Jaguars 33-44 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo stars as San Francisco stun Jacksonville
Monday 25 December 2017 06:53, UK
Jimmy Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score against one of the NFL's stingiest defenses as the San Francisco 49ers shocked the Jacksonville Jaguars 44-33 on Christmas Eve.
The day wasn't a total loss for the Jaguars (10-5), who clinched their first division title since 1999 earlier in the afternoon when the Tennessee Titans lost at home to the Los Angeles Rams. But the defeat dealt a big blow to Jacksonville's hopes for a first-round bye.
The 49ers (5-10) saw their playoff hopes die a long time ago during an 0-9 start but the mood and play around the team has changed dramatically after Garoppolo was inserted into the starting line-up earlier this month following a midseason trade from New England.
He has led San Francisco to four straight wins, but this one might have been the most impressive considering the quality of Jacksonville's defense. The Jaguars came into the game having allowed the fewest points and yards passing in the league, while recording the most sacks.
Garoppolo carved Jacksonville up, completing 21 for 30 passes for 242 yards with TD throws to George Kittle and Trent Taylor as San Francisco pulled away in the second half. Garoppolo improved to 6-0 in his career as a starting QB.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, meanwhile, threw three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by Dontae Johnson in the first half.
That Johnson score put San Francisco up 16-0, but the Jaguars blocked the extra point attempt and Aaron Colvin returned it for two points. Bortles then led two straight touchdown drives to see the game tied 16-16 at the half.
The 49ers again stretched ahead in the second half after Garoppolo's two TD strikes and a six-yard Carlos Hyde TD run, putting them up 37-19.
Jacksonville made it close with a couple of late TDs themselves, and a successful onside kick, but San Francisco ultimately held on for an impressive win, iced with a Matt Breida 30-yard score.
Elsewhere, in the other late games in the NFL....
Seahawks 21-12 Cowboys
Seattle (9-6) scored 21 points off Dallas turnovers as quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pair of short touchdown passes to see the Seahawks stay in the hunt for an NFC wild card berth.
The Seattle defense took the return of Dallas (8-7) star running back Ezekiel Elliott in stride, with the Cowboys now eliminated from playoff contention with defeat.
Giants 0-23 Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald caught a game-high nine passes for 119 yards and a touchdown as the Cardinals (7-8) comfortably beat the Giants (2-13).
It's the ninth time Fitzgerald has reached 1,000 receiving yards - the most by any player in NFL history.
