The San Francisco 49ers came away with a dominant win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11 to improve their record to 5-5. This is a meaningful win for many reasons. After playing on a short week, traveling to the east coast, and playing in an early game, the 49ers are now in a prime position for a playoff push. Here are some rapid reactions to their Week 11 victory:
Jaguars did a lot to lose that game
49ers fans aren't complaining. A win is a win. However, when the opposing team commits eight penalties for 56 yards, many of which came in key situations in the game, it makes extending drives and winning that much easier.
Add in Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins getting ejected in the second quarter for throwing a punch at 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and you have a recipe for disaster. It was Jenkins' second penalty of the game after committing a holding penalty on 3rd-and-5 that negated a sack.
Aside from all of the self-destruction, I'm not sure if the Jaguars had enough to cool down a red-hot 49ers game plan.
49ers control the clock and all momentum
For the second week in a row, the 49ers had a dominant opening drive that controlled the clock, and the momentum, and physically beat down the opposing team as well. The 49ers opened with 20 plays that ate away more than 13 minutes off the clock. However, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed a wide-open Jeff Wilson on a short pass in the end zone for what would've been the first score of the game. The 49ers settled for a questionable field goal instead.
The 49ers had possession of the football for 38 minutes and 22 seconds, compared to the Jaguars' 21 minutes and 38 seconds. That time of possession kept the Jaguars defense on the field, which allowed the 49ers to open up a creative rushing attack. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel led the team in rushing with eight carries for 79 yards and a score.
49ers defense did just enough
The 49ers defense is built on a strong pass rush to help out an average secondary. The 49ers didn't put much pressure on Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence early on, but finished with three sacks total. The defense also forced two fumbles on the game. Lawrence finished the game 16-of-25 for 146 passing yards. The Jaguars also had 16 carries for 54 rushing yards and a score.
The Jaguars went 5-of-11 on 3rd down and only had 200 yards of total offense. This game was a combination of poor execution from the Jaguars defense and a good enough effort from the 49ers defense to keep momentum in the 49ers' favor.
Defensive end Nick Bosa had two sacks on the day, giving him 10 on the season, which is a career-high.
49ers finally get rookies on the field
Fans finally got to see head coach Kyle Shanahan put his rookies on the field during garbage time. Rookie running back Trey Sermon had 10 carries for 32 yards on the day. He was the team's third-down back and got his fair share of carries.
Fans also got to see rookies Trey Lance, Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir, and Aaron Banks on the field. Much of the criticisms Shanahan has faced this season revolve around the lack of urgency to develop his young players. In last week's 31-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Shanahan kept his starters on the field until the very end, leading many to question how seriously he takes players' development.
Whether the 49ers rookies make a huge impact or not, it's a good sign that Shanahan can find opportunities to get them involved during live games. It usually means that the 49ers have a comfortable lead which is a win-win.
49ers playoff hopes
Now that the 49ers improve their overall record to 5-5, it is now socially acceptable to start talking about the playoffs. Of course, a losing record and playoff talk is just weird and is a bigger reflection on a struggling conference than the team proving anything. But at 5-5, the 49ers are more than in the hunt.
What the 49ers need are some key teams to start losing. The Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Los Angeles Rams are directly in the 49ers' way of a Wild Card spot. After pulling off the upset against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, the Vikings look to hang on to that Wild Card spot as they travel to Santa Clara to face the 49ers in a Week 12 matchup. How this game plays out will directly affect the playoff picture and the hopes of a post-season push for both franchises.
Keep an eye on all of the teams in the NFC, and hope they continue to fall back. The 49ers are getting better each week, and it comes at the right time.