Statement win: 49ers erupt for 51, rout Jaguars at Levi’s

SANTA CLARA - After three uneven weeks, the San Francisco 49ers finally looked like the team coach Jeff Jarin keeps talking about-fast, physical and ruthless in all three phases. With Brock Purdy carving up the secondary, George Kittle running wild, and the defense scoring twice, San Francisco throttled the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars 51-20 on Sunday.

Game recap

San Francisco's script finally clicked on the opening possessions. Purdy found Christian McCaffrey on a 16-yard angle route for the first touchdown, then hit Kittle up the seam for a 19-yard score and a 14-0 first-quarter lead. "We wanted to start fast and let our defense rush," Jarin said, noting how a clean pocket let Purdy work the middle of the field.

The second quarter turned into a romp. Jake Moody drilled a 47-yarder before the defense added the first of its two touchdowns when linebacker Nick Martin scooped a loose ball and sprinted 54 yards. Jacksonville briefly answered-Trevor Lawrence hit Travis Etienne Jr on a 6-yard flare-but San Francisco closed the half with a back-breaker: Purdy's 24-yard strike to Kittle with one second left. "George was cooking; when he's rolling, the reads are simple," Purdy said.

Jacksonville flashed after intermission-Lawrence found Dyami Brown for a 10-yard TD-but the 49ers' defense answered again. Following a Moody 51-yard field goal, safety Jason Pinnock ripped the ball free and raced 46 yards to the house. "We talk every week about turning pressure into points," Pinnock said. Moody later added a 48-yarder, the Jaguars struck with a 65-yard rainbow to Brian Thomas Jr, and Mac Jones finished the party on a 1-yard plunge behind a jumbo set. Jaguars coach Liam Coen put it bluntly: "You can't give up two defensive touchdowns and expect to win on the road."

Key stats and plays

Purdy completed 16 of 21 for 174 yards with three touchdowns and one interception; Lawrence went 18 of 29 for 226 yards and three scores. Kittle was unstoppable, catching nine passes for 130 yards and two TDs, while McCaffrey balanced the script with 16 rushes for 101 yards and four catches for 36 yards and a score. Moody was perfect-three field goals (long of 51) and 6-for-6 on PATs.

The defense did the rest: Martin and Pinnock each returned fumbles for touchdowns, and Nick Bosa notched two sacks as San Francisco turned a 21-point swing on takeaways into daylight. "That's our identity-complementary football," Jarin said.

For Jacksonville, Etienne led the way with 100 receiving yards and a TD on six grabs, and Thomas Jr finished with 79 yards and a score. Team-wise, the 49ers produced 335 offensive yards (142 rushing) and cashed two scoop-and-scores; the Jaguars managed 275 offensive yards and were 5-of-11 on third down.

Up next

The 49ers visit the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5, looking to stack momentum in the NFC West race. Meanwhile, the Jaguars return home to host the Kansas City Chiefs as they seek a rebound under Coen.