Let’s start with the man-of-the-match, Raheem Mostert. Mostert has had to grind just to stay on an NFL roster throughout his career, but he exploded into his own in the NFC Championship Game. Mostert rushed 29 times for 220 yards and a remarkable four touchdowns against the Packers. It was historic on two counts: it was the second-most yards ever rushed for in a playoff game, behind only the great Eric Dickerson’s performance against the Cowboys in 1986, and it was the second-most touchdowns scored by a back, tying with LeGarrette Blount’s performance against the Colts in 2014 but still behind fellow 49er Ricky Watters against the Giants in 1994, where he scored five touchdowns. Why was the run so effective on Sunday? It’s hard to tell, but the Packers surrendered a shocking 7.5 yards a carry against the 49ers, who are known to run the ball hard and often. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw just EIGHT attempts for 77 yards, and why not just run the ball when the Packers defense is leaking like the Titanic post-ice hit? In fact, Garoppolo’s performance is notable as he became the first quarterback since Boomer Esiason in 1989 to throw for under-100 yards in a Championship Game and win. His total of 77 yards is the lowest total for a Super Bowl-bound signal-caller since Tony Eason’s 71 yards in 1986.

San Francisco’s star man George Kittle was statistically quiet on Sunday, whose pass-catching ability was hindered by the fact that the 49ers opted not to pass, instead made his mark as a blocker, which begs the question: is there a better blocking tight end in football? I’m not sure there is, and I think Raheem Mostert agrees.