"This is a gritty team. It's a salty team, and we just keep bouncing back."-tight end George Kittle.
Indeed, they are. They are also an underdog lover's dream. Three straight underdog wins on the road, two against pro football's most-storied teams.
"We find ways, whether it's running, passing, defense stepping up big, special teams today. That's what makes a good football team. That's what we are."-quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Indeed, they do. I was watching Rocket League with my son, a huge Aaron Rodgers fan, yesterday and told him how impressed I had been watching the "49'ers" highlights of the last two weeks. "Yeah, well, I don't think Aaron Rodgers is worried about Jimmy Garoppolo." Later that night when the game went final I texted him, "Toldja SF was good." He was at a friend's house watching a fight and hadn't heard.
"HOLY FUCK SF!" he replied. Me:
"Garappolo blows but not unlike people with impaired senses they compensate. Aaron had good stats but he couldn't manage but 10 measly points against that SF D. The "Niners" are timely--the play of the game was that blocked punt TD with 4:41 to play. And then Garoppolo and the O did just enough to get in position to, and did, win the game.
And apropos of that, San Francisco became only the fourth team since 2000 to win a playoff game without scoring an offensive touchdown.
