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Jaguars vs. 49ers: 3 big challenges San Francisco will face in Week 16

By Peter Panacy

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #32 Kendall Hunter of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by #23 Alan Ball of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: #32 Kendall Hunter of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by #23 Alan Ball of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the NFL International Series game between San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, and there are some serious challenges the Niners will face during the game. Here are three of them.

Before the 2017 season officially began, one would have thought the San Francisco 49ers would have a relatively easy time against the seemingly always-struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.

That’s not going to be the case, though.

At 10-4, the Jaguars are one of the NFL’s feel-good stories this year. Their defense is legit, entering Week 16 with the fewest points allowed in the league (209) and the third-fewest total yards (3,977).

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Meanwhile, Jacksonville has actually benefited from quarterback Blake Bortles under center as of late — never thought I would say that — and has a prolific ground attack with rookie running back Leonard Fournette.

While the 49ers are happy to be on a three-game winning streak, the Jaguars are gunning for the postseason and still have things they’ll want to clinch. Simply put, they have more to lose than San Francisco.

Sunday’s contest between these two teams is going to be tough for the red and gold, and Niner Noise explores three specific challenges head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad will face in Week 16.