Jimmy Garoppolo Ripped for Safety, 'Rookie Mistakes' in 49ers' Loss to Broncos

Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 26, 2022

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 25: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers steps out of the back of the end zone resulting in a safety during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on September 25, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Jimmy Garoppolo might want to stay off social media for a while.

The San Francisco 49ers defense played more than well enough to win in Sunday's punt fest against the Denver Broncos, but the visitors still left with an 11-10 loss. The teams combined for 17 punts, and it felt like the defenses had just as good of a chance to score on a given possession as the offenses did for much of the game.

Denver's defense did score in the third quarter when Garoppolo stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone for a safety. Dan Orlovsky's infamous play from when he was on the Detroit Lions immediately came to mind, but that was far from the end of the negativity for the 49ers quarterback.

He also threw into double coverage in the final minutes as San Francisco was driving to potentially win the game, and the result was a Jonas Griffith interception. The 49ers got one more chance thanks to their strong defense, but Jeff Wilson Jr. fumbled it away.

Naturally, Garoppolo was the target of much of the online ridicule:

NFL @NFL
INT! <a href="https://twitter.com/jonasgriffith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonasgriffith</a> comes up with the takeaway 👀 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsDEN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFvsDEN</a> on NBC 📱: Stream on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/2rt05DqkHW">https://t.co/2rt05DqkHW</a> <a href="https://t.co/sA66jKWeVx">pic.twitter.com/sA66jKWeVx</a>

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
JIMMY G STEPS OUT OF THE END ZONE No one is happier than <a href="https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danorlovsky7</a> right now 🤣 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>)<a href="https://t.co/pZy0Ks5wDs">pic.twitter.com/pZy0Ks5wDs</a>

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Same energy 💀 <a href="https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danorlovsky7</a> <a href="https://t.co/cjjyFDkFv0">pic.twitter.com/cjjyFDkFv0</a>

Dieter Kurtenbach @dieter
The best part about Jimmy Garoppolo is that you get all of the rookie mistakes and none of the rookie upside.

Josh Norris @JoshNorris
the piece of the Trey Lance conversation that wasn't stressed enough is that Jimmy also makes mind numbing mistakes, without the upside

Dan Orlovsky @danorlovsky7
IVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER FFFFREEEEEDDDOOOMMMM

Robby Kalland @RKalland
HE DID THE ORLOVSKY!!!! YES YES EYSE YSYE RSAEYESYESY E

Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak
Mike Tirico said “remember Dan Orlovsky did that” so fast, absolutely disrespectful

M.G. @MarcasG
ThIs iS WhY YoU KeeP GaRoPpOlO aRoUnD

shannon sharpe @ShannonSharpe
How in Da Hell did Jimmy G miss Deebo? He started on that side and Deebo came open immediately 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

Cousin Sal @TheCousinSal
Jimmy G. knew he was throwing a pick six so he first stepped out of the end zone. Smart!!

nick wright @getnickwright
From now on, EVERY TIME <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chris_Broussard</a> demands we put up his ridiculous Jimmy G winning percentage graphic on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTFonFS1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FTFonFS1</a>, we are playing the video of THAT play. I'll pay for the footage rights out of my own pocket if need be.

Tom Fornelli @TomFornelli
The mistake Jimmy G made there was missing his target by 10 feet

Eric Freeman @freemaneric
More like Jimmy F

Ryan Clark @Realrclark25
What the hell was Jimmy G looking at?

Master @MasterTes
Get well soon Trey Lance. Your spot still safe.

It wasn't all bad for the veteran quarterback in his first start of the season.

He started the scoring with a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk in the first quarter and seemed to be well on his way to a very Garoppolo-like performance where he got the ball in his playmakers' hands, didn't force things and let his defense win the game by avoiding major mistakes.

Yet that changed drastically in the second half with a lost fumble, the safety and the brutal interception.

Another performance like that in the Week 4 NFC West showdown with the Los Angeles Rams would mean significant trouble for a 49ers team that is already struggling at 1-2.