Offensive balance, strong defense keys
The 49ers had quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but they also had this game plan entering Sunday’s game: run the ball.
Center Daniel Kilgore was among those who said the 49ers were focused on establishing running backs Carlos Hyde and Matt Breida against Jacksonville’s top-ranked defense, which had one Achilles’ heel: The Jaguars ranked 19th in rushing yards allowed and 29th in yards per carry.
“It was definitely big,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “One of our big focuses this week was getting the run game going, because we knew exactly what we were facing. Their pass rush and their secondary are both very tough.”
As it turns out, Garoppolo, who was sacked just once, did just fine against the NFL’s top pass defense in the 49ers’ 44-33 win. But part of the reason he threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns was that the 49ers maintained offensive balance.
They finished with 35 runs and 31 pass plays, netting 131 rushing yards. Breida had 74 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and Hyde finished with 54 yards on 21 carries and a 6-yard scoring run.
The rushing attack wasn’t dominant — the 49ers averaged 3.7 yards a carry — but it finished off the Jaguars: Breida provided the final points on a 30-yard run with 1:24 left.
“We were able to run the ball and score a lot of points,” left tackle Joe Staley said. “I don’t think that they are too happy with themselves” on the other sideline. Streaking run defense: The 49ers had held four straight opponents under 100 rushing yards, but the Jaguars boasted rookie Leonard Fournette, the No. 4 pick, and the NFL’s top rushing attack.
The result: Fournette (18 carries, 48 yards) was part of a running game that managed 3.3 yards a carry and just 92 yards, 57 below Jacksonville’s average.
“It shows the type of rush defense we have,” said inside linebacker Brock Coyle, who had a team-high eight tackles. “It was huge. We knew we had to stop them, and we did. … We knew if we made them onedimensional we could start being aggressive, and it led to some turnovers.”
The 49ers had three interceptions against Blake Bortles, two in the second half that led to touchdown drives of 26 and 18 yards.
The 49ers have held five straight opponents under 100 rushing yards for the first time since 2012.
Injury report: Rookie linebacker Reuben Foster sustained a shoulder stinger — a recurring issue this season — but stayed in after he was shaken up late in the first half.
Foster was hurt after he slammed into Fournette, on a play where the running back had a pass carom off his hands and ricochet to wide receiver Jaelen Strong for a touchdown 10 seconds before halftime. Foster was observed in the medical tent on the sideline but started the second half.
Foster was pulled from the game after Breida’s touchdown run with just over a minute left.
“He could have gone,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He was battling through it, but we want to make sure he’s ready for next week.”
Briefly: The 49ers scored their most points since a 45-3 win over the Bills on Oct. 7, 2012. … Garoppolo’s 1,250 passing yards are the most by a 49ers quarterback in his first four starts since Jeff Kemp (1,026) in 1986. … The 49ers had three interceptions for the first time since Dec. 28, 2014.