The 3-0 San Francisco 49ers host the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The 49ers are red hot despite all the adversity they faced in the first few weeks of football. This week will be their first game without All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
The Jaguars' defense is stingy both in the air and on the ground, but the 49ers have the pieces to get the job done. If they want to remain undefeated, the 49ers must stick to this week's keys to victory.
Make the QB One-Dimensional
The 49ers' defense needs to force Trevor Lawrence to throw the ball for the vast majority of the game. They can do this by stopping the run, which won't be an easy task. San Francisco's defense ranks 15th against the run, allowing 103.7 yards per game. The Jaguars rank 5th in rushing, averaging 141.7 yards per game. Travis Etienne is 3rd in rushing in the NFL with 270 yards, 5.9 avg, and one touchdown. With the absence of Nick Bosa, stopping the run will be a task, but the defense must do this if it wants to make Lawrence one-dimensional.
If the 49ers can force Lawrence to drop back the majority of the time, they can force him to turn the ball over. Lawrence has four interceptions on the season, and this can be a massive game for the 49ers' secondary. Make the quarterback one-dimensional, win the game.
Efficient Passing Attack
Brock Purdy and the 49ers need to look to move the ball efficiently in the air against the Jaguars' defense, which leads the NFL in interceptions with seven. The Jaguars' defense ranks 5th in terms of allowing, on average, 82.7 yards per game. The 49ers have yet to have a 100-yard rusher or a rushing touchdown this season. I'm not saying the 49ers shouldn't run the ball, but rather that they should expect the Jaguars' defense to force them to throw. In doing so, the 49ers' quarterback should aim to get the ball out of his hands quickly, allowing the offense to maintain its rhythm. Expect many throws to the checkdown, Christian McCaffrey.
If the 49ers execute their quick throw game and extend their run game, they will force the defense to back up and create lanes for explosive plays on the ground. Establishing an efficient passing attack is crucial to winning the game.
Protect the Ball
The 49ers must improve their ball protection. They have turnovers in every game of the season. In Week One, Brock Purdy threw two interceptions against the Seahawks. In Week Two, Mac Jones fumbled the ball on a drop-back pass attempt against the Saints. In Week Three, Jones threw a late-game interception, allowing the Cardinals an opportunity to win the game.
The 49ers have four giveaways on the season, ranking them 21st in the league. Even though they sit in first place in the NFC West at 3-0, losing the turnover battle could come back to haunt them. There's an old saying: win the turnover battle, win the game. The 49ers need to protect the ball on offense and prevent the Jacksonville Jaguars from scoring points. If the 49ers can defend and protect the ball, they will remain undefeated.
In conclusion, although this matchup is outside the conference, the 49ers still have a lot riding on this game, as it will determine whether their young players can step up to the challenge. Can they win without Nick Bosa? If the 49ers want to remain undefeated and improve to 4-0, they must stick to these keys to victory.