49ers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, Marquise Goodwin caught two TDs, and the 49ers crushed the Jacksonville Jaguars 44-33 at Levi's Stadium for their fourth straight win. Carlos Hyde ran for 39 and a touchdown. Robbie Gould kicked three field goals. Blake Bortles threw for 382 and three touchdowns in the loss. The 49ers improved to 5-10 in the kind of Christmas Eve home win that confirmed the new era.[1][2][3]

Jimmy Garoppolo's fourth start was the kind of Sunday-afternoon home performance that, against the league's best defense, confirmed what the previous three weeks had been suggesting. The 49ers beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 44-33 Christmas Eve at Levi's Stadium.

Garoppolo threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns to Marquise Goodwin. Carlos Hyde ran for 39 and a touchdown. George Kittle caught six. Robbie Gould kicked three field goals. The 49ers' offense produced 44 points against the league's first-ranked defense.

Blake Bortles threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns in defeat. Marqise Lee caught one of them. Dede Westbrook caught two. The kind of Sunday-afternoon home win where the rebuilding 49ers, with the new offense's identity in full bloom, produced their highest point total of the year against the year's stingiest defense. 5-10 with the Rams on the road in the season finale next week. Garoppolo 4-0.

49ers 44, Jaguars 33. Margin: +11. Fifteen-game record: 5-10, -73 differential.

• Garoppolo: 21-of-30 for 242, 2 TDs (4th 49ers start; 4-0 as starter).
• Marquise Goodwin: 2 TD receptions.
• Carlos Hyde: 16 carries for 39, 1 TD.
• George Kittle: 6 catches for 84.
• Robbie Gould: 3 FGs.
• Blake Bortles: 33-of-46 for 382, 3 TDs.
• Dede Westbrook: 2 TDs.
• Marqise Lee: 1 TD.
• 44 points against #1 scoring defense.
• 49ers 5-10; Jaguars 10-5.

A 44-33 Christmas Eve home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers improve to 5-10 with their fourth straight win.

How it unfolded

The 49ers built a 21-13 first-half lead behind a Garoppolo touchdown to Goodwin, a Hyde rushing TD, and a Gould field goal. The second half was a Garoppolo TD to Goodwin (his second of the day), a Bortles touchdown drive, a Gould field goal, another Bortles touchdown to Westbrook, and a Garoppolo touchdown drive. The 49ers led 41-26 entering the fourth quarter. The Jaguars added another touchdown drive but the 49ers' offense closed it out at 44-33.

The turning point

Garoppolo's third-quarter second touchdown to Goodwin. With the lead at 21-13 and the Jaguars' offense looking like it would tie the game, the long touchdown pushed the lead to two scores and the 49ers' offense never slowed down.

By the numbers

Garoppolo 21-of-30 for 242 with two TDs. Goodwin 6 catches for 73 with two TDs. Hyde 16 carries for 39 with a TD. Kittle 6 catches for 84. Bortles 33-of-46 for 382 with three TDs (the most a 49ers defense had given up all year). Dede Westbrook 8 catches for 110 with two TDs.

Personnel watch

Garoppolo's fourth straight win producing the kind of complete-team performance that, against the league's best defense, had the new offense in full operation. Goodwin's two-touchdown day. The kind of Sunday-afternoon home performance where the rebuilding 49ers' competitive identity, in the new QB1 era, was visibly real.

What it means

5-10 with the Rams on the road in the season finale next week. The Sunday-afternoon Christmas Eve home win is the kind of result that, in Garoppolo's fourth start, has the Niners heading into the offseason with the QB1 question definitively answered. The Rams are 11-4 and resting starters.