Jaguars Shock 49ers in Santa Clara: Turnovers, Punt Return TD Flip Week 4 Upset

The San Francisco 49ers walked into Levi’s Stadium on Sunday with a perfect 3–0 record, a balanced roster, and a roaring home crowd expecting another routine win. Instead, they walked out with a harsh lesson: no matter how many yards you rack up, turnovers will bury you every time.

The Jacksonville Jaguars stormed in, forced four takeaways, and stole a 26–21 victory thanks to a suffocating defense and one electrifying punt return that flipped the script in Santa Clara.

Mistakes Make the Difference

On paper, this looked like a game the 49ers should’ve won. They outgained Jacksonville 389 yards to 325 and benefitted from 12 Jaguars penalties worth 90 yards. But stats are like mirrors in a funhouse—sometimes they lie.

Quarterback Brock Purdy was busy all afternoon, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a critical fumble late. San Francisco’s final drive ended not with a comeback but with Foyesade Oluokun pouncing on a Purdy fumble, sealing Jacksonville’s first road win of the year.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan could probably still hear the ball clanking on the turf when he walked into his postgame presser.

The Play That Broke Levi’s

With just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter, the 49ers trailed only 19–14 and had momentum on their side. Enter Parker Washington, who fielded a punt at his own 13, weaved through a couple of arm tackles, then hit the jets for an 87-yard punt return touchdown.

Levi’s Stadium went quiet—well, except for the patch of teal-and-gold fans losing their minds. It was Jacksonville’s first punt return touchdown since 2017, and it felt like the kind of back-breaker you don’t recover from.

San Francisco’s Offense: All Gas, No Finish

Christian McCaffrey continues to be the heartbeat of Shanahan’s offense, finishing with 141 total yards and a touchdown catch. But the ground game once again sputtered, with McCaffrey bottled up between the tackles and the 49ers still searching for their first rushing touchdown of 2025.

The Niners had opportunities. They moved the ball with chunk plays—Purdy connected with Brandon Aiyuk for several big gains, and tight end Jake Tonges caught a 21-yard score to make it 26–21 with 7:41 remaining. But every time they inched close to seizing control, Jacksonville’s defense swiped it back.

Think of it like trying to unlock your front door after a long day, only to realize you left your keys inside. That was San Francisco’s red zone offense.

Jaguars’ Opportunistic Identity

Give Jacksonville credit: they didn’t need Trevor Lawrence to throw for 350 yards to win. The Jags leaned on defense, turnovers, and field position. Their defense has now forced at least three takeaways in every game this season, and against San Francisco they turned them into 17 points.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. provided enough balance, rushing for tough yards and keeping the chains moving. Washington’s punt return provided the fireworks, but it was the defense that played closer.

What’s Next

The loss drops the 49ers to 3–1, a reminder that being the better team on paper doesn’t count if you keep handing out footballs like Halloween candy. They’ll have little time to sulk, with a Thursday night showdown against the Rams looming.

The biggest storyline? Purdy’s health. The quarterback has been battling a toe injury, and the short turnaround means Shanahan may have to weigh whether to push him or lean on backup Mac Jones if the limp worsens.

Jacksonville, meanwhile, improves to 3–1 under coach Liam Coen and looks like a team that can win ugly—and sometimes, ugly wins are the prettiest kind.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t even particularly pretty football. But it was the kind of game that reminds us why we watch every week: big swings, momentum shifts, and one punt return that sent a stadium into stunned silence.

The 49ers still have the talent to make noise in January, but for one Sunday in late September, it was Jacksonville celebrating on their field, proof that defense and special teams can still win games in today’s NFL.

Or, as one fan muttered on the way out of Levi’s: “We gave it away.”

And honestly? He wasn’t wrong.

FAQ

Q: What was the final score of the 49ers vs. Jaguars game?
A: Jacksonville won 26–21 at Levi’s Stadium.

Q: How many turnovers did the 49ers commit?
A: Four, including two interceptions and two fumbles.

Q: Who made the game-changing play?
A: Jaguars WR Parker Washington with an 87-yard punt return TD.

Q: What’s next for San Francisco?
A: A Thursday night matchup against the Rams, with Brock Purdy’s toe injury in focus.

👉 Sound off, Faithful: Did the Niners lose this game, or did Jacksonville simply outplay them?