49ers mistakes lead to ugly loss against Jaguars: Rapid reactions

That was ugly. Actually, "ugly" seems too nice a description for the San Francisco 49ers in their 26-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. There were too many mistakes, turnovers, and dropped passes to win the game. As a result, the 49ers now sit at 2-1, with a big Thursday night game coming up in Los Angeles.

Here are my rapid reactions. These are my live observations as the game unfolded. Be warned, though. Some of this may be hard to read. If you have a weak stomach, you might want to move on.

• Kyle Shanahan with a run play on 3rd and 7. And Christian McCaffrey makes it pay off.
• Only a handful of plays in, and there's already an injured player down for the 49ers. This time, it's Jake Tonges, who is headed to the locker room.
• The 49ers continue to struggle in the red zone and will have to settle for a field goal.

• Darrel Luter, Jr. is already making mistakes that hurt his team.

• 49ers are unable to get off the field on 4th down. This drive is taking forever.
• What a play by Deomodore Lenoir on that end around. That's a tackle for loss.
• Bryce Huff answers with a tackle for loss of his own.

• Tonges is back in the game.
• Luke Farrell just fumbled at midfield. That's not good for the home team.
• The 49ers' defense does not look good early on, especially after giving up a long touchdown run. It didn't help that Jason Pinnock forgot how to tackle.
• Do the 49ers have the worst kick returners in the league? It sure seems that way.
• Ricky Pearsall is not real. What a catch.

• A bad throw by Brock Purdy on that interception. McCaffrey could have still caught it, but it would have been a difficult catch.

• 49ers got screwed on that holding penalty. Shanahan looks like he's saying he didn't get the chance to decline it. And then the defense gives up a huge gain on 3rd and 15. Things are not going well for San Francisco.
• Shanahan challenged the catch and lost. Now the 49ers only have one timeout remaining in the first half.
• The 49ers' defense is being pushed around by a Jacksonville offense that's not really that good. Having no pass rush doesn't help.
• Having two turnovers doesn't help either.
• Travis Eitenne is averaging 9.6 yards a carry in the first half. The 49ers are still having issues stopping the run.
• Another horrible throw by Purdy leads to a three-and-out. If that toe is an issue, maybe Mac Jones should be playing. Purdy hasn't looked like himself today.

• Fred Warner has dropped two potential interceptions in this half.

• Pearsall and Tonges are the only 49ers who can catch the ball.
• Nice hook-and-lateral play by the 49ers. That was pretty.

• You know it's bad when Jauan Jennings is dropping passes.
• The 49ers' red zone offense is terrible.
• I'm amazed that the 49ers' special teams are still so bad.

• A face mask penalty by Dee Winters, bad coverage by Luter, and the 49ers are about to give up more points.
• This first half has had 2024 vibes. And that's not a good thing.
• The 49ers' defense gets a three-and-out to start the second half. Then Skyy Moore answers with a decent return. Now, if only the offense can get going.
• What a catch by Jennings to pick up the first down.

• I don't think Shanahan likes it when his QB calls a timeout.
• Great drive by the 49ers to score a touchdown and get back in this game.

• Another great catch by Jennings on the two-point conversion. But he's hurt again. 49ers pull to within three.

• Has Demarcus Robinson played today? I'm not sure I've seen him.
• Upton Stout just went from hero to getting robbed. That did not appear to be pass interference to me.
• What a horrible interception by Purdy. The 49ers have turned the ball over three times and will possibly lose this game as a result.

• Stout is playing at a high level.
• Warner forced a fumble, but the Jags recovered. That's a new franchise record, by the way.

• They just can't run the ball. It's been a glaring issue.
• Kendrick Bourne just had the biggest drop of the game. That was very 2024 Deebo Samuel against the Rams. And that isn't good. He might have scored on that play.
• And now the punt team just gave up an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. This game is drunk.

• Trent Williams is not playing well.
• Great catch by Robinson. Purdy is getting his receivers killed today.

• McCaffrey has not been good today. Too many drops and now a fumble.

• Another high pass by Purdy. I'm just not sure what's wrong with him. Is it rust? Is it the toe?
• Great play by the defense on 3rd and 1. Stout and Luter came up big there.

• Jake Tonges is inevitable. Touchdown, 49ers.

• Chase Lucas with a dumb penalty to hurt his team on the kickoff.
• The defense holds again. Can the offense win the game?
• Purdy loses the fumble. And that should do it. Just a horrible game by the 49ers. And yet they had a chance to win it.
• Jake Brendel still stinks, by the way. I don't care what Pro Football Focus says.

• Four turnovers and horrible special teams play did the 49ers in today. The defense was great for most of the game.

Losing games like this can return to haunt you at the end of the season. The 49ers have road games against the Rams and the Buccaneers coming up. They could easily end up 3-3 after that. It's easy to blame injuries, and that's the biggest issue, but this game was sloppy and is one the 49ers would like to redo.