Chapter 1353: Chapter 1352: Questioning Life
"See, I knew it, he’s just a pretty face."
"Sure enough, not trustworthy, just a little raised expectation leads to disappointment."
"Golden Boy, haha."
"I’ve said it before, the only reason stopping the San Francisco 49ers from reaching the Super Bowl is relying on Garoppolo, a terrible decision."
"Please don’t compare him to Brady or Li Wei, okay? Because he’s not qualified, the ones who should be worried are Brady and Li Wei."
"No, just no, a big, bold NO."
Cynical and adding insult to injury.
You could imagine with your eyes closed how the bustling negativity on social networks wouldn’t miss an opportunity to besiege Garoppolo.
Even more disastrous, Garoppolo could even imagine the responses from both Brady and Li Wei.
Though he didn’t want to be dragged into this comparison, more than anyone else, he hoped to stop this meaningless, far-fetched comparison; but it’s obvious, the media wouldn’t let him go, nor would they let Brady and Li Wei off the hook.
None of them have a say in this matter.
Brady: "Oh, Jimmy needs space to grow, everyone should give him time."
He’s been standing in Brady’s shadow for three full years and has joined the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons, yet he still "needs" to grow? Haha.
Li Wei: "Who?"
He could even picture Li Wei’s innocent expression, and the scene where some media reporters were astonished, some were happy, and some were nodding in agreement with a chuckle.
Perhaps others have forgotten, but Garoppolo hasn’t forgotten that this is his first official playoff game in his six-year career and also the first time he has stepped onto the playoff stage as the starting quarterback. Clearly, this was not the picture he had imagined.
An interception, completely disrupting Garoppolo’s plans.
Fortunately, the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive group stepped in to save the day, firmly suppressing the rising momentum of Cousins:
The interception did not turn into a touchdown; a beautiful defensive play stopped the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive drive, resulting in a three-and-out with only a field goal scored. In a crisis, they timely controlled the situation, helping the home team quickly find their footing.
Back and forth, offensive and defensive exchanges—
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be the closest, most intense, and thrilling game among the four divisional matchups, something no one anticipated.
"10:14".
At the end of the first half, the score was tight, not opening up the gap, with the battles and confrontations on both sides producing a splendid performance.
Previously, when the schedule came out, social networks were full of complaints. Even if the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans wasn’t scheduled last, it should have been the Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks. "San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings" really lacked appeal.
Yet, the result was surprising.
Perhaps this National Conference divisional matchup lacked the dramatic highs and lows of "Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans," but the fierce confrontation was no less spectacular than any divisional game, continuing the tradition of this season’s playoffs:
Exciting!
Even though the "home curse" impacts and variables had disappeared, the gap between playoff teams was far from as obvious as the win-loss records suggested in the regular season.
The 2019 playoff season swept away the gloom of the previous season, with every game from the wild card round to the divisional round being exciting, dramatic, and full of suspense—worthy of praise.
Including the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, at least the Titans kept the suspense alive for the entire first half.
After the halftime break, as the second half resumed, the grit displayed by the Minnesota Vikings at Reeves Field extended the game’s suspense.
Although the San Francisco 49ers began the second half with an offensive drive, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive group delivered a blow to Garoppolo, causing another three-and-out. Holding the advantage, Garoppolo missed the opportunity again, failing to secure a touchdown, and San Francisco 49ers had to settle for a field goal.
"10:17".
The situation remained tense.
The intense focus and pressure fell entirely on Cousins’ shoulders, the quarterback who stunned the entire league with a fully guaranteed contract during the 2018 offseason now had the chance to prove himself under the spotlight. Whether the Minnesota Vikings could sound the counterattack horn depended on him.
After all, everyone said that during the 2017 season, the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Conference Championship because of a weak quarterback; with Cousins’ arrival, this issue should be resolved, and there should be no reason to stop the Vikings’ advance.
At this critical moment, Cousins indeed stood at the center of the world, but not in the way he hoped—
Interception.
Not a touchdown, but an interception.
Cousins’ pass was intercepted by former top Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, and the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive group once again rose to change the game.
Sherman’s interception not only extinguished Cousins’ comeback dreams but also returned the ball to the Minnesota Vikings’ half, earning a starting position at the 44-yard line, virtually handing the momentum-changing key to Garoppolo, the chance to strike against the Vikings just ahead.
At this point, the most classic and legendary offensive play of this season’s four divisional games unfolded.
The San Francisco 49ers’ offensive group took to the field on the 44-yard line at the opponent’s side and chose to run the ball for eight consecutive plays.
Eight times in a row!
In the modern outside zone offensive system, Shanahan repeatedly used fake handoffs and runs, distributing the ball to three different running backs, throwing back to a vintage strategy from thirty years ago when the league relied on ground attacks, knocking down the opponent’s defense through sheer ground force.
The Minnesota Vikings were utterly baffled.
This drive concluded with a one-yard running touchdown at the edge of the end zone, not only extending the score to increase the lead but also creating confusion among the Vikings’ defensive group, even stunning everyone inside and outside the league—
They thought the Kansas City Chiefs had a formidable ground game in recent seasons, but they didn’t expect the San Francisco 49ers to be even better.
For a moment, people didn’t know whether to praise Shanahan for his clever use of the modern outside zone offensive system or to be flustered by Garoppolo becoming completely irrelevant.
Cousins was choked up, dumbfounded: running backs could be used like this? So, quarterbacks became mere decorations?
Cousins’ worldview was completely overturned; what he had always believed was shaken and shattered, and then, everything changed.
No one anticipated that this offensive drive would become a turning point in the entire game, effectively ending the match, and the following plays... completely broke open the game.
"10:27".
After withstanding the test on their home turf, the San Francisco 49ers comfortably defeated the Minnesota Vikings and proudly advanced to the National Conference Championship.