The San Francisco 49ers return from their late bye week in Week 14 to face the Tennessee Titans at home, ahead of a stretch that will define the team’s playoff outlook, as they are essentially locked into the postseason. Although this matchup is circled as one of the easiest games on the schedule, there are potential pitfalls.
Considering this is the healthiest point the team has been all season and how resilient it has been throughout the year, expectations have shifted back toward a possible Super Bowl push. Proving that against a clearly inferior opponent will be the main storyline to watch this week.
49ers vs. Titans Week 15 Matchup Review
The goals of the two teams entering this matchup are entirely different. While the 49ers are looking not only to secure their spot in the postseason but also to chase a division title and potentially the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Titans have endured a wasted season, changing head coach midyear and sitting with just two wins.
Even so, the promise shown by Cam Ward has been impressive. Despite the clear mistakes every rookie makes, he has proven capable of making tough throws on the field, showing that his selection with the first overall pick was not a mistake and that the plan is to continue developing him.
Therefore, even if this game is not pivotal for the Titans, earning a road win against a playoff team in December would represent a significant milestone that Ward is still seeking in his career, having beaten only the Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns so far this season.
How Can the 49ers Win
So far, Ward is the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, with 49 sacks, which has been a reflection of Tennessee’s poor offensive line but also of the quarterback’s inexperience in avoiding sacks and escaping pressure. San Francisco is the team with the fewest sacks in the league this season, with just 16, and this could be the game to boost that production.
The 49ers’ defense is only ranked 24th in the NFL according to the PFSN DEFi, and the losses of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner have not been adequately replaced. Still, it will be facing the second-worst offense in the league, according to PFSN OFFi, and is coming off two straight games in which it allowed fewer than 10 points. The defense will be the key factor here.
How Can the Titans Win
Despite the Titans’ offense being one of the worst units in the NFL, the running game dominated against Cleveland last week, with Tony Pollard rushing for 161 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers will be without linebacker Tatum Bethune for another week, which could create a favorable matchup for Pollard.
In addition, the opposite of what was said in the previous section can be applied here. Much of what explains Ward’s below-average performance has been the constant pressure he faces, and if San Francisco’s defense fails to replicate that pressure, this could finally be the game in which he shines with volume.
Prediction
San Francisco has already proven to be a team capable of handling the absence of key players and, schematically, keeping opponents within its game plan, especially against weaker teams. I expect a comfortable San Francisco victory, 31-13.
