After their bye week, the San Francisco 49ers return to football, traveling to Jacksonville to take on the red-hot Jaguars. The 49ers are coming off a three-game losing streak, but the team will look different as their newest addition, Chase Young, makes his debut. The 49ers look to get back to their style of football, and if they want to be victorious, they must stick to the "Keys to Victory."
Run the Ball
The 49ers didn't run the ball particularly well in the last three games. They rushed for 108 yards against the Browns, 65 yards against the Vikings, and 113 yards against the Bengals. The 49ers rank fifth in rushing yards per game, averaging 133.5 yards. Their leading rusher, Christian McCaffrey, must return to form and produce his angry and explosive runs.
The Jaguars rank in the top 5 in limiting explosive plays and fourth in rushing yards allowed per game at 79.3. With tackle Trent Williams (possibly) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel returning, this should help open up the run game by stretching the field horizontally and, in the words of George Kittle, get back to running "outside the zone." If the 49ers can establish and sustain the run, they will be looking at another victory.
Stop the Run
Although the 49ers rank fifth against the run (86.1), they have struggled to stop the opponent's ground attack in their last three games. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne may be the closest thing to the 49ers' Christian McCaffrey in terms of versatility. Etienne has been a pivotal piece during the Jaguars current five-game winning streak—the Jaguars rank 14th in rushing, averaging 112.5 yards per game.
The last running back the 49ers faced was the Bengals' Joe Mixon. Mixon averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 87 yards and a touchdown late in the game. The Jaguars will look to feature Etienne throughout the game. If the 49ers want a victory on the road, they must stop the run.
Establish a Rhythm
Quarterback Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan must establish a rhythm early. Purdy has thrown three interceptions in the last three games, which could lead to mental frustration for the young quarterback. Kyle Shanahan could start the game in two ways. One involves conventional short throws and establishing a rhythm, or use play-action bootlegs, giving Purdy targets deeper down the field.
The 49ers could look to attack the Jaguars in the air, but they must be careful. The Jaguars are tied for first in turnovers, with 18 takeaways, 11 interceptions, and seven fumbles. Their pass defense is ranked 30th, allowing 263.5 yards per game. Expect the 49ers to get the ball into their playmakers' hands so that they can feast on yards after the catch. If Brock gets his offense into a rhythm early and sustains it, the 49ers will be victorious.
49ers Pass Rush
The defense must be fearless and play their brand of football. The front needs to rush and get to the quarterback. The linebackers need to fill the holes and tackle—the secondary needs to limit explosive plays and keep everything in front of them. The 49ers' defense must play fast and furious, and maybe with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on the sideline instead of being in the booth, the defense will react differently. If the 49ers can respond instead of thinking, the defense will help the team secure a victory.
Penalties
The 49ers continue to struggle with penalties, both offensively and defensively. They have to find a way to limit the costly ones that will force the offense to gain more yards or, from a defensive point of view, allow the offense to remain on the field. If the 49ers limit the penalties, they will quickly secure the victory against the Jaguars.
The 49ers are a dominant, balanced team that has been out of sync in the last three weeks of football. The team is well-rested and should be able to bounce back against the Jaguars. If the 49ers stick to these keys to victory, they will return to the driver's seat and head to the top of the NFL.