San Francisco 49ers: 5 Season-defining moments that led to Super Bowl 54

Week 13 at NO: The Kittle Stiff-Arm

The last game of San Francisco’s gauntlet included a showdown in the Superdome with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. This game may have been one of the best of the season, as both teams went back and forth in a high-scoring affair. The 49ers defense, for the first time this season, struggled mightily and gave up 27 points to the Saints in only a quarter and a half. The 49ers trailed 27-14 with 7:29 remaining in the second quarter.

Once again, Jimmy Garoppolo and the offense turned on the heat and put the team on their back. The offense became extremely creative, running end-arounds to Deebo Samuel and allowing Emmanuel Sanders to toss a 35-yard touchdown pass to Raheem Mostert on a trick play.

Garoppolo threw for over 300 yards yet again and gave the 49ers to a five-point lead with 2:23 left in the fourth quarter. Still, it wasn’t enough, as Brees marched down the field and tossed the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds remaining.

At their own 33-yard line, the 49ers faced a fourth down with 39 seconds to go and one timeout left in their pocket. With all of the pressure on them, they gave us one of the best plays of the year. Garoppolo threw a quick out to George Kittle, who proceeded to drag three Saints defenders with him to the opponent’s 30-yard line until he was finally taken down by the facemask. Kittle set up the game-winning field goal for Robbie Gould, who lifted the 49ers over the Saints.

In a shootout no one expected, the 49ers were able to outduel the future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. The effort and determination by Kittle to fight for extra yardage at the end of regulation is a testament to the 49ers season and how tough this team had become.