NEW ORLEANS — Ten men in white jerseys leaned in closely, straining to hear their leader, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, during the most important play of the most important game of the season for the San Francisco 49ers.
This was late in the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ nationally televised road test against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon in the Superdome. The 49ers had trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, only to take a one-point lead right before halftime. And after some second-half back and forth, including a blown nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, they found themselves facing a fourth-and-2, down one, on their own 33-yard line in the NFL’s game of the year.