Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) – San Francisco 49ers (6-3): 3-34
The 49ers defense is back. After a saving week of rest, San Francisco erased the errors of the month of October (3 consecutive defeats). Caught by the throat by the terrifying Bosa-Hargreaves-Armstead-Young defensive line, Trevor Lawrence was unable to play his game, multiplying ball losses with 3 on the clock.
Lawrence locked in, Purdy inspired
A sign of newfound confidence, San Francisco began the match by leaving the ball to the Jaguars attack despite winning the toss. Result: 3 actions, Lawrence sacked and -1 yard. The start of an ordeal for Trevor Lawrence (17/29, 185 yards, 2 interceptions, 1 lost fumble).
In tune with his receivers, Brock Purdy drives the point home and sends his first drive: 3 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown for Brandon Aiyuk (3 receptions, 55 yards, 1 touchdown) on a daring pass in the middle of 4 players.
If the 49ers stutter on the following drives (2 field goals in the first period on their 4 other possessions), it’s a crossroads for Jacksonville which does not take advantage of it: punt, punt, fumble and a small field goal. 13-3 at the break, the Jags only covered 103 yards on offense, including 80 on the field goal drive.
Turnover party
Returning from the locker room, repeat, Brock Purdy (19/26, 296 yards, 3 touchdowns) spent less than a minute on the field, time to find George Kittle (3 receptions, 116 yards, 1 touchdown) on a pass of 66 yards. With 17 points behind, the Jags’ attack quickly becomes one-dimensional: Nick Bosa (1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits) and transnfuge Chase Young (0.5 sacks, 1 QB hit) are enjoying their first together. Only Christian Kirk (6 receptions, 104 yards) stands out, while Calvin Ridley (20 yards) and Evan Engram (12 yards) are absent.
The incessant pressure of a defense with newfound aggressiveness (5 sacks, 10 QB hits) overwhelms Trevor Lawrence in distress: the Jaguars have three turnovers (2 interceptions and 1 fumble) while San Francisco scores two new touchdowns. The last quarter is a long garbage time.
The 49ers are back on track with a clear victory over a team that had 4 consecutive victories. Opposite, it is a setback for the Jaguars who had the opportunity to assert themselves as a favorite of the AFC by bringing down a big name, they who only have the Bills as a worthy opponent to their hunting table this season.
George cashes in at The Bank! @gkittle46
📺 #SFvsJAX on FOX
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/3oOw8Riyum— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2023
