The San Francisco 49ers traveled to New Orleans this week for what was expected to be a very good game between two of the best teams in the NFC.
What we got instead was what many are calling the “Game of the Year”, as these two teams went back in forth for four quarters of non-stop action.
The shootout ultimately became one of those games where whoever gets the ball last, wins. Luckily for San Francisco, they were the ones with possession at the end to come away with the huge victory.
Early on in the first half, it was looking like the Saints had the edge on the Niners, as they jumped out to an early 20-7 lead.
The momentum of the game completely shifted in the second quarter, when Jimmy Garoppolo hit Emmanuel Sanders for a 75-yard touchdown that sparked the frantic game play we saw unfold across the last three quarters.
That touchdown was the first of three that San Francisco scored in the second quarter, as they went into halftime with a 28-27 lead.
Both defenses started to make plays in the third quarter, with the Saints picking off a pass from Garappolo and San Francisco eventually forcing an Alvin Kamara fumble.
When the dust settled, the Saints kicked two field goals and the 49ers scored one touchdown to set up a close finish, as the Niners led 35-33 going into the fourth quarter.
San Francisco scored first in the fourth quarter, as Garapollo threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game.
All told, Garappolo completed 26 of his 35 passes for 349 yards. Even with that brilliant performance, Drew Brees matched him the entire way.
Like Garappolo, Brees also threw for 349 yards, but he just added one extra touchdown pass (5) and no interceptions.
After Brees threw his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter, the Saints failed to convert a two-point conversion that would have given them a 48-45 lead.
Instead they only held a one-point lead, but the 49ers only had 53 seconds to drive the length of the field for a field goal to win.
With his team down to their final down, George Kittle made the play of the game, bulldozing his way into field goal range with an amazing 39-yard catch and run.
Even with defenders clawing at his facemask, Kittle would not be denied.
Because of the 15-yard penalty for the grabbing his facemask, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould was able to get an easy chip-shot for the win.
While both teams are angling for a first round playoff bye, you can argue that San Francisco really needed this win more.
They are in the tightest division race in NFC, coming into this week with the same 10-2 record as the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle beat the Niners already this season, so they have to keep pace to give themselves a chance to win the division when they play the Seahawks in the last week of the season.
Every time the 49ers take the field it is becoming must-watch television, but Sunday’s game over the Saints took that to another level.