SANTA CLARA, Calif. – This was impressive. And important.

There's no other way to objectively describe the Jaguars’ 26-21 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Jaguars beat a previously unbeaten team, a perennially contending team, and did it on the road – and they won despite not being close to perfect.

That it wasn't "pretty" matters on this night not a whit.

What does matter is the 2025 Jaguars through four games are playing to the identity Head Coach Liam Coen covets. They're tough. They're physical. They compete. They force turnovers. They make plays at the end of games.

They did all this Sunday and are now 3-1 – and as September becomes October, they are tied for first place in the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts. Next: They play host to defending AFC Champion Kansas City on Monday Night Football.

This is the cool stuff. Let's get to it …

Donnie from Ponte Vedra, FL

John, I've always been a fan, since Day 1. But I think I'm actually starting to LIKE watching the Jaguars again, and this feels weird. Any advice?

Lean into it. There's a lot to like. This is a scrappy team that has trailed by my count for just nine minutes, ten seconds this season. They absolutely deserve to be 3-1 and look like they can contend for the AFC South this season. They easily could be 4-0. Does this feel weird compared to the recent past? Sure. It doesn't feel as if it will feel weird for long.

Stephen H from Greensboro, NC

Devin Lloyd is playing at an All-Pro level.

Pretty much.

Bryan from Stumptown

Yo, Grizz! Why are we punting in field-goal range?? Giving up points for Logan Cookie to kick it into the end zone is game mismanagement.

This was the much-ballyhooed, always-pertinent, sometimes-overemotional First Email of the Game. The Jaguars punted in the first quarter on fourth-and-13 from the 49ers 40. That would have been a 57-to-58-yard field goal. A 57-to-58-yard field goal is not a gimme in the NFL, Cam Little's decidedly strong leg notwithstanding.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Remember all the offseason concern about Campanile getting a HC gig? I think we all see why, because the turnover-forcing has been unlike anything I've ever seen. I'm all for players, not plays, but the numbers alone are just insane. How are we so opportunistic?

I don't remember concern over Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile getting a head-coaching job this past offseason, though the Jaguars' defense has done remarkably well forcing turnovers with 13 in the first four games of the season. How are they so good at this? They have eyes on the quarterback in Campanile's zone scheme and they're catching the ball well given the opportunity. Start there.

Chevin from Riverside, Blocksonville, Florida

Did you see the blocks employed by wide receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. and tight end Brenton Strange on the Travis Etienne touchdown?

Yes. Blocking on the exterior is critical to a great running game. Jaguars players who play on the exterior have bought into this concept and are blocking very well on the exterior. The Jaguars' running game is yielding the benefits of this and Etienne got the benefit Sunday on a 48-yard second-quarter touchdown run that gave the Jaguars a 7-3 lead.

Wil from Corpus Christi, TX

Brian Thomas Jr. can't seem to be able to catch a football and when he does catch one he can't keep his feet in bounds like most pro receivers would. It's time to let that guy go.

C'mon, Wil.

Anita from Springfield

Okay. So Sacksonville was a fitting name for 2017 defense. What's this one called? "Takeaway-ville" obviously just doesn't fit the same.

Indeed it does not. Obviously. But if the Jaguars continue forcing turnovers to the tune of more than three per game, people can call this defense whatever they want to call it.

Mike from Azores

Seriously John, Trevor Lawrence is in his fifth year as a starting quarterback. With 15 seconds and no time outs, how does he make the decision to dump a pass short to the running back? He should have taken two shots at the end zone. He just continues to make these kind of decisions, which make me at least question his football intelligence! What do you say?

I say the Jaguars led 14-6 at the end-of-first-half scenario you cite and Priority No. 1 in the red zone was to not turn the ball over so they at least could extend the lead to 17-6. It would have been great to get a touchdown. It would have felt really deflating to not get at least three points.

Jim from Jagsonville

Did Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot get a 15-yard Personal Foul? Then the other guy deserved it! Go Jaguars!! DUUUVALL!!!

Fair.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL

The energy the team played with was admirable. The West Coast does not appear to be a 'thing' anymore. The trend of takeaways is real, but so is the inexcusable penalties.

The Jaguars on Sunday won a road game against the San Franisco 49ers for the first time in franchise history. They won for a third time in six seasons on the West Coast. It's true that those "things" don't feel all that much like "things" anymore. It's starting to feel like a lot of Jaguars "things" may not be "things much longer. This feels different. If you don't feel that, I'm not certain what you're watching.

Jeremy from Wise, VA

I believe!

There's no reason not to believe at this point, and there's no reason you should be alone.