “We knew before the game started there was a lot of red. But when we started making plays and they started getting loud, it changes the momentum of the game,” Garoppolo said. “You can feel it from the sideline. You can’t see it specifically but you can feel it and hear it.
“Hopefully the Faithful will be out there loud and proud, and I know they’re trying.”
The 49ers will fly to Los Angeles after Friday’s practice, a day earlier than usual for a West Coast game but this will allow them not to rush and decrease distractions. They’ve also flown Friday for their previous two playoff games.
SPECIAL TEAMS THRILLS
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, after a rough regular season, beamed with pride Wednesday in reliving Saturday night’s multiple heroics by his unit, including Jordan Willis’ blocked punt that Hightower has heard referred to as one of the greatest plays in 49ers’ playoff history.
“The guys did a nice job swinging momentum. They’re fired up about it and they should be,” Hightower said. “We’re looking forward to playing in the NFC Championship.”
Robbie Gould is done basking in his 45-yard game-winning field goal, to an extent. “Kicks like Saturday night’s kick gives me more confidence,” Gould said. “Our operation has come into form the last couple weeks. Our rhythm has been its best. The biggest thing is that game is over. I got up Sunday morning and talked to my wife, my kids and friends about the kick. I said it’s awesome but we’ve got another game Sunday.”
By the way, Gould will be changing to his normal cleats for SoFi Stadium’s artificial surface, and he won’t be encasing Saturday night’s seven-stud specials into a glass case, an honor he reserves for Super Bowl editions.
SANU ACTIVATED
Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu got activated off injured reserve, where he’s been since Nov. 15 because of a knee injury. He totaled 15 catches for 177 yards and no touchdowns before getting injured Nov. 7 against Arizona. Sanu’s role as the No. 3 receiver has since been filled by Jauan Jennings, who had five touchdowns among 24 receptions in the regular season.
ROOTING INTEREST
Sean Payton, in his farewell press conference as the New Orleans Saints’ coach, let his allegiance known for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. ” Our record was 9-8. We didn’t get into the playoffs. We’re rooting against the Rams because of that,” said Payton. The Saints, despite winning their finale at Atlanta, were then eliminated by virtue of the 49ers’ clinching a wild-card berth with an overtime win over the Rams on Jan. 9.
RAMS’ INJURY REPORT
Not participating in the Rams’ walk-through practice were wide receiver Van Jefferson (knee) and offensive tackles Joseph Noteboom (chest) and Greg Gaines (toe). Limited were safety Taylor Rapp (concussion), left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) and return specialist Buddy Howell (hamstring).
