LONDON – Officially, this was a home game for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But a red-clad crowd of 83,559 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday night was treated to the epitome of this generation of 49ers football.
And it's safe to assume they'd like to see more.
San Francisco's offense ended each of its first four possessions with touchdowns to jump out – and stay – ahead in the team's 42-10 victory over the still winless Jacksonville Jaguars.
San Francisco (6-2) last opposed Jacksonville (0-8) in 2009. The teams played games in London as part of the NFL's International Series in 2010.
The better team here in 2013 isn't up for debate. The 49ers have won five straight games for the first time since its eight-game winning streak in 2011 and scored 31 or more points in all five, tying a team record for more consecutive games with 30 or more.
Thanks to an early trick play, well executed blocking schemes and quarterback Colin Kaepernick's adeptness on the run, the 49ers gained a 28-0 advantage with the scoreboard clock showing 7:49 in the second quarter. The offense didn't punt away a possession until its fifth, with 3:06 remaining.
The British Jaguars fans – helping to comprise the fourth-largest paid attendance at an NFL game this season – finally had reason to wave their freebie souvenir flags when kicker Josh Scobee nailed a 38-yard field goal with 10 seconds left before halftime.
Jacksonville was forced to play from behind from the very start.
On the second play of the game, 49ers fullback Bruce Miller camped out a foot from the sideline when San Francisco broke its huddle. As a result, Miller went uncovered and turned a soft Kaepernick pass into a career-high 43-yard gain.
After his 4th-and-1 conversion at the Jaguars, running back Frank Gore scored the game's first half points on a 19-yard run through a sizeable hole.
Running lanes were also open for Kaepernick. Thanks to lead blocks from left tackle Joe Staley and Gore, who took out two players including Jags linebacker Geno Hayes, the 49ers quarterback ran a designed play to his left 12 yards into the end zone. He stretched his 6-foot-5 frame to the pylon.
Kaepernick ended the team's first drive of the second quarter with his arm. A play-action fake to Gore allowed tight end Vernon Davis to find the back of the end zone – where Kaepernick found him for a two-yard touchdown toss and a 21-0 advantage.
The Kaepernick-Davis tandem was paramount for the team's fourth touchdown. The latter found the
former connections of 31 yards and 19 yards. Then Kaepernick again ran to his left, the side of the field that only Davis occupied – the tight end locked up Jags safety Jonathan Cyprien to allow his quarterback past the goal line from nine yards out.
The two rushing touchdown performance is Kaepernick's first in 23 NFL games. His stat line on Sunday: 54 rushing yards on seven carries and 164 passing yards on 10 completions in 16 attempts.
By intermission, he and the 49ers had scored their 28 points on 38 plays.
Given a 25-point lead to start the third quarter, it was the defense's turn to dominate.
The bend-but-don't-break unit didn't disappoint, halting the Jaguars's first possession on fourth down at the 49ers five-yard line.
Gore would avenge his ensuing fumble, which led to the Jaguars only touchdown on the second drive of the third. After a 47-yard kick return from reserve Anthony Dixon and a 41-yard scamper by backup Kendall Hunter, Gore scored from two yards out.
Gore, who rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries overall, had never before recorded two touchdowns in a second consecutive game. The franchise's all-time leading rusher has seven scores in eight games this year. He had eight all of last year.
The defense scored San Francisco's sixth touchdown. Inside linebacker Joe Staley forced tight end Marcedes Lewis' fumble, and outside linebacker Dan Skuta returned it 43 yards down the left sideline.
The score was a career first for Skuta, who split time with rookie Corey Lemonier on the outside.
The 49ers defense held its ground again with five minutes left in the game, shutting down a 4th-and-goal play at the three-yard line.
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