Santa Clara – Coming off the bye week, the 49ers entered Sunday’s matchup focused squarely on one goal: a Super Bowl run. Opponent and record were secondary, as San Francisco approached the contest with its trademark discipline and intensity. That mindset translated onto the field, where the 49ers controlled the game from start to finish in a 37–24 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
San Francisco set the tone on its opening drive, methodically marching down the field before Brock Purdy was tested in the red zone. Facing pressure from the Titans’ defense, Purdy capped the 12-play drive with a perfectly placed 4-yard touchdown pass to a tightly covered Jauan Jennings, giving the 49ers an early lead.
The 49ers’ offense was nearly unstoppable, finishing the game without a single punt, marking the first time this season San Francisco failed to punt and the first such performance since Dec. 30, 2024, against Detroit. The unit also converted its first seven third-down attempts, consistently extending drives and keeping Tennessee’s defense on the field.
“I think we did a good job on third downs and sustained some long drives,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When you convert on third down and stay on the field, good things usually happen. It was a great job by the guys.”
Running back Christian McCaffrey led the ground attack with 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, while adding a 14-yard reception. His 1-yard rushing score extended San Francisco’s lead to 14–3 and marked his ninth touchdown of the season and the 61st of his career.
Tennessee responded with a field goal in the opening quarter and narrowed the gap in the second when Cam Ward connected with Gunnar Helm on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The Titans had an opportunity to tie the game just before halftime, but the 49ers’ defense held firm. With two seconds remaining, Tennessee’s 50-yard field goal attempt fell short, sending San Francisco into the break with a 17–10 advantage.
Jauan Jennings delivered a standout performance, finishing with three receptions for 37 yards and a season-high two touchdowns. The outing pushed him to a single-season career-best seven receiving touchdowns and 20 touchdown catches for his career. It also marked the fourth multi-touchdown game of Jennings’ career and his first since scoring twice against Chicago on Dec. 8, 2024.
San Francisco seized control early in the third quarter when Jennings secured his second touchdown of the game on a 13-yard pass from Brock Purdy. Purdy continued to dissect the Titans’ defense, eclipsing 235 passing yards and throwing his third touchdown on a precise strike to George Kittle with 2:10 remaining in the quarter.
The Titans caught a break in the fourth quarter when Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons stripped Purdy from behind, forcing a fumble that Kaiir Elam recovered and returned nine yards. Tennessee capitalized on the turnover as Ward connected with Van Jefferson on a 43-yard pass; Jefferson was injured on the play. Simmons then reported as an eligible receiver, and Ward found him on a 1-yard touchdown pass to pull the Titans closer making it a 31-17.
“We let them extend plays, and a lot of it was self-inflicted,” Simmons on how they couldn’t stop the 49ers offense. “They’re a good team that plays hard, but we have to be better. When we have chances to keep the quarterback in the pocket and get him down, it takes all 11 of us to finish the job.”
The Titans caught a break in the fourth quarter when Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons stripped Purdy from behind, forcing a fumble that Kaiir Elam recovered and returned nine yards. Tennessee capitalized on the turnover as Ward connected with Van Jefferson on a 43-yard pass; Jefferson was injured on the play. Simmons then reported as an eligible receiver, and Ward found him on a 1-yard touchdown pass to pull the Titans closer making it a 31-17.
“We’ve been practicing that play for a couple of weeks, and I didn’t expect Cam to throw it to me in the flat,” Simmons explained. “When I saw him scrambling, I knew I had to adjust and make the catch. He made an incredible throw across his body, and I was just focused on holding onto the ball. I’m glad I made it, and hopefully they keep targeting me there.”
Tennessee pressured the 49ers into attempting a 51-yard field goal, which was initially good but wiped out by an unnecessary roughness penalty on Jeffery Simmons, giving San Francisco a first down. Eddy Pineiro then converted a 37-yard field goal to extend the 49ers’ lead to 37–17. With 1:10 remaining, Tony Pollard rushed for a 6-yard touchdown for the Titans, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 49ers dominant performance.
Photo by 49ers/Twitter
