Jaguars Ride Defense to Victory, But Third-Down Woes Haunt Offense

The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a hard-fought 26-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, moving to 3-1 and keeping pace in the AFC race. While the win showcased resilience and a surging defense, it also underscored persistent flaws that head coach Liam Coen must address before the Jaguars begin a critical three-game home stretch against the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams.

Opportunistic Defense Turns the Tide

Jacksonville’s defense was the difference-maker. Linebacker Devin Lloyd delivered a breakout performance, tallying eight tackles and two interceptions. His ability to anticipate Brock Purdy’s throws derailed San Francisco’s rhythm and gave Jacksonville short fields.

“Yeah I mean, I think it starts in practice,” Lloyd said after the game. “We always practice taking the ball away—punching the ball out, catching the ball. Everybody always has the ball in their mind and I think whenever you’re thinking about it all the time, naturally, those plays and those opportunities, you’ll be ready for them whenever they present themselves.”

Foye Oluokun added seven tackles and forced a fumble, while former 49er Arik Armstead sealed the victory with a strip-sack late in the fourth quarter. Armstead admitted it was a special moment.

“Can’t write a better script than that to be honest,” Armstead said. “I didn’t want to make it bigger than it was and just live in the moment. It was a pretty special day. Probably one I won’t forget.”

Takeaways Becoming a Calling Card

A year ago, Jacksonville forced only nine total takeaways. Through just four weeks of 2025, they already have 13 — the best mark in the NFL at 3.3 per game. That sudden transformation isn’t an accident.

“It’s one of those things that right now it’s coming in bunches, which is awesome,” Coen said postgame. “But it’s not just happening. It’s what they’re doing every single day. The way they’re practicing, the way they’re being intentional about it, the way they’re holding each other accountable—it shows up on the tape.”

Offense Still Searching for Rhythm

Despite the defensive fireworks, Jacksonville’s offense remains inconsistent. The Jaguars went just 4-for-14 on third down (28.57%), continuing a season-long trend that has them ranked 25th in the NFL at 35.19%. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence acknowledged the issue.

“Thought I could have done even more to be honest today on some of those third downs,” Lawrence said. “We weren’t as good as we want to be on third down, and I felt like I could have maybe extended a few more plays. Just got to watch that and keep learning from it and grow.”

Adding to the frustration, Jacksonville committed 12 penalties for 90 yards. They now lead the NFL with 9.5 penalties per game, often stalling drives and extending opponents’ chances.

What’s Next

The Jaguars’ identity is starting to crystallize — an aggressive, turnover-hungry defense paired with an offense still searching for consistency. Against elite opponents like Kansas City, leaving points on the field and handing over free yards could quickly flip the outcome.

Jacksonville has the talent to compete with anyone, but to evolve from resilient to dominant, they must clean up their third-down execution and penalties. If those adjustments happen, the Jaguars won’t just survive games like Sunday’s — they’ll control them.