The San Francisco 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs after a 20-17 loss against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?
Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Rams.
- Deebo Samuel, WR, 84.6, 39 snaps
- Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 77.0, 48 snaps
- Alex Mack, C, 70.4, 51 snaps
- Jauan Jennings, WR, 62.7, 27 snaps
- Colton McKivitz, LT, 60.0, 1 snap
Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Samson Ebukam, DE, 74.2, 45 snaps
- D.J. Jones, DT, 74.2, 42 snaps
- Fred Warner, LB, 73.4, 77 snaps
- Charles Omenihu, DE, 70.9, 15 snaps
- Kevin Givens, DT, 67.1, 19 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.
- Travis Benjamin, WR, 31.3, 4 snaps
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 42.5, 51 snaps
- Laken Tomlinson, LG, 47.0, 51 snaps
Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.
- Kentavius Street, DT, 30.6, 22 snaps
- Jaquiski Tartt, FS, 41.9, 77 snaps
- Emmanuel Moseley, CB, 42.8, 77 snaps
Quick Takeaways
Jimmy Garoppolo is noticeably among the team's lowest-graded players. The quarterback, still playing through a thumb injury that will likely require offseason surgery, went 16-of-30 for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and a game-ending interception. His 42.5 overall grade wasn't just his lowest of the playoffs, it was his lowest of the season. In fact, it was his lowest mark since Week 5 of 2020.
Safety Jaquiski Tartt, who failed to hold onto what could have been a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter, was among the lowest-graded defenders. He finished the game with six tackles and his lowest grade since Week 11.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel earned the game's second-highest overall grade (Rams RT Rob Havenstein, 90.1). He recorded four receptions for a postseason career-high 72 yards and a touchdown, including a postseason career-long 44-yard touchdown reception. Samuel added seven rushing attempts for 26 yards on the ground. His 84.6 overall grade was his highest of the postseason.
There was a lot of focus on Trent Williams and how the offensive tackle would manage while playing through a painful high-ankle sprain. Williams, Pro Football Focus' highest-graded player this season, earned his lowest overall grade of the season, and his lowest mark since Week 17 of 2018.
Defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Samson Ebukam tied for the 49ers defense's highest overall grade. Each defender registered three tackles while Ebukam added half a sack.
Linebacker Fred Warner was coming off a career-high Pro Football Focus grade against the Green Bay Packers. He followed that up with his second-highest grade of the playoffs. Warner finished the game with 10 tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a pass defensed on his 77 defensive snaps.
Snap Counts
Offense
51 - Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), George Kittle (TE), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Tom Compton (RT), Trent Williams (LT)
48 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
39 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
34 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
27 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
24 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
11 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
9 - Trent Sherfield (WR)
7 - JaMycal Hasty (RB)
4 - Travis Benjamin (WR)
1 - Colton McKivitz (LT)
Defense
77 - Ambry Thomas (CB), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Jaquiski Tartt (FS), Jimmie Ward (SS)
76 - K'Waun Williams (CB)
65 - Nick Bosa (DE)
61 - Arik Armstead (DT)
47 - Azeez Al-Shaair (LB)
45 - Samson Ebukam (DE)
42 - D.J. Jones (DT)
28 - Dre Greenlaw (LB)
22 - Kentavius Street (DT)
21 - Jordan Willis (DE)
19 - Kevin Givens (DT)
18 - Arden Key (DE)
15 - Charles Omenihu (DE)
2 - Talanoa Hufanga (FS)
1 - Dontae Johnson (CB)
Special Teams
19 - Dontae Johnson, Mark Nzeocha, Talanoa Hufanga
17 - Charlie Woerner
14 - Trent Sherfield, Trenton Cannon
13 - Ross Dwelley
11 - Trey Sermon
10 - Jordan Willis
9 - JaMycal Hasty
8 - Arik Armstead, D.J. Jones, Josh Norman, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
6 - Azeez Al-Shaair, Robbie Gould (K)
5 - Charles Omenihu, Deebo Samuel, Jimmie Ward, Kyle Juszczyk
4 - Arden Key, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
3 - Colton McKivitz, Daniel Brunskill, Jake Brendel, Laken Tomlinson, Tom Compton
1 - Travis Benjamin