SANTA CLARA — It looked like a desperate heave to no one when it left Jimmy Garoppolo’s hand.
The 49ers had the ball at their 31-yard line with 58 seconds left, and they faced third and 16. Game was tied at 31. No one would have blamed Shanahan had he run the ball, drained the clock and played for overtime.
He didn’t call a run. He played to win.
Shanahan called what looked at first like a Hail Mary. Garoppolo dropped deep in the pocket and fired the ball as far as he could off his back foot.