The San Francisco 49ers stamped their ticket to Super Bowl LIV in Miami following a commanding, 37-20, victory over the Green Bay Packers. San Francisco held Green Bay scoreless in the first half while managing to put up historic numbers in the run game. Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus provided grades for Sunday's top performers from the NFC Championship game. Here's who stood out:
1. Raheem Mostert - 90.7 overall grade
Mostert's top overall grade is well deserved following a career performance in the NFC title game. The running back registered a whopping 220 yards on the ground on 29 carries to go along with four touchdowns on the day (7.6 yards per carry). Of his 220 yards, 158 came after contact. Seven of his rushes went for 10 or more yards. He also rushed for 10 first downs, the most of any 49ers player this season. His four rushing touchdowns are the most in a Conference Championship game in NFL history. He also forced eight missed tackles on the day.
"The lanes that we saw and the way he was running, just wanted to keep feeding him," Kyle Shanahan said postgame. "Raheem is not someone who is going to come up and tell me a bunch during the game. I know he was feeling it and it wasn't too hard to see."
2. Deebo Samuel - 89.5 overall grade
San Francisco's rookie wideout recorded two carries for 43 yards to go along with two receptions for 46 yards. All four of Samuel's touches resulted in a first down. He also forced four missed tackles on the night in just four touches.
3-5. Laken Tomlinson - 87.4 overall grade
Joe Staley - 86.3 overall grade
Ben Garland - 74 5 overall grade
Tomlinson, Staley nor Garland allowed a single quarterback pressure on the night. They were also key in Mostert's success on the ground, each earning above a 75.9 run blocking grade.
"I thought they came out from the first snap ready to roll," Jimmy Garoppolo said of the 49ers offensive line. "They made a couple of ankle tackles early. You saw the way the game was playing out, and Raheem just took off tonight."
6. K'Waun Williams - 78.6 overall grade
Williams led the team with seven solo tackles on the night and registered a sack and a forced fumble against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He has now registered five forced fumbles on the year, leading all NFL defensive backs. Williams also had three stops in the passing game.
7. Arik Armstead - 78.6 overall grade
San Francisco's fifth-year defensive lineman tallied a sack and two quarterback hurries on the night. His sack against Rodgers marked his second of the postseason, 12th of the year and 21st of his career. Armstead also registered a forced fumble on Sunday, his fourth of the season.
8. Richard Sherman - 73.5 overall grade
Sherman was targeted just twice on Sunday night. His second target resulted in an interception to seal the 49ers NFC Championship. Sherman has a passer rating allowed of just 41.2 over his career in the postseason.
