In the three weeks before their bye, the 49ers didn’t appear to be in good shape. Before the bye, head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that the squad needed the week off. They looked as though their week-long vacation paid off on Sunday, crushing the Jaguars 34-3 in Jacksonville.
The following are our thoughts and observations from every quarter of San Francisco’s sixth victory of the year:
First quarter
– On the opening play from scrimmage, the 49ers cornerback played tight, press coverage, which forced quarterback Trevor Lawrence to throw away. Evan Engram, the tight end, appeared to be in man coverage with Fred Warner, who was able to rush Lawrence after Engram stayed in to block.
– Clelin Ferrell and Arik Armstead sack each other to conclude Jacksonville’s opening series. That defence resembled the 49ers defence far more than it did throughout the first five games. Twice they applied strong pressure, and Warner scored heavily on a short completion.
WR Deebo Samuel has made three snaps and three orbit moves, and it is obviously hurting the Jags in the secondary. San Francisco found themselves in the red zone as Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle found themselves wide open for simple completions.
Ah, my. What a San Francisco first drive that was. They completed their 57-yard drive in four plays, highlighted by a brilliant (risky?) touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy perfectly placed the ball behind two defenders, where Aiyuk grabbed it to score. 49ers win 7-0.
In two drives, the Jaguars have been in second and long twice. On their first series, they were incomplete, and on their second series, they ran for no profit.
– The 49ers have another third-down sack. It was Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave this time. On what appeared to be a screen for Jacksonville but was never able to materialise, neither player was blocked.
– The 49ers offence will run five plays and complete four passes.
What a third-down pass and grab Purdy made to Jauan Jennings to make a third-and-eight conversion.
– Gross. Purdy is unable to make a play outside the pocket on third-and-4. San Francisco was forced to settle for a field goal after he was sacked in the red zone. Jake Moody made a fantastic 39-yard field goal. It’s 49ers 10-0.
It didn’t appear good. Arik Armstead appeared to have suffered a knee injury during the Jaguars’ opening drive. He rose slowly and left the field with a leisurely gait. In his place stood Kevin Givens.
– The Jaguars’ third series marks their first defeat. On third down, Warner narrowly missed a pass breakup.
– Armstead returns to the game for a third-and-seven. Lawrence launched an incomplete throw in the middle. The 49ers defence is heating up early as the host team punts three times in three drives.
– Brandon Aiyuk’s offensive pass interference gave the 49ers the advantage in the opening series. They punted for the first time and were never able to catch up to them.
First-quarter total: 49ers 10, Jaguars 0.
Second quarter
– Fred Warner is everywhere. Sheesh.
– The Jags got an explosive run the first time they tried an outside run. RB Travis Etienne got 16 yards off the right side.
– An immediate impact from Chase Young who got to Lawrence first in a combined sack with Nick Bosa. Bosa also pulled the ball out and recovered it for a turnover near midfield. What a play for the 49ers defense.
– Oof. The 49ers converted a third-and-6, but Trent Williams was flagged for holding to make it a third-and-16.
– Purdy got smoked on the third-and-16 and nearly turned it over. The fluttering pass fell incomplete. RT Colton McKivitz got worked on that play. It looked like Purdy had George Kittle open on the right side.
– Mitch Wishnowsky’s punt was downed at the 1. He’s been unreal this year.
– Jags needed two plays to get out of the shadow of their goal post. Dre Greenlaw got blown away by Christian Kirk on a second-and-long.
– Yikes. The 49ers defense is on its heels now. They gave up an explosive run that was called back for holding, so the Jags went to a screen on their next play and got a first down anyway.
– Another screen, another big gain. The 49ers defense has nothing for those. Greenlaw whiffed a tackle.
– This drive looks like the last three weeks for the 49ers defense. They look off balance and they’re missing tackles. Jacksonville hasn’t faced a ton of resistance and they’re in the red zone.
– Terrific defense by Charvarius Ward on a third-down shot to the end zone. He tipped the throw away from Kirk, who killed the 49ers on that drive. Jacksonville settled for a field goal to make it 10-3.
– Big drive for the 49ers offense coming up. They have 4:20 to kill and they get the ball after the half. Points on this series and after halftime would put them in a great spot to play their brand of football in the final 30 minutes.
– Purdy is holding the ball for way too long. He’s gotten rocked a couple times.
– Christian McCaffrey getting a ton of work on this four-minute drive. Three consecutive touches for him get 34 yards and San Francisco is in plus territory at the two-minute warning.
– An Elijah Mitchell sighting! He took a carry for three yards on the first play after the two-minute warning.
– What run by McCaffrey on a third-and-2. He got stacked up at the line, but somehow churned forward for a couple yards and a first down. That was remarkable and puts the 49ers in the driver’s seat for points on the final drive.
– Good drive for the 49ers, but it stalled out thanks to an intentional grounding call on Purdy. They still made it the last possession of the half, which was the ultimate goal. Moody just connected on the 35-yard field goal to make it a 10-point game at halftime.
Halftime: 49ers 13, Jaguars 3
Third quarter
– First play of the second half is a nine-yard completion to Deebo Samuel. Getting in second-and-short is so key.
– Wow. Second play of the second half is a 66-yard deep shot to George Kittle that goes for a touchdown. Unreal work from Brock Purdy to pump fake and then get the ball out while the pocket was collapsing. Not to mention he threw a dime. Sheesh. 49ers now up 20-3.
– Another sack for Clelin Ferrell opens the Jaguars’ first drive of the second half. The 49ers’ defensive front has been dynamite.
– Ambry Thomas has been in the game as the second outside CB with Isaiah Oliver on the sidelines. Deommodore Lenoir is working out of the slot.
– And on cue Lenoir gets whooped by Christian Kirk out of the slot.
– Pressure by Nick Bosa forces an errant throw by Trevor Lawrence on a third down. He threw it a little hot and high to RB Tank Bigsby. It went off Bigsby’s hands and right to SS Talanoa Hufanga for the 49ers’ second takeaway.
– Tough series for the 49ers after the takeaway. A quick three-and-out that ended in a sack. Purdy has made a couple really good throws, but he’s also looked indecisive in the pocket.
– The 49ers finally read a screen correctly. Lenoir had it sniffed out for no gain, but he missed the tackle and gave up five yards to make it third-and-5 instead of third-and-10.
– Brutal. San Francisco’s defensive line forces a third-down throwaway, but Charvarius Ward was flagged for holding and Bosa was flagged for roughing the passer. It’s not super clear what Bosa did to draw a penalty. They might’ve flagged him for hitting Lawrence up high or for driving him into the ground.
– 39-yard completion after the penalty. Lawrence just made an individually brilliant play to buy time and find Kirk working deep against Lenoir. Kirk did a nice job working back to the ball as well after his QB left it a little short.
– Good coverage on a shot to the end zone from inside the 10 by Ambry Thomas on Calvin Ridley.
– WOW. Now Thomas forces a fumble, picks it up and runs it back 95 yards for a touchdown, but it was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct at the spot of the foul during the return and the 49ers had to take it back at their own 19 because reserve LB Dee Winters was on the field when he should not have been. Absolutely BRUTAL from the rookie.
– Purdy has been so indecisive. He’s clearly shook from the few interceptions he threw before the bye week. There’s been a lot of pressure on him today that didn’t need to be there.
– Nice throw to Kittle up the seam by Purdy.
– Whew. Deebo Samuel goes 23 yards for a touchdown on an end around. He had Trent Williams and Charlie Woerner leading the way to get into the end zone virtually untouched. That was a big-time drive by San Francisco’s offense after Thomas’ TD was waved off. It’s 27-3 and the 49ers are rolling.
– Another sack by Bosa and the fifth of the game for the 49ers. Nice work by the coverage downfield to force Lawrence to hold onto the ball.
End of third quarter: 49ers 27, Jaguars 3
Fourth quarter
– Another takeaway for the 49ers thanks to Javon Hargrave. The big DT got home to hit Lawrence as he was releasing on a fourth-and-15. The floating throw hit Fred Warner right in the chest for his third interception of the season.
– There’s the 30-plus point mark. Kyle Juszczyk hauls in a 22-yard TD pass to make it 34-3. The fullback found room in the middle of the zone and was wide open at the goal line in the middle of the field. That should do it in Jacksonville.
– Good pass breakup by Tashaun Gipson on the Jaguars’ opening play after the TD.
– Now Javon Kinlaw gets a hand up to bat a throw down at the line of scrimmage.
– This is where the 49ers defense eats. They’re up a million and cooking. They forced a three-and-out where the Jags punted on a fourth-and-20 when they lost five yards on a screen pass.
– A Ronnie Bell 20-yard reception. Sure!
– The 20-yard completion to Bell was Purdy’s last play oof the day. Sam Darnold is in now. Christian McCaffrey is also done with Elijah Mitchell leading the way in the backfield.
– Nope. McCaffrey was not done. The 49ers tried desperately to get him a touchdown in his 18th consecutive game. It did not go well and San Francisco got shut down inside the 5.
Final score: 49ers 34, Jaguars 3
