4 critical observations from the Jaguars convincing win vs. 49ers

The Jacksonville Jaguars faced what was arguably their toughest challenge of the season when they played the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. They passed the test with flying colors.

Despite the fact that the Jags traveled to the West Coast and suffered several key injuries throughout the game, they prevailed. It wasn't easy, but they dominated in all three phases of the game. Along the way, they showed they're a complete team.

It helped that Trevor Lawrence was more accurate than in past games, while receivers did their part and cut down on the drops that held them back in previous weeks. The defense was their ballhawking self, and even Parker Washington came up clutch on special teams.

Now, the Jags are 3-1 four weeks into the NFL season, their best start since 2023. And while it's still early, they should feel good about their effort against the 49ers. And with that in mind, here are four crucial takeaways from the 26-21 win over San Francisco.

The Jaguars defense isn't slowing down anytime soon

The Jaguars had a league-best nine turnovers before Week 4, and that number increased to 13 against the San Francisco 49ers. Sure, the defense gave up a handful of big plays and 21 points. Moreover, the pass rush struggled to bring the heat, but it still got the job done.

Based on the defense's performance this season, it's fair to say that defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen wasn't able to get the most out of his unit. Conversely, Anthony Campanile is putting returning players and newcomers in a position to succeed.

The Jaguars came out on top despite missing Travon Walker, and Eric Murray, among others

Good teams find ways to win even if the injury bug strikes, and the Jags did precisely that against the 49ers. Already, they were missing wide receiver Dyami Brown and later lost offensive guard Anton Harrison and Travon Walker early in the game. Later, safety Eric Murray had to leave the field with a neck injury. Aside from those three, safety Antonio Johnson and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also sustained injuries.

But as the saying goes, the next man must step up, and in the Jags' case, several players did in the win over San Francisco.

The Jaguars receivers fix their drops issue vs. the 49ers

The Jaguars had a league-leading 13 drops and ranked first in drop rate before Week 4. Against the 49ers? They didn't have a single drop. Similarly, Travon Lawrence had several long completions, while Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. made several crucial plays.

In the days ahead of the game, the coaching staff had receivers partake in catch drills, to cut down on their drops. Their dedication to fixing the issue paid off in the win over the 49ers.

The Jaguars special teams and Parker Washington also played a huge role in the win

The special teams were a mixed bag in Week 4. On the one hand, Cam Little missed a field goal. On the other hand, Parker Washington had an electrifying 87-yard return for a touchdown to put Jacksonville ahead 26-20.

Although Washington didn't haul in a single pass in light of Dyami Brown's absence, his touchdown return proved to be huge.

The Jaguars have a playmaker in Travis Etienne

Remember that chatter about Travis Etienne being phased out in favor of Tank Bigsby, or how the Jags weren't sold on him after the draft? He's made all of us who thought he was going to be traded look extremely silly.

Tank Bigsby is gone, and Travis Etienne has regained his status as one of the best playmakers in the Jaguars offense. The former Clemson Tiger toted the rock 19 times for 124 yards with one touchdown and averaged 6.5 yards per carry against the 49ers.

Keep in mind that Etienne is set to become a free agent in 2026. Whether he remains with the Jaguars remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that he's putting in the work for a big payday.

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