It was a one-score game early in the fourth quarter, and the New Orleans Saints defense had a prime opportunity to give their offense a shot at a go-ahead drive.

And then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones stepped up into a clean pocket and threaded the needle in the New Orleans Cover 2 zone on third-and-11, dropping a pass behind the linebackers to Jauan Jennings, who took it to the house for a 42-yard touchdown.

It was the last and biggest blow the 49ers landed against the Saints defense on crucial third-down plays in the Saints' 26-21 loss . At the point Jones and Jennings connected, San Francisco had converted eight of its 12 third downs.

Four of those conversions, including the Jennings touchdown, came when the 49ers faced a third-and-10 or longer. That is coming on th

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