LONDON – The energy and atmosphere was electric. This was exciting stuff, and the excitement was real.
The Jaguars just couldn't make it last.
With the San Francisco 49ers' offense confident and dominant, and with their own offense stagnant throughout the first half, the Jaguars fell behind too far, too early, losing to the San Francisco 49ers, 42-10, in front of 83,559 in their first appearance at famed Wembley Stadium.
The 49ers took control early, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions following an extended pregame show that emphasized the Jaguars' new status as London's designated "home team."
The Jaguars slipped to 0-8, while the 49ers (6-2 and last year's NFC Champions) continued to surge after back-to-back early-season losses, winning a fifth consecutive game by double digits.
All eight Jaguars losses have been by double digits.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick finished completing 10 of 16 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown while running for 54 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. All of his touchdowns came in the first half.
Chad Henne, making his third consecutive start and his first since being named the starter over a healthy Blaine Gabbert Wednesday, completed 29 of 45 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
The 49ers outgained the Jaguars, 398-318, and had 25 first downs to 20 for Jacksonville. The total yardage edge was 262-106 in the first half.
The 49ers' early surge also came after the Jaguars narrowly missed an opportunity.
After the Jaguars missed recovering a 49ers fumble on the opening kick, San Francisco drove 76 yards in eight plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a 19-yard touchdown run by running back Frank Gore. The Jaguars drove to midfield, but after a punt, Kaepernick capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run.
The 49ers extended a 14-0 first-quarter lead early in the second, with Kaepernick throwing two yards to tight end Vernon Davis to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive, then running nine yards to cap a six-plays, 63-yard drive.
Kaepernick's nine-yarder made it 28-0, 49ers, with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Josh Scobee capped the Jaguars' best drive of the second half – a 12-play, 60-yarder – with a 38-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the half.
The Jaguars missed a chance to get some momentum at the start of the second half when a 15-play drive to start the third quarter ended with an incomplete pass by Henne on 4th-and-goal from the 5. They then followed that with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Henne to wide receiver Mike Brown to cut the lead to 28-10 with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.
The 49ers quickly made it 35-10 when Gore scored on a 2-yard run in the ensuing series, and linebacker Dan Skuta returned a fumble by tight end Marcedes Lewis 45 yards early in the fourth quarter to make it 42-10.
The Jaguars will play at Wembley each of the next three seasons.
TURNING POINT
For the second consecutive game, the turning point was the first quarter. The Jaguars couldn't take advantage of an enthusiastic, pro-Jaguars crowd, allowing first-quarter touchdown runs by Gore and Kaepernick. It was the third consecutive game the Jaguars allowed touchdowns on the opponents' first two drives. The Jaguars never cut the lead under double digits after that.
* *
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Jaguars forced a fumble on the opening kickoff, with linebacker John Lotulelei knocking the ball loose from Kyle Williams. The 49ers recovered and drove 76 yards for a 19-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore.
- Brown's touchdown reception was the first of his NFL career.
LOOKING ON . . .
*Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch opened the game determined to run Maurice Jones-Drew, who had a season-low nine carries in a loss to San Diego last week. Jones-Drew rushed four times for 18 yards on the series, and the Jaguars moved to midfield before stalling and punting. Jones-Drew finished with 75 yards on 19 carries.
*The defense struggled mightily early, allowing touchdowns on the 49ers' first four drives, with the early San Francisco surge lasting until the 49ers led 28-0 halfway through the second quarter. The Jaguars stiffened after that, holding the 49ers scoreless much of the third quarter and forcing a fumble that led to the touchdown pass from Henne to Brown. For the game, the Jaguars allowed 221 yards rushing and 398 overall.
* *
INJURY WATCH
Jaguars guard Will Rackley was taken to the locker room in the second quarter after a hit to the head. He did not return.
The Jaguars entered the game relatively healthy, with only wide receiver Stephen Williams inactive because of injury. He was out with an Achilles injury.
The Jaguars' other inactives were quarterback Ricky Stanzi, offensive guard Jacques McClendon, wide receiver Stephen Burton, offensive tackle DeMarcus Love and defensive end Abry Jones.
