Week 12: San Francisco 49ers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

(Image created by Samuel Lam)

If someone asked me if the 49ers had a chance to make the playoffs with a 4-6 record, I probably find it nearly impossible for the team to be playing meaningful games into January. That's the situation the 49ers are in this Sunday. They still have a slight chance of making the playoffs, but at 4-6, they have to essentially win out and hope that a few teams ahead start to falter.

The Jaguars are not an easy opponent to underestimate this Sunday. The Jaguars are riding a three-game win streak on the heels of running back Maurice Jones-Drew and the clutch performances of quarterback David Garrard. Stopping those two will be a challenge for a 49ers defense that has looked very flat at times and strong other times. The team has yet to find a consistent balance on defense.

On offense, the team will have to figure out what kind of approach they will go with. The spread formation has been good to quarterback Alex Smith, but is that the solution to the team's offensive woes? Running back Frank Gore had only seven carries last week. Not giving Gore the ball makes the 49ers team one-dimensional and very predictable for a Jaguars team that can still be strong ballhawks during the passing game.

Both teams have huge benefits from a win. The Jaguars currently hold the last spot in the AFC playoff picture and a win puts them in a tie for the fifth seed. A win for hte 49ers keeps their playoff hopes alive. A loss eliminates all practical hope for the team.

There are a few keys for the 49ers in this game against the Jaguars:

Stop Maurice Jones-Drew
Stopping the opposition's best player-- pretty simple task? Jones-Drew not only can be difficult to stop on the ground, but has tremendous speed out in the flat. Stopping Jones-Drew forces Garrard to pass a lot more than he would prefer. The Jaguars passing game isn't terrible, but you rather have them throw more than having Jones-Drew run wild.
Offensive identity
Whatever the 49ers decide to do with offense, it just needs to work. Holding the ball for under 8 minutes in the first half last week killed the 49ers offensive flow. Getting early first downs and scores is very important. If it's passing or running, the 49ers have to score early and give their defense a good rest.
Time of possession
Like above, the offense needs to be solid. This also is a very huge key for the 49ers defense. They have to step up and stop the Jaguars from milking clock with first down conversions. Whether it's 3-and-outs or turnovers, the 49ers defense has to step up. They cannot forfeit early scores and force the 49ers to play comeback for another week.

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Today's injury report:

49ERS
OUT
CB Nate Clements (shoulder), T Joe Staley (knee)

DOUBTFUL
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder)

QUESTIONABLE
WR Arnaz Battle (ankle), LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring)

PROBABLE
G David Baas (ankle), CB Tarell Brown (knee), CB Marcus Hudson (back), S Michael Lewis (quadricep), S Reggie Smith (abdomen), T Adam Snyder (shoulder), S Curtis Taylor (knee), LB Patrick Willis (shoulder)

JAGUARS
OUT
CB Rashean Mathis (groin)

PROBABLE
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee), WR Mike Sims-Walker (knee)

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A loss for the 49ers will more than likely kick them out of any playoff picture. They will still be mathematically in it, but I don't think the team has anything left (and enough luck) to make it to the playoffs. This game is it for the team.

Follow me on my Twitter for updates throughout today's game and check back here as I plan to update this page live from the stadium.

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1st Quarter

- SF starts on 20 to begin the game after a touchback...Pass to Gore for 7 yards, followed by an incomplete pass by Smith...3rd & 3, Smith hits Walker to the SF 48 for a first down...Gore runs up for 4 yards, followed by a 3 yard pass to Gore...On 3rd & 3, a completion to Morgan to the JAX 34 for a first down...A draw play to Gore for 2 yards, followed by another draw play to Gore for 3 yards...On 3rd & 5, Smith overthrows Hill. Nedney makes a 46-yard field goal and SF goes up 3-0 with 10:03 left in the first quarter.

- JAX start on their own 29...Garrad hits Holt for an 11 yard catch for a first down...Jones-Drew (MJD) rushes for no gain on first down, followed by a screen to MJD for no gain...On 3rd & 10, Holts picks up 8 yards and JAX has to punt.

- SF starts on their own 8...Gore with a pass for 3 yards, followed by a run for no gain...On 3rd & 7, Smith overthrows Crabtree...Three and out.

- JAX on own 37...Garrard hits Wilford for 9 yards, followed by a 7 yard run by MJD for a first down...After a false start, a pass to Thomas for 6 yards, followed by an intentional grounding on Garrard...On 3rd & 18, a 12 pass to Lewis. JAX punts.

- SF starts on own 9 yard line...Davis with an 8 yard gain and with a 15 yard facemask, SF moves to the 33 yard line...Smith hits Gore for no gain, followed by a pass to Davis for a 5 yard gain...On 3rd & 5, incompete to Davis. SF to punt.

- JAX start on SF 47...Garrard passes to MJD for 17 yards and that ends the quarter.

2nd Quarter

- 1st & 10...On play action, Garrard overthrows Sims-Walker, followed by a draw play to MJD for 1 yard...3rd & 9, Garrard hits MJD for a 7 yard gain...JAX attempts 40-yard FG but misses.

- On own 30, a WR screen to Crabtree for 8 yards, followed by a reverse to Walker to the 48 for a first down...On first down, Gore up the middle for 2 yards, followed by a pass to Davis to the JAX 36 for a first down...Incomplete to Davis up the middle, followed by an incomplete to Gore...On 3rd & 10, Smith hits Carbtree all the way to the 9 yard line...On 1st & G, Smith hits Morgan to the 3 yard line, followed by a throw away by Smith...On 3rd & G on the 3, play action to Davis for the TD!!! 10-0 SF leads.

- JAX on own 22 to start...MJD goes up the middle for a 3 yard gain, followed by an incompletion...On 3rd & 7, Garrard overthrows Sims-Walker...JAX to punt.

- Jones returns it to the SF 34...Smith's pass is batted down, followed by a dropped pass by Davis...On 3rd & 10, Morgan gains 7 yards. SF to punt...

- An illegal touching by Brown gives JAX 5 yards on the return. JAX on their own 20...MJD for 6 yards up the middle, followed by a holding penalty...On 2nd & 14, a 7 yard pass to Lewis, and on 3rd & 7, a pass interference on Sims-Walker pushes JAX to a 3rd & 18 in which the Jags only gain 11 yards. JAX punt after another 3 and out.

- SF on own 41...Smith hits Morgan for 3 yards, followed by a rush by Smith to the JAX 46 for a first down...Gore to the right for no gain, followed by an incomplete to Morgan...On 3rd & 10, Morgan gains 9 yards...4th & 1 on JAX 37 at 2 minute warning...On 4th & 1, play action pass to Davis for 30 yards!!! 1st & G on 7 yard line...Timeout by SF...1st & G from 7, incomplete to Morgan...On 2nd down, a draw to Gore for 3 yards ..JAX calls timeout...Smith rolls right and hits Gore in the back of the end zone for a touchdown!!! They are reviewing the play to see if Gore stayed in bounds...Play stands, 17-0 SF.

- JAX on own 29...Sims-Walker for a 16 yard catch followed by another catch by Sims-Walker to the SF 49....JAX calls timeout with :17 left and 2nd & 2...Hits Sims-Walker to the SF 30... Then hits Holt to SF 14...JAX calls last timeout and settle for 32 yard field goal. 17-3 at the half.

3rd Quarter

- JAX starts off on their own 24...Wilford catch all the way to the SF 46...Completion to Thomas for 12 yards and another first down...Another pass to Thomas to the SF 15....Short pass to MJD for a -2 yard gain, followed by a sack by Lawson.... Justin Smith recovers fumble on 27 yard line.

- On 27 yard line, pass to Walker to 49 yard line...Walker with another catch, this one for 9 yards, followed by a sweep play to Gore for a 1 yard gain and first down...A draw play to Gore for a 4 yard gain, followed by an incomplete to Crabtree...On 3rd & 6, pass to Crabtree to 17 yard line...1st down, pass to Walker for no gain...On 2nd down, incomplete fade route to Crabtree and on 3rd down, Morgan gets to the 10 yard line and SF settles for a field goal. 27 yard FG is good and SF goes up 20-3.

- JAX starts on 10...MJD rush for 3 yards followed by a pass to Lewis to the SF 36...On first down, incomplete pass to Holt on the play followed by a 2 yard sack by Evan and Willis... On 3rd & 12, completion to Holt for 15 yards...On first down, MJD runs up for a 9 yard gain...MJD runs again and goes up to the 37 for a first down...Garrard scrambles for 5 yards followed by an incomplete to Lewis... On 3rd & 5, pass to Miller for 10 yards and first down...MJD up the middle for 9 yards followed by another run by MJD for no gain... On 3rd & 1, MJD is stopped for no gain...End of the quarter.

4th Quarter

- 4th & 1on SF 13, sack and forced fumble by Haralson. McDonald on the recovery on SF 34 yard line!!

- On first down, run by Gore for 3 yards followed by an incomplete to Walker...On 3rd & 7, pass to Gore for -1 yards... SF to punt.

- JAX on own 22...Incomplete to Lewis followed by a holding call on a QB scramble...On 2nd & 20, a run by MJD for 12 yards followed by a 5 yard scramble...On 4th & 3 on the JAX 29, pass to MJD to SF 41...Pass to Thomas to SF 33...Run by Jennings for 8 yards followed by another run for 3 yards...A 9 yard run by MJD followed by a 6 yard run...1st & G from 7, run by MJD to 3 yard line followed by incomplete...On 3rd & G from 3, SF calls timeout....pass inco.mplete to Holt and on 4th & G on the 3, JAX goes for 21 yard FG and misses off left upright!!!

- On the 20, Gore up the middle for 1 yard gain...

I'm heading down to the field. Recap coming up after the game.

For more 49ers news: Visit my my blog at Mining the Gold Rush .