A week off proved to be a much-needed relief for the San Francisco 49ers, who snapped their three-game losing streak with a decisive 34-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The win was the Niners' most dominant performance of the season. The triumph halted Jacksonville's five-game winning streak and reaffirmed their position as Super Bowl contenders following their bye week.
Injuries had hampered the Niners' performance, and their defense had shown signs of weakness. However, the bye week provided an opportunity for key players like wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams to return. A change in defensive coordinator also injected new life into the unit.
“We know who we are. We know what we’re capable of. We have an extremely high standard for ourselves. Bigger than any people or any outside people can put on us,” defensive tackle Arik Armstead said.
“We want to be great. We want to be dominant, and we want to play at a high level. And we know our team is going to need us to do that.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy led the team's three touchdown passes, including a 66-yard pass to George Kittle. Although Purdy's first touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk was slightly shaky, he showed improvement throughout the game.
Second-year quarterback Brock Purdy put on an impressive display. Purdy completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 296 yards and earned a 148.9 QB rating before being replaced by Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter. His performance came on the heels of five interceptions thrown during the Niners' recent losing streak.
With this win, the Niners reached the 30-point mark for the sixth time this season, a league-leading feat.
Dominance and defensive brilliance
The Niners' dominance over the Jaguars was evident from the start. The San Fransisco team controlled both lines of scrimmage and racked up 147 rushing yards against Jacksonville's formidable run defense.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence faced relentless pressure throughout the game. He was sacked five times and forced into three turnovers. Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave each recorded 1.5 sacks, while newcomer Chase Young contributed to the pass rush. Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Fred Warner also added interceptions.
In contrast, the Jaguars' performance was marred by a series of blunders, including two fumbles, a field goal and two interceptions. The Jaguars' running game was also ineffective, being held to just 68 yards on the ground. This was Jacksonville's worst home loss since 2019.
The only blemish on the day for the Niners was Christian McCaffrey's failure to score a touchdown. Despite his 142 total yards, the running back's streak of consecutive games with a touchdown was snapped at 17, tying him with Lenny Moore for the NFL record.
The Niners continuously fed the ball to McCaffrey, targeting him on five consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, even as other starters were being replaced. Until the final whistle was blown, McCaffrey was unable to cross the goal line.
McCaffrey will aim to start a new touchdown streak next weekend when the 49ers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jaguars, who fell to 6-3, will host the Tennessee Titans next weekend.