JACKSONVILLE –The Jaguars travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers at Levi's Stadium this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Here are five key stats on quarterback Blake Bortles and how he impacts this Week 16 matchup:
- Blake the Builder: Last Sunday, Bortles completed 21 of 29 passes (72.4 completion percentage) for 326 yards and three touchdowns for a 143.8 passer rating. His 143.8 passer rating marked the highest passer rating of his 60-game career and his fifth game this season with a passer rating of at least 100.0. When Bortles registers a passer rating of 100-plus, the Jaguars are 8-3, including a 5-0 record this season. Bortles will look to exploit the 49ers pass defense, which ranks 19 in the NFL.
- Mr. December: Since Week 13, Bortles has completed 65 of 91 passes for 903 yards, seven touchdowns, zero interceptions and a passer rating of 128.6, while being sacked just twice. Bortles' 128.6 passer rating from Week 13-15 leads the league, and he is the only quarterback in the NFL entering Week 16 to throw for at least 250 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions in three consecutive games. If Bortles throws for at least 250 yards and two touchdowns without an interception this Sunday at San Francisco, he will become just the fourth quarterback since 2000 to accomplish the feat in at least four games in a row, joining Tom Brady (three separate occasions), Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Russell Wilson.
- Threes a Crowd: Â In Week 15, Bortles threw three passing touchdowns in the first half against Houston: a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Mickens in the first quarter, a 14-yard touchdown to Mickens in the second quarter and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Keelan Cole in the second quarter. Bortles became the second quarterback in franchise history to throw three touchdown passes in the first half of a game, joining former Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell (September 9, 2001 vs. Pittsburgh). The 49ers have allowed 25 passing touchdowns this season, and Bortles currently has seven passing touchdowns in December alone. Jacksonville is also expecting veteran wide receiver Allen Hurns to return to game action this week, which will provide an additional weapon for Bortles and the ascending Jaguars offense.
- Red Zone Reindeer: Bortles' three passing touchdowns against the Texans in Week 15 were all in the red zone. This season, Bortles has completed 26 of 47 passes for 186 yards, 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions. His 104.3 passer rating in the red zone is the sixth-best red zone passer rating in the NFL (min. 40 pass attempts), trailing Carson Wentz, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Case Keenum and Jared Goff. This season, San Francisco has allowed 29 total red zone touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL. Bortles has also posted two rushing touchdowns in the red zone this season. Â
- Bortles' Ball Protection: Bortles didn't commit a turnover and wasn't sacked when the Jaguars faced the Seahawks in Week 13, the fifth time he has achieved the feat in this career. Bortles' record is 5-0 in these games. He has accomplished the feat three times this season: vs. Houston in Week 1, vs. Baltimore in Week 3 and vs. Cincinnati in Week 9. In 2017, Bortles is the only quarterback to not turn the ball over or get sacked in four games in the league and if he does so again on Sunday, he will join Joe Flacco (2014) and Peyton Manning (2006-07) as the only quarterbacks to not turn the ball over and not get sacked in five games in a single season since 2000. Â Â
Every Friday during the 2017 NFL regular season, Jaguars public relations assistant Gaby Moran will bring five key stats about the Jaguars heading into the game on Sunday. You can follow her on Twitter @gabsmoran.