San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings didn’t need to say much about the next opponent — the Seattle Seahawks.
“Can’t wait!,” Jennings told reporters after a 23-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
The 49ers can avenge a Week 18 loss to the Seahawks on Saturday, which cost the No. 1 seed. San Francisco beat Seattle in Week 1, so the Niners come in confident that they can win the rubber match in the Divisional Round.
Jennings did his part in the Wild Card game with a touchdown pass to running back Christian McCaffrey on a trick play. A former college quarterback at Tennessee, Jennings embraced the opportunity to use the play, which put the 49ers ahead 17-16 in the fourth quarter.
“We just put that in not that long ago, a couple weeks ago. And I was ready … excited … to see Christian pop up open there late, and I just gave him a chance. I didn’t even see the ball, man, but great hands by 2-3,” Jennings told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo afterward.
Jennings had one reception for 45 yards, and McCaffrey finished with six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns — including the game winner in the fourth quarter. Niners quarterback Brock Purdy found McCaffrey on a 4-yard completion for the win.
Kyle Shanahan: ‘Just Hoping It Work’
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that the play carried its risk though it had been practiced.
“Lots of things in our minds, but you’re more hoping that it’ll work and it’ll be open, and you’re more hoping that if it doesn’t work, please remind JJ to throw it away because JJ thinks he can make every play known to man,” Shanahan told reporters afterward. “But that’s what you’re hoping.”
“You’re just hoping it works, and if you call it versus the wrong look, kind of like we did last week when we called one on a flea flicker to George (Kittle) and it wasn’t there and Brock just threw it to the flat to Christian, but just hoping something bad doesn’t happen if it’s not the right look,” Shanahan added. “But we got the right look and the guy pulled off a hell of a play.”
Jauan Jennings Makes Admission on Trick Play
When Jennings broke down the trick play afterward, he admitted he “was scared for a little bit” as he sent the ball flying toward McCaffrey.
“I really did, I was scared for a little bit,” Jennings told reporters. “But after I heard the screams, I’m just like, ‘Yeah.’ MC had to make a great catch because coming off my hand I definitely thought I threw it a little bit too far.”
“Oh yeah, ‘And one,’ you know what I’m saying?” Jennings added. “It’s the and one, you know! Brock, the whole team just pumping me up after we found out it was an and one, and I went to the sideline and just celebrated with the team, man.”
“Pumped. And for defense to come out there and finish the game the way they did, it was tremendous,” Jennings concluded.
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