NFC Championship Game: 49ers at Rams player grades

The San Francisco 49ers' magical 2021 season has finally come to an end.

After starting a meager 3-5, the 49ers finished the season in impressive 10-2 (including the playoffs) before their loss to the divisional-rival Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, beating the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and those very Rams (twice) along the way.

But, once again, the 49ers are going home empty-handed, just as they did against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.

Coincidentally, the 49ers held a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter and failed to capitalize on simple opportunities, which was the same storyline in that Chiefs game.

For the last time this season, let's get into the player grades for the 49ers-Rams NFC Championship showdown.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo: D+

A missed throw early to George Kittle. A missed deep read to Brandon Aiyuk. A near-interception. Then, an actual interception.

The Jimmy Garoppolo errors were on full display against the Rams, as the veteran quarterback was off from the start, overthrowing George Kittle on the third play of the game for what could have been a touchdown over the middle, which would've given the 49ers an important early lead.

But, for the first time, this loss felt like a team loss, as the offensive line failed to protect Garoppolo for periods of the game, diminishing the value of play-action, and limiting Kyle Shanahan's offense (more on that later).

Garoppolo certainly had some important throws, including his 31-yard completion to Brandon Aiyuk outside the numbers, and a 16-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle that gave the 49ers a 17-7 lead.

But, Garoppolo's limitations ultimately hurt the 49ers in this game, as the Rams brought up to nine players in the box, often bringing a safety to help the linebackers inside the numbers, daring San Francisco to beat them in the passing game. Credit to Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

Garoppolo didn't play well, but doesn't deserve the entirety of the blame with the overall offensive struggles of this team Sunday.

Running Backs: C+

The 49ers ran the ball 20 times for just 50 yards as a team on Sunday.

Deebo Samuel had seven rushes for 26 yards, while Elijah Mitchell ran 11 times for 20 yards. Mitchell also had three catches for 50 yards, which I'll include as part of this section.

For most of the game, the Rams remained focused on the run, overcommitting and overpowering San Francisco's offensive line to get into the backfield on several instances.

Now, is it entirely their fault? No. Kyle Shanahan stuck with the inside-zone strategy much too often, which didn't work with Aaron Donald and Co. on the opposing side.

In addition, the strategy felt too predictable, as the 49ers consistently ran on first down, setting up 2nd & long, which limited their offensive capabilities as Los Angeles' defense consistently brought pressure.

Mixing in play-action, or having a balance of passing and running, rather than an abundance of one, on a certain drive, could've opened the game for both facets.

With the lack of production, the running backs get a C+ overall, but, once again, it wasn't entirely on them. This was a team loss.

Wide Receivers: B+

The wide receivers were the best position group for the 49ers offensively, as Deebo Samuel caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, and Brandon Aiyuk had four catches for 69 yards.

Samuel created opportunities for this offense, going 44 yards for a touchdown off of a screen pass, while taking a beating against the physicality that the Rams brought.

Aiyuk remained a consistent second option, as he reached the 60-yard mark for the fourth time over his past five games, working against Darious Williams on the outside.

As usual, the 49ers put the ball in the hands of their playmakers, allowing them to work in space, which essentially kept them in this game offensively.

While Jauan Jennings didn't have a strong receiving performance with just two catches for eight yards, the receiving group gets a B+ overall.

Offensive Line: C-

The offensive line was a story of two halves.

For the first half of the game, they were able to provide Jimmy Garoppolo with clean pockets to make plays with his arm, but as the game progressed the offensive line—specifically the right side—deteriorated and San Francisco couldn't pick up any steam offensively.

In addition, the offensive line did not execute their blocks in the running game, as the Rams defensive line overpowered them en route to a meager 2.5 yards per carry overall.

Left tackle Trent Williams did come into the game with a high-ankle sprain, and was notably hobbling after certain plays, which may be why the 49ers ran towards the inside for the most part, and unsuccessfully so.

A strength for the majority of the season, the 49ers offensive line couldn't consistently hold up in either facet Sunday, which is why they earn a C- from me.

Defensive Line: B

The defensive line had a fairly strong overall performance against the Rams, but were carried primarily by two pass rushers: Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam.

Overall, the defense had 16 total pressures and three sacks, per PFF. To put that into perspective, the Carolina Panthers were the most pressured team in the NFL this season, per Pro Football Reference, and they allowed just 11.35 pressures per game.

Bosa led the team with six pressures, adding two sacks as well, while Ebukam was second with four pressures and a sack of his own.

Additionally, while the Rams had some success running the football, they struggled to consistently do so, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry on 29 attempts.

Perhaps the strongest unit on the entire team, the defensive line did their job Sunday while facing a top-ten pass protection unit, but ultimately succumbed to the talents of Matthew Stafford at quarterback, who was able to get the ball out quick.

Linebackers: B-

Fred Warner was second on the team with ten tackles Sunday, adding two tackles for loss and a pass defended, showcasing his versatility in stopping the run and being deployed in coverage.

The linebackers were a key force against the run, where the Rams struggled for a majority of the game, shutting down outside gaps and relying on one another to play team football.

Azeez Al-Shaair and Dre Greenlaw split snaps and weren't as effective as they could've been, with Al-Shaair logging five tackles and Greenlaw logging three tackles and a pressure.

Al-Shaair was also flagged for a 15-yard taunting penalty, dropping the grade to a B-.

Defensive Backs: D

The defensive backs struggled all game long against the Rams, from Cooper Kupp's 11-catch, 142-yard performance, to Jaquiski Tartt's dropped interception that potentially changed the outlook of the game.

The 49ers defense just couldn't get off the field on third down, as Matthew Stafford and Co. converted 11/18 third downs, while marching down the field on multiple drives with their potent passing attack.

If not for some uncapitalized opportunities, including a red zone interception, or Ben Skowronek dropping a wide-open touchdown pass, Stafford's offensive numbers could've looked even better.

The same story could be said for the 49ers, but the truth is Stafford threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns while distributing the ball quickly to a number of receivers.

Not only did the 49ers have a dropped interception by Tartt, but Jimmie Ward committed a 15-yard penalty on the very next play on a hit to Odell Beckham Jr. that set the Rams up near field goal range, where they eventually got three points.

It was not a great performance by any defensive back this game, which is why it was a team loss.