The Jaguars are headed home from the West Coast with a huge win and some massive momentum.
Jacksonville used another larcenous afternoon from its surging defense to shock San Francisco 26-21 on Sunday.
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It was a grind to the finish, and gem of a performance from Anthony Campanile’s defense. Jacksonville had four takeaways to continue its franchise-best streak and handed San Francisco (3-1) its first loss of the season.
The Jaguars (3-1) head back to EverBank Stadium for a “Monday Night Football” showdown in Week 5 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs with some real momentum under head coach Liam Coen.
Jacksonville has had miserable luck against teams on the West Coast (now 4-16) in games played in California and Washington, and had never beaten the Niners in San Francisco.
That changed on Sunday.
Jacksonville’s defense continued its best takeaway start in franchise history, forcing four more and turning those into 17 points on a day where it needed all of it. The Jaguars now have 13 takeaways — the most in franchise history through four games — after just nine all of last season.
After reliable kicker Cam Little missed a 47-yard field goal with 3 minutes, 35 seconds to play that would have put Jacksonville up by eight, San Francisco had its shot. But Arik Armstead sacked Brock Purdy and forced the fumble against his former team and Foye Oluokun recovered it.
Trevor Lawrence and the offense scratched out a first down and the Jaguars bled the clock to get out of San Francisco with their first win there ever.
Special teams came through big, too. Parker Washington’s 87-yard punt return for a touchdown gave the Jaguars a 12-point lead going into the final quarter.
The offense was as good as it needed to be in a relatively conservative day.
Lawrence threw a touchdown pass, and Travis Etienne had a score and another big day on the ground to lead the offense. Lawrence finished 21 of 31 passing for 174 yards. Etienne had 124 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Defense looks sharp again
One play into the second quarter, Brock Purdy hit ex-Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell on a first-down pass only to see linebacker Dennis Gardeck punch the ball out. Andrew Wingard recovered. One play later, Etienne ripped off a 48-yard run for a 7-3 lead.
One play after Ricky Pearsall made a one-handed catch on Tyson Campell, Jacksonville came up big. Purdy’s pass went off Christian’s McCaffrey’s hands and was picked off by Devin Lloyd. It was Lloyd’s second interception of the season.
That takeaway led to Jacksonville’s second touchdown, a 4-yard throw from Lawrence to Hunter Long.
Lloyd added his third interception with under six minutes to play in the third quarter, sitting back in zone coverage in the middle of the field and easily picking Purdy off. That takeaway led to a Cam Little field goal and a 20-14 Jacksonville lead.
Jacksonville did well in making Purdy uncomfortable, especially after losing edge Travon Walker. He suffered a wrist injury after a collision with teammate Eric Murray, and was ruled out. Armstead had Jacksonville’s lone sack, but Josh Hines-Allen was unbelievable in keeping the pressure on Purdy throughout the game.
Rookie Hunter’s big snag
Rookie Travis Hunter has had flashes of big things in his first season, but he had yet to really make a play that made jaws drop. Sunday, he finally did.
After Lloyd’s pick in the second quarter, Jacksonville found itself in a third-and-15 situation backed up on its own 6. Lawrence threw it high and over the middle and had Hunter go way up to make the best catch of his NFL career. The play covered 28 yards and survived a San Francisco challenge. Hunter had a 21-yard twist-and-turn catch and run last week against Houston, but this one was a highlight reel snag. Hunter fumbled after a catch in the third quarter, but Le’Quint Allen was able to recover it.
The offense as a whole remains a work in progress.
Lawrence played like a game manager, working short and quick throughout the game. He didn’t make any jaw-dropping plays, but Lawrence played turnover-free football and wasn’t sacked.
Special teams are special
After San Francisco booted a 23-yard field goal with 42 seconds left in the half, it seemed like Jacksonville would head into the break leading 14-6. But rookie Bhayshul Tuten ripped off a 54-yard kickoff return to put the Jaguars in position for points. Jacksonville moved down the field and scratched out points as Little booted a 26-yard field goal to wipe out San Francisco’s late gain.
The Jaguars struck again in the third quarter, this time on a punt. Washington had a wall of blockers and went straight through the middle of the field for an 87-yard touchdown, the second of his career. Up 26-14, that gave Jacksonville a bit of breathing room after a tense third quarter where the offense didn’t do much.
Penalties hurt again
Jacksonville has struggled this year with two very big things — dropped passes and penalties. Receivers cleaned up the drops, but flags remain an issue.
The Jaguars were flagged for back-to-back holding calls in the second quarter. Campbell and Gardeck were flagged for back-to-back flags in the third quarter, which handed San Francisco automatic first downs. Purdy threw a shovel pass touchdown to McCaffrey two plays after the latter flag, getting the Niners within 17-14 with just under nine minutes to play in the third. Jacksonville was called for 12 penalties (90 yards).