Following a big 17-10 division win over the Houston Texans in Week 2, the Jacksonville Jaguars traveled to San Francisco to take on the 3-0 49ers. Jacksonville had historically struggled against San Francisco, as they hadn’t beaten the Niners since 2009.
However, Sunday was a different story. Both teams had long opening drives, which led to a low-scoring first quarter with San Francisco up 3-0. After Jacksonville’s first drive stalled they quickly got back to their calling card: forcing turnovers.
Linebacker Dennis Gardeck punched the ball out of Luke Farrell’s hands to force the first of four turnovers on the day. Jacksonville quickly capitalized, as Travis Etienne Jr. broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead.
Etienne finished the day 19 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown, continuing his strong start to the season.
After a change in possession from a Devin Lloyd interception, a few penalties backed the Jaguars up near their own goal line, but, Trevor Lawrence found rookie Travis Hunter for a 28-yard completion on 3rd-and-15 to extend what would be Lawrence and the Jaguars best drive of the day.
Lawrence went 8-for-8 for 84 yards and a touchdown, connecting with five different receivers. A 4-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Long capped the drive and put the Jaguars up 14-3.
Lawrence finished the game 21-of-31 for 174 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, marking his first turnover-free performance of the season.
San Francisco answered with a field goal, but a 54-yard kickoff return from Bhayshul Tuten set the Jaguars up to add a field goal before halftime, sending them to the break ahead 17-6.
The Jaguars started the second half slowly, as their first drive resulted in a three-and-out. Brock Purdy connected with Christian McCaffrey for an 8-yard score and then converted the two-point conversion when Jauan Jennings made a catch in double coverage to bring San Francisco within three.
After another failed drive for the Jaguars, Devin Lloyd came up big again with his second interception of the day, the third of four turnovers Jacksonville forced Sunday. This set up a Cam Little field goal that extended the lead to six.
The Jags defense stepped up again, forcing a punt that Parker Washington returned 87 yards for a touchdown, essentially putting the game out of reach. The 49ers did connect for one more touchdown and had a chance to potentially take the lead, but former 49er Arik Armstead got a strip sack on Brock Purdy, the final turnover of the day in a 26-21 Jaguars victory.
The Jaguars’ defense has been the story of the season so far, forcing a league high 13 turnovers through four games. For context, Jacksonville forced just nine all of last year, a mark they already surpassed in Week 3 this season.
Head coach Liam Coen was asked about the defense’s ability to force turnovers:
“It’s one of those things where it is coming in bunches,” Coen said. “Like I said to these guys it’s not just happening. There was a play practice, there were five or six guys punching at the ball.”
Coen has had glowing remarks about defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and how he has transformed this defense in just one years’ time.
The Jaguars improved to 3-1 and will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football next week. San Francisco, meanwhile, will turn around quickly for Thursday Night Football agains the Los Angeles Rams.
