49ers Bounce Back After Bye Week Thanks To New Pass Rush Upgrade

Liam O'Connor

November 12, 2023

(Chase Young gets pressure up the middle)

The San Francisco 49ers are back!

Empowered by an improved pass rush with the recent acquisition of Chase Young, the 49ers dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, securing a 34-3 victory.

This win ends a three-game losing streak that the 49ers carried into their bye, raising doubts about their championship prospects. On Sunday, they showcased the form of a Super Bowl contender, reminiscent of their 5-0 start, while slowing down one of the league's hottest teams.

From the pass rush to a resilient performance by quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers controlled every aspect of Sunday's game against a 6-2 Jaguars team riding a five-game win streak.

The standout feature was San Francisco's defensive front.

The 49ers sacked Trevor Lawrence five times, delivered 10 additional hits, intercepted him twice, and thwarted Jacksonville's prime touchdown opportunity with a red-zone fumble recovery.

In contrast, San Francisco's offense committed no turnovers against a Jaguars defense that led the league with 18 takeaways before Sunday.

Young's early impact alongside Bosa Chase Young made his debut for the 49ers on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after being traded from the Washington Commanders at the deadline. He immediately left his mark alongside fellow Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa.

With the 49ers leading 10-0 early in the second quarter, the Jaguars, facing second-and-15 from the 49ers' 46-yard line, struggled with an empty backfield in an obvious passing situation. Despite dropping eight men back in coverage, the 49ers applied pressure.

When Lawrence couldn't find an open receiver on his first look, he stepped up in the pocket, only to be met by both Bosa and Young, who anticipated his move. They wrapped up Lawrence while Bosa swiped at the ball, resulting in a fumble.

Bosa recovered the ball, turning it into a turnover at midfield.

Young, playing opposite Bosa in the 49ers pass rush, is unlikely to face many double teams. If he remains healthy, he'll have numerous opportunities to disrupt opposing backfields in San Francisco, potentially making a significant impact on the season.

(D linemen Chase Young, Nick Bosa, and Javon Hargrave sack Trevor Lawrence)

Brock Purdy's strong comeback The 49ers took a 13-3 lead into halftime and widened the gap on the first possession of the third quarter with a 66-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to George Kittle. Purdy, standing tall in the collapsing pocket, delivered a perfectly placed ball to Kittle, who beat linebacker Devin Lloyd in single coverage down the right sideline.

This type of play was notably absent during San Francisco's three-game skid, where Purdy threw all five of his season interceptions. However, there were no major mistakes from Purdy on Sunday. He completed 19 of 26 pass attempts for 296 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The touchdown to Kittle forced the Jaguars to play from 17 points behind, enabling the 49ers' pass rush to pressure Lawrence.

As they did with the second-quarter strip-sack, the 49ers consistently applied pressure on Lawrence without blitzing, forcing quick decisions against a loaded secondary, leading to opportunities for San Francisco's defense, including a third-quarter interception by safety Talanoa Hufanga, sparked by pressure from Bosa.

The Jaguars' late scoring opportunity resulted in a strip and fumble recovery by cornerback Ambry Thomas on a Christian Kirk catch in the red zone, with San Francisco converting the turnover into a touchdown. From there, the Jaguars never posed a threat.

Bosa finished the day with 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, a pass defended, and the forced and recovered fumble on his shared strip-sack with Young. Young tallied a half sack and two quarterback hits in his 49ers debut.

San Francisco outgained Jacksonville on offense 437 yards to 221 and held a 4-0 turnover edge. Lawrence completed 17 of 29 passes for 185 yards with two interceptions in what he called "one of the worst games I've probably played in my career."

The 49ers' comprehensive effort served notice to the rest of the NFL that they are indeed back as championship contenders and they will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home next Sunday

(George Kittle and Chase Young celebrate the victory with fans)