SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan dedicates a small part of his play-calling sheet to third and long situations, but most of the options at hand amount to waiving a white flag.
“Usually I get in I-formation and run the ball out of frustration,” Shanahan said.
With the outcome of Saturday’s matchup against the Rams on the line at Levi’s Stadium, Shanahan couldn’t fold.
On third down and 16, the 49ers head coach gave quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo the chance to take a shot and he launched a 46-yard completion to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders that set up a last-second, game-winning field goal by kicker Robbie Gould.