A young, hungry Jaguars team will look to assert their presence against the banged-up 49ers riding a three-game losing streak.
The 49ers may be on a three-game losing streak, but they still need to be taken seriously. Coming off a bye week that saw them trade for Chase Young, San Francisco will be looking to emphatically bounce back against a very good Jaguars team.
The Jags have rolled off a league-leading five straight wins and can win six straight for the first time in a season since 1999. This game will be another big test for Trevor Lawrence and company. They have already passed one significant test, beating the Buffalo Bills in London, but fell short against the Chiefs and were mollywhopped by potential Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
The most interesting battle of this game will be the San Francisco defense versus Jacksonville’s offense. Everybody loves to evaluate how quarterbacks play, and this will be a good test for Lawrence. The 49ers’ defense ranks second in Total Defense, per PFF, and has an arsenal of pass rushers, linebackers, and corners that will challenge Jacksonville at every level. A dominating game from Lawrence will help boost what teams and fans can expect from him throughout his career.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense have also faced a lot of blame in the three-game losing streak. The 49ers have scored 17 in each game, and critics were awaiting a return to the mean from Mr. Irrelevant. Much of this may be related to injuries, including Deebo Samuel and perennial All-Pro Trent Williams.
Williams is still not practicing, and Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen, meanwhile, is tied for the NFL lead with three multi-sack games (his most recent in Week 8). Jacksonville’s defense has been underrated this season, ranking eighth in Total Defense, per PFF. Keep an eye out for how Allen will affect backup left tackle Jaylon Moore.
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Game Info
Date: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023
Start time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Stadium: TIAA Bank Field
TV Info: FOX, Fubo, NFL+, YouTube Primetime (NFL Sunday Ticket), YouTube TV
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread: SF -3 (-118), JAX +3 (-102)
Moneyline: SF (-170), JAX (+142)
Over/Under: O 44.5 (-112), U 44.5 (-108)
San Francisco opens the weekend as favorites, though only by three points.
What To Watch For
Jacksonville’s offense wins in similar ways that the Vikings (who defeated the Niners) do, with deep crossing and over routes that challenge man coverage and mismatches in zone. The 49ers like to be aggressive, press the receivers, and force the quarterback to deal with the pass rush coming their way.
The Jaguars also have more horses than Minnesota did during their game, meaning Trevor Lawrence will need to have a game like Kirk Cousins did on Monday Night Football. Stand in the pocket, take hits, and deliver the ball accurately. If he does that, he will beat this 49ers team and bring a lot of attention to what they’re doing in Duval.
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