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What we learned about Jaguars in their 26-21 win at 49ers
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- What we learned about Jaguars in their 26-21 win at 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Four questions and answers about the Jaguars after their 26-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday:
First Down
Question:Did Travis Hunter become an offense-only player?
Answer:Evidently, yes.
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Hunter was participating on offense and defense to begin the game, but on the final play of the first quarter, he allowed a 7-yard catch to 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall to convert a third-and-2. Hunter was nowhere near Pearsall in coverage.
Buster Brown started to take sub-package defensive snaps in the second quarter and during San Francisco's final drive of the first half, Hunter had his helmet off and was sitting with the offense.
Hunter was offense-only in the second half as well.
Second Down
Question:How was Parker Washington able to score on a 87-yard punt return?
Answer:A block that San Francisco considered illegal and then a whole lot of Washington.
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Thomas Morstead 's punt had 4.23 seconds of hang time.
The first block was by the Jaguars ' Christian Braswell , who either clipped (49ers' likely opinion) or blocked San Francisco's Siran Neal on the side (the officiating crew's conclusion).
Washington then made a move to make a player miss at his 23-yard line, broke a tackle at his 38 and then outran Morstead for the 10th punt return touchdown in Jaguars history.
Washington's touchdown made it 26-14 Jaguars with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
Third Down
Question:Are the Jaguars going to force at least three takeaways in all 17 games this year?
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Answer:They're 4-for 4 so far.
Before the Cincinnati, Houston and San Francisco games, I said to whoever would listen and read that forcing three takeaways in every game is not sustainable.
Well, the Jaguars have proven it can be done. They recovered two fumbles and intercepted Brock Purdy twice (both by linebacker Devin Lloyd ).
Here's the key thing about this opportunistic Jaguars: They cash in on their chances. Lloyd didn't drop the deflection for his first interception and didn't drop the second interception that was thrown right at him.
The Jaguars scored 17 points off the first three takeaways and ran out the clock after the fourth takeaway.
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Former 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead forced a Purdy fumble with 2:47 remaining and the lead five points (26-21). The Jaguars recovered at the 49ers' 47.
And all of that doesn't count as a takeaway but the Jaguars forced San Francisco to turn it over on downs with 14:14 remaining.
Fourth Down
Question:Is Week 4 too early for a breakthrough win?
Answer:Heck, no.
These are the Jaguars, remember? They've had little success on the West Coast in franchise history (this was their sixth win). They've had little success at all recently.
San Francisco is fighting injuries, but so did the Jaguars during this game; as many as eight starters went down and either were ruled out or returned.
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Yes, this is a statement game, a breakthrough game, a 3-1 start for the first time since 2018.
Next up: Kansas City at home on Monday night football.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars defeat 49ers, her are four things we learned from the victory
