San Francisco 49ers are looking to return to the Super Bowl this year, but that might be trickier than they think. Despite entering the Week 1 game against Arizona Cardinals as overwhelming favorites, the 49ers suffered a 20-24 loss and sparked a blaming game in the process.
Speaking with reporters after the match, the 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan pointed a finger at his quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and said that the 28-year-old QB’s “gotta play better” further down the road.
“He had some good plays in there, but just like the rest of the offense (he) had some missed opportunities,” Shanahan told reporters. “He’s gotta play better. We’ve all gotta play better. The entire offense missed opportunities.”
Garoppolo had 259 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals but struggled to get into a rhythm and generate offense in the decisive moments of the game. This was especially the case on the 49ers’ last drive when he missed two easy passes that would probably seal the game for his team.
Garoppolo didn’t mention any specifics when asked about the things he would like to do over but admitted his misses played a part in the loss.
“I can’t really put my finger on one (play) right now, but there’s a number of them,” said Garoppolo. “Missed throws, missed opportunities we usually make.”
Jimmy Garoppolo’s early struggles seem all too familiar for the 49ers, as his missed throws arguably cost them the Super Bowl trophy last season. In order for San Francisco to have a chance of embarking on another deep playoff run, Garoppolo will have to clean up his game and step up to the task. If not, don’t be surprised if the organization decides to consider other QB options next year.
