Leading 3-0, the 49er defense forced a three and out on Jacksonville's first possession, allowing for San Francisco's offense to wear the Jags down some more. Needing less plays and time to travel further on their next possession, the 49ers were able to punch it into the end zone with ease on their second drive, thanks to a bit of running from receiver Deebo Samuel. Coming off NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his two-touchdown performance against the Rams a week ago, Deebo again proved to be a problem for the opposition in the running game, taking a handoff 25-yards to the house for a touchdown. Creeping up on 49ers all-time great and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (9) as the only 49ers receiver since 1950 with more rushing touchdowns than Samuel who now has six, Deebo joined Rice as the only wide-receivers in 49ers franchise history to take home NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors multiple times in a single season (Rice did it on three occasions in 1990, 1992, 1994). As if Jacksonville wasn't gassed enough on defense, their offense didn't do them any favors as receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. was stripped of the ball just one play into the Jags' ensuing possession by San Francisco's Josh Norman who added to his total with an NFL-leading fifth forced fumble on the year, recovered by Pro Bowl linebacker Fred Warner.
Getting under the skin of Jacksonville's exhausted defense, first-year head coach Urban Meyer would be without his starting safety less than midway through the second quarter as Rayshawn Jenkins was ejected from the game for throwing a punch at San Francisco's Jauan Jennings after a play, resulting in a penalty. It would be one of three penalties against Jacksonville that benefited the Niners on third down in the first half alone. A few plays later, the 49ers would strike pay dirt for a second consecutive drive as Garoppolo found Brandon Aiyuk in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Jaguars quarterback and 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence would get Jacksonville on the board on their next possession with a field goal just after the 2-minute warning, but San Francisco answered with a field goal of their own as Robbie Gould's 48-yarder completed the first half with the Niners on top, 20-3. Putting their first half dominance into perspective, the 49ers ran 39 plays on offense to Jacksonville's 15.
Opening the second half the same way they did the first, the 49er defense forced a three and out punt on the Jags' first possession following three straight incomplete passes, while also having success on offense. Marching down the field with the ball, Deebo Samuel would again be at the forefront, as the 49ers made it inside the 5-yardline before deciding to go for it on 4th and goal. A gusty gamble by coach Shanahan would pay dividends as Garoppolo connected with tight-end George Kittle in the end zone from a yard out for the easy score. For Kittle it would be his third straight game with a touchdown, the longest streak of his career and the longest such streak by a 49ers tight-end since Vernon Davis' five consecutive games with a touchdown back in 2013. Things would begin to slow down as both teams exchanged a pair of punts, but San Francisco would receive a gift on special-teams as Tavon Austin muffed a fair-catch attempt that was recovered by the 49ers' Trent Sherfield. Taking advantage of the stellar field position, the Niners would add to their lead with a field goal to make it, 30-3. Jacksonville's best possession of the day would come on their final drive of the ballgame as the Jags marched 63-yards on 11-plays, capped off by a 1-yard run by running back James Robinson. With just over three minutes remaining, coach Shanahan would call on rookie QB Trey Lance to run out the clock as he rushed for the game-sealing first down with a 7-yard carry on 3rd and 5.
Entering Sunday's matchup, Jimmy G would boast a QB Rating of 109.8 over his last three games, the best in the NFL over that span, and certainly looked the part again in the 30-10 victory over Jacksonville. Other than a missed touchdown pass to a wide-open Jeff Wilson Jr. in the end zone on the team's opening-drive, it was another spotless performance by Garoppolo who again didn't try to do too much and got the job done by taking what the opposing defense gave him on his way to completing 16 of 22 passes for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns. Opposite of Garoppolo, Trevor Lawrence threw for 158 yards on 16 of 25 passes, while being sacked three times in total, twice by the Niners' Nick Bosa who now has a career-high 10 sacks on the year. San Francisco's Brandon Aiyuk led all receivers with 7 receptions for 85-yards and a score, while Deebo Samuel outgained Jeff Wilson Jr. and Trey Sermon in rushing yards with a game-high 79 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries.
Week 12 Preview: One of the more entertaining games on Sunday in Week 11 was the divisional showdown between the rival Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. In a wild, back and forth melee between the two bitter rivals, the Vikes walked it off with a last-second, game-winning field goal to improve to 5-5 on the year. Like the 49ers who also improved to 5-5 with their win on Sunday, Minnesota is hoping to at least vie for a Wild Card spot if they're unable to catch the division-leading Packers. Setting up for a big game in Week 12, a win over the other team will do wonders as both squads look to keep pace in the NFC's Wild Card race. Playing some of the best ball of his career, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will try to take it to his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan dating back to their time spent in Washington, who was very high on trying to acquire Cousins prior to the trade with the Patriots that sent Jimmy Garoppolo to the Bay Area. With a number of weapons on offense in receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and running back Dalvin Cook, the 49ers will need another stout performance on defense like they've gotten in each of their last two games.
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