Returning to fabulous form, the 49ers demonstrated their skills early as they routed the Miami Dolphins 33 to 17.
While both the offense and defense showed up in this game, the unexpected is always a factor. In this case, it was a freak injury to the 49ers’ backup quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. In a tangle of players and a hard defensive charge by the Dolphins, they smothered Jimmy G and inadvertently crushed his foot.
While not immediately announced we knew it was bad. When a player leaves the field on a cart, it is never good news. Following the game, Coach Kyle Shanahan announced J.G. would be out for the season with a broken foot.
However, after further evaluation, his injury may be a bit less than originally thought, even though any injury is bad. It is possible he could be back in time for the playoffs.
Technically, Jimmy G was the 49er’s backup quarterback, replacing Trey Lance when he was injured early in the season. When Lance was injured, Garoppolo took over and was leading the 49ers to a winning season.
Now the player known as Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, who was the last choice in the draft, was called upon. Apparently, Purdy cared less about his unofficial title and just did his job completing 25 of 37 pass attempts for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Purdy took a chapter out of the playbook from world-famous football coach Vince Lombardi. “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”
It would be very cool to finish the season, make the playoffs and do it with a third assistant stand-in quarterback who just wants to win.
Football is a team game with two objectives. The defense works to prevent their opponents from scoring and the offense works to get the ball across the opponent’s goal line.
Success is determined most often by who does more of both.
Santa Clara has got to be thankful for the 49ers who have won the appreciation cup for being good neighbors; and supporting our community, including our schools and so many of our young people. In addition, they have demonstrated a will to win in the face of crazy obstacles, substitutions and unplanned adversity.
There is no question they are great partners. And, since they are partners, it makes sense to work with them to accomplish more for the improvement of our city including returning our budget to the positive.