Jaguars vs. 49ers: 5 matchups to watch for San Francisco in Week 16
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Jaguars Pass Rush
In case you haven’t noticed, the Jaguars have one of the most prolific front-seven defenses in the NFL this season. And their pass rush is good. Like, elite good.
Just check out the numbers from Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney:
The above stats mean Jacksonville isn’t forced to blitz on passing downs, meaning a four-man rush is doing the job getting to the quarterback. Not surprisingly, the Jaguars’ 51 sacks on the year are the most in the NFL entering Week 16. And not having to use blitz packages to reach these totals tells you what you need to know.
Defensive linemen Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue and Malik Jackson have either surpassed, or are flirting with, 10-plus sacks on the season.
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And with Football Outsiders ranking the 49ers offensive line ranked 19th in pass protection this year, this particular matchup is going to be vital.
Fortunately, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has shown the ability to make plays while under pressure. He’ll be under it frequently on Sunday, which makes the need for him to deliver the ball quickly and accurately a key focal point to watch.
Garoppolo is undefeated as a starter in his short NFL career. In order to keep it this way, he’ll have to effectively manage being under threat of the aforementioned pass-rushers in Jacksonville’s arsenal.
Next: 3 big challenges the 49ers will face in Week 16 vs. Jaguars
The 49ers and Jaguars kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium.