Week 11 Matchups to Watch: 49ers at Jaguars

By Scooter_McG

The rollercoaster ride that is the 49ers 2021 season continues in week 11, pitting the now 4-5 49ers against a 2-7 Jaguars team in Jacksonville. This is a game the 49ers should win, and need to win to build momentum and stay firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot. However, if this season has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected when it comes to the 49ers, and don't take any game for granted.

The Jaguars are also a team that deserves to not be overlooked. Despite their 2-7 record they are 2-2 over their past four games, including a surprise win over the Bills and a narrow defeat to the Colts last week. Meanwhile the 49ers have also gone 2-2 over the same period, mixing some very poor performances against the Colts and Cardinals with some good wins against the Bears and then the Rams last week. Basically, the 49ers should have no reason to feel they can relax and still expect to win this week. 

So how will the game go? Here is what I will be watching.

49ers mentality. Last week against the Rams the 49ers came out with a locked in, take no prisoners mindset from the get go that was in stark contrast to anything we saw through the first 8 games of the season. They had a game plan to match that was based on running the ball down the Rams throat and physically bullying their opponent at every opportunity. 

The quesiton now becomes - can they maintain that mentality? Can they repeat it? That doesn't mean they need to continue with their more than 2:1 run vs pass ratio every week, but can they bring that same physicality, will to physically and mentally dominate their opponent, and commitment to execution? 

With how things stand in the NFC it is possible this team has a chance to make the playoffs even without bringing the same or similar type of attitude as last week here on out. But if they are to have any chance of making some noise in the playoffs the team needs to make last weeks performance the standard. 

Trevor Lawrence vs 49ers coverage. This week the 49ers face a rookie QB that, while talented, has had his struggles through his first 9 NFL games. This will be the second time the 49ers face a rookie QB that has been struggling acclimating to the NFL. Justin Fields entered the game against the 49ers looking like a player whose head was spinning in previous weeks. He then proceeded to look very comfortable against the 49ers, and has since started to play pretty well. The 49ers do not want to be known as the team that lets rookie QBs gain their confidence.  

One of the key triggers for last weeks win was getting two turnovers on the first two Rams drives, which were converted to 14 points including a pick-6. But for the majority of the year the team has struggled to take the ball away, and not always for lack of opportunities. The 49ers should go into this game with an aim to not let Lawrence get comfortable. Chances are he will provide some opportunities for the 49ers defense and the 49ers have to make sure they take them when presented, to get Lawrence uncomfortable and second guessing himself.  

49ers run defense vs Jaguars rushing attack. With a rookie QB leading their team the Jaguars have relied on the rushing attack on offense, and stopping the run has at times been something of an achilles heel for the 49ers. Part of making Lawrence uncomfortable will be making the Jaguars need to rely on his arm more than they want to. There are two components to that - put scoreboard pressure on the Jaguars, and take their running game away. 

James Robinson leads the Jaguars in rushing yards and is averaging over 5 yards per carry. This won't be an easy rushing attack to stop. Can the 49ers front 7 find a way to get it done?

49ers running game vs Jaguars run defense. As outlined above, the 49ers win over the Rams saw the team run the ball more than double the number of times they threw the ball. While they didn't necessarily generate a lot of big plays out of this, and the yards per rush was nothing special, it consistently put the team ahead of schedule and gradually sapped the energy and will of the Rams defense. 

Running the ball will likely be a lot tougher this week against the Jaguars, for a variety of reasons. The Jaguars will be expecting it, they have one of the top ranked run defenses in the NFL, and the 49ers will likely be without their leading rusher Elijah Mitchell due to a broken finger suffered last week. 

Despite this, I expect to see the 49ers continue to commit to running the ball this week. Not to the extent we saw against the Rams, but a big part of the game plan nonetheless as the 49ers look to build on their performance and lean on their strengths. 

I also expect we will see some more wrinkles in the running game this week. And don't be surprised to see Trey Lance finally see some snaps again, to take advantage of the running threat he provides.  

Deebo Samuel - offensive weapon. Deebo Samuel has shown this year that he is a legitimately good WR, not just a gadget player ala Percy Harvin. However, as dangerous as he has proven to be as a downfield threat, Samuel is even more dangerous when the team uses him in a variety of ways like they did against the Rams. 

The success the 49ers had with the package that put Deebo at RB and Wilson at FB should see that become an ongoing part of their offense until teams prove they can stop it. And don't be surprised to see the team start to incorporate passes out of that package, as well as mix things up by having Deebo line up at RB to start with then motion out.  

Getting the ball in the hands of your best playmaker is always a good plan, especially when you need wins. The variety of ways the 49ers look to do that this week will be fun to watch.