INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Aaron Donald overpowered the right guard before getting Jimmy Garoppolo in his grasp, forcing the San Francisco 49ers quarterback into a desperation throw that landed in the hands of linebacker Travin Howard for an interception.
The play that sealed the Los Angeles Rams' 20-17 win in Sunday's NFC Championship Game was classic Donald.
What happened a few minutes earlier was not.
After the 49ers took a 17-7 lead in the third quarter with Garoppolo's 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle, the Fox broadcast showed Donald summoning the defense around him on the sideline for a crunch time pep talk that only seemed abnormal because of who was delivering it.