Sunday’s NFC Championship was marked by missed opportunities on both sides. For the 49ers, perhaps no play had fans thinking 'shoulda-coulda-woulda' more than Jaquiski Tartt’s dropped interception in the fourth quarter.
With less than seven minutes left, the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams were tied at 17 apiece. Matt Stafford – shouldering heavy expectations on a star-studded team – heaved one down the left seam trying to hit Van Jefferson for a home run.
As the ball hung in the air, an expletive-filled thought crossed Jaquiski Tartt’s mind: “He ‘f–ked up. We about to win this game.’”
Only Stafford didn’t eff up. Tartt did.
The ball bounced off his hands in front the No. 3 in the middle of his chest and he could only respond by lying prone on the turf for a few seconds. Tartt took accountability for his huge blunder, which shaped the Rams’ 20-17 comeback win over the 49ers.
“That’s a play I should make in my sleep,” Tartt said. “I didn’t make it.”
The very next play, Stafford connected with Odell Beckham Jr. for a 30-yard pass that was bolstered by another 15-yard penalty on Jimmie Ward, who delivered an unnecessary helmet-to-helmet bash.
“I’m a good aimer, great aimer,” Ward said. “I already had him lined up. I didn’t try to hurt him, didn’t try to target his helmet. It’s like the second time versus the Rams. I hit Robert Woods [in 2017] and the same thing happened. He lowered his target to protect himself. It’s hard. It’s a bang-bang play.”
The drive resulted in the a 30-yard field goal from Matt Gay, which proved be the game-winner, as Jimmy Garoppolo smoldered and sank like a shipwreck in the final two drives.
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Entering the game, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans lauded his safety combo, which played together at Davidson High School in Mobile, Ala. Ryans referred to Tartt and Ward as “erasers” for their season-long contributions and playmaking, but they ultimately prolonged the Rams’ game-winning drive on Sunday.
“Ain’t too much you can do practice a moment like that,” Tartt said of his would-be pick. “Only time you get that moment is when you get it. For me, it’s the moment of truth. The moment of truth showed and I didn’t step up.”
The Rams also had a couple of key missed chances, like on a dropped potential 38-yard touchdown by Ben Skowronek in the second quarter. In fact, the drive after Tartt’s drop, Jalen Ramsey dropped a possible Garoppolo pick in a key situation. So, the 49ers had their reprieves.
After three straight weeks of closing out on the road, and six straight wins against their Hollywood rival, the 49ers finally got in their own way.
Tartt and Ward were key to San Francisco’s secondary as they survived a revolving door at cornerback this season. While Ward is due to have a $12.94 million cap hit with a $9.86 million of dead cap money next season, Tartt is an unrestricted free agent. The 49ers are loyal to key contributors and will likely try to keep this duo around, but the safeties helped erase their chances at another Super Bowl in brutal fashion Sunday.
No excuses!! I deserve all the criticism my way! Opportunity I dream of I came up short!!! Let my brothers down!! It Still won't define me as a person/player. Only will get stronger and better... #Believdat
— Jaquiski ‘Quaski’ Tartt (@quaski) January 31, 2022
