Deebo Samuel played the squeaky wheel in the days leading up to the San Francisco 49ers' showdown Thursday night with the Los Angeles Rams, admitting he was frustrated with his lack of usage and hoping to see the ball more.
Then he flubbed the biggest opportunity of the game.
Midway through the third quarter, facing a third-and-4 from the L.A. 35-yard line, Brock Purdy zipped a pass over the middle to Samuel, who toasted his defender off the line of scrimmage on a slant. With nothing but green grass ahead, Samuel dropped the pigskin.
"Real, very frustrating," Samuel said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. "At the end of the day, catch that ball, there's nothing there but end zone. I got to catch that rock."
The botch led to a field goal, and the Niners would go on to lose, 12-6, essentially eliminating them from postseason play -- Next Gen Stats gives San Francisco's playoff probability less than a 1 percent chance.
"Just like seeing the moment, came across the middle and saw nothing but the end zone," Samuel added. "At the end of the day, got to load the ball and go score."
During the week, Samuel posted complaints about his usage on social media and reiterated his frustration. The Niners entered the game clearly trying to get the wideout involved -- seven targets and two carries. However, he caught just three passes for 16 yards and rushed for three yards. The 19 total yards marked his fifth consecutive game under 35 scrimmage yards.
All the frustration might have been washed away had he hung onto that potential touchdown.
After the game, tight end George Kittle was seen talking to Deebo in the locker room.
"George is George," Samuel said. "He said, 'I've seen you make that play a million times. Don't let it eat you up.' But I feel like [if] I make that play, we win the game."
The drop in a rain-soaked game that essentially ends their playoff hopes was emblematic of a forgettable 49ers season characterized by collapses, injuries and missed opportunities. The talent is there, but they just can't get out of their own way.
