BALTIMORE — Entering Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens had not allowed a point on their opponent’s opening possession all season.
San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel changed that less than three minutes into Sunday’s matchup.
Facing fourth-and-2 at Baltimore’s 33 on what had to that point been a choppy drive, Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo dropped back and let a deep pass fly down the right sideline.
“THAT’S MINE!” –@19problemz#SFvsBAL pic.twitter.com/EpBEzJcZhr
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 1, 2019
With multiple Baltimore defenders in the area, Samuel attacked the ball in front of a flat-footed Marcus Peters, snatched it out of the air and scurried into the end zone for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.
Samuel, who has been one of the Niners’ most consistent offensive performers of late, now has at least 100 receiving yards or a touchdown in each of his past four games. Through the first seven games of the season, he had zero 100-yard games and one receiving touchdown.
Samuel’s touchdown was the fourth-longest fourth down play by the 49ers since Colin Kaepernick completed a 51-yard pass to Michael Crabtree against the Saints in 2014.