After scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the game, the San Francisco 49ers struggled offensively on their subsequent two possessions against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. In one play, the 49ers got their offensive rhythm back, thanks to Deebo Samuel.
San Francisco faced a third-and-three from just short of midfield. Jimmy Garoppolo took the snap and completed a pass to Samuel. Had he been tackled immediately, it would have been a five-yard gain, good enough for a first down. But Deebo wasn’t tackled immediately. In fact, Deebo wasn’t tackled, at all. Not satisfied with just the first down, Samuel stayed on his feet and weaved his way through the Los Angeles defense, breaking multiple tackles along the way.
When all was said and done, it was a 57-yard touchdown pass.
DEEBO SAMUEL IS RIDICULOUS!
#MNF pic.twitter.com/AZeazTkoF2 — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 4, 2022
Anyone wondering why Samuel got paid so handsomely during the offseason needn’t look any further. The Rams had actually done well against him to that point. But in one play, that changed.
The NFL world heaped Deebo with well-deserved praise after that play.
There is nobody like Deebo. Not a single soul on the planet.
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) October 4, 2022
Deebo giving @BarrySanders vibes in the open field pic.twitter.com/WSEVNXMMcP
— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) October 4, 2022
Dating back to the days of Jerry Rice and John Taylor and later Terrell Owens, a longtime staple of the San Francisco offense has been short passes turned into long plays. Deebo carried on that tradition with this fantastic catch and run.