San Francisco 49ers: 3 Takeaways vs. Jaguars in Week 16

The San Francisco 49ers have won four straight games after an excellent Week 16 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He we look at three takeaways.

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off the most stunning victory of their recent winning streak on Sunday as they defeated the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers prevailed in a 44-33 thriller, the quarterback remaining undefeated as a starter as he produced another excellent performance, going 21 of 30 for 242 with two touchdowns and one interception.

Though the Jaguars, who erased a 16-point deficit in the first half, threatened a late comeback after the 49ers pulled away to a 37-19 lead, San Francisco held on to make it five wins in six games.

Here we look at three takeaways from a superb performance against a Super Bowl-contending team.

3. Garoppolo overcomes advertisty to prevail

Garoppolo and the 49ers got off to an extremely hot start and, after two impressive scoring drives and a pick-six by Dontae Johnson, were 16-0 up within a blink of an eye. But a block on the subsequent extra point was returned for a two-point score for the Jaguars and they scored a further 17 unanswered to take a 19-16 lead, the go-ahead field goal coming off a red zone interception thrown by Garoppolo.

It would have been easy for Garoppolo and the 49ers to buckle and lose handily to one of the better teams in the league. Instead, the defense created a turnover of their own and Garoppolo and the offense responded quickly. A pinpoint throw over the middle to George Kittle put the 49ers back in front, but his best pass came as Garoppolo hit Trent Taylor for another score with a sidearm effort across his body while rolling to his left.

Though Jacksonville threatened what would have been a remarkable late turnaround, it was those two throws that gave the 49ers what proved a decisive advantage and few should have any concerns about Garoppolo’s ability to perform against elite defenses or respond to adversity after this one.

2. Rookies and secondary show up

It was another extremely strong day for the 49ers’ run defense, which recorded a fifth successive game with under 100 rush yards allowed. Key to that effort was rookie first-round linebacker Reuben Foster, who logged five tackles and allowed only one reception for two yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

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His performance was one of many excellent showings by the Niners’ rookie class. Along with Kittle and Taylor, undrafted free agent Matt Breida rushed for the score that finally put the game to bed, while Ahkello Witherspoon had a pick as the secondary showed up to take advantage of an up-and-down Blake Bortles game.

Though Bortles was able to rack up some gaudy numbers, throwing for 382 yards and two touchdowns, he committed costly turnovers as a 49ers secondary that has struggled to take the ball away prospered.

Johnson endured another difficult day save for his pick-six but K’Waun Williams — who allowed only one catch for 11 yards according to PFF — made an extremely athletic interception to set up Kittle’s score and Witherspoon continued his excellent development with a pick that led to a Carlos Hyde touchdown to put the 49ers up 18. While Garoppolo is the headline story for the 49ers, the contribution of their rookies cannot be understated and, if they can get similar production from future draft classes, then this team will make a quick return to competing to go deep into the postseason.

1. Offensive Line keeps Jags stacked front at bay

An extremely deep Jaguars defensive front was expected to feast against a San Francisco offensive line missing right tackle Trent Brown. But, even with Zane Beadles again filling in for Brown, the Niners held a Jacksonville team that had 51 sacks going into the game to just one.

It was the O-Line’s best performance of the season against the toughest competition they have faced.

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And, while there are still obvious holes on the interior of the line, Jacksonville’s lack of success in getting to Garoppolo is testament to what having a quarterback who boasts a quick release and performs well under pressure can do for those around him.