The 49ers came off their bye week to host the struggling Tennessee Titans — owners of the NFL’s worst record — and handled business while in the throes of a crowded playoff race in the NFC.
They beat Tennessee 37-24, improving to 10-4, while Brock Purdy had his best showing of his season hampered by turf toe. Jauan Jennings scored two touchdowns, Ricky Pearsall had his best game since September and the defense played well enough throughout to avoid a late comeback.
Here are our five takeaways from San Francisco’s win.
Brock Purdy with best game his season
The 49ers scored points on their first five possessions while Purdy was in full control against Tennessee’s 29th-ranked defense. He hit 10 of 15 passes in the first half for 135 yards and opened the second half hitting all three throws for 65 yards, including his second touchdown pass of the game to Jennings.
Purdy showed off his mobility with a 26-yard run in the third quarter in which he got space down the sideline by pump faking a pass and causing a Titans defender to leap, and then showed the ball to linebacker Cody Barton before stepping out of bounds. The drive finished with a fading, jump pass on third-and-goal from the 1 to George Kittle, giving Purdy his third TD throw of the game, matching his season high.
Purdy finished 23 of 30 for 295 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. His 140.3 passer rating was his highest of the year.
Pearsall injured, again, as Jennings has big day
The big news over the weekend for San Francisco was the placement of receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list, which ended any chance he would return to the 49ers this season and set up his likely departure from the team in the offseason.
It also further cemented 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall as the future of the team’s receiver position. But Pearsall’s status looked perilous when he exited the game Sunday after the first snap, an 8-yard catch in the left flat, when it appeared Kevin Wintson Jr. landed awkwardly on Pearsall’s lower legs. It had the look of a hip-drop tackle which the NFL worked to outlaw throughout last offseason. The league said the tackles would result in 15-yard penalties. There was no flag on the play.
Pearsall appeared particularly frustrated given he missed six games because of a PCL strain in his right knee. He immediately went to the blue medical tent and remained on the sideline while the 49ers finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown catch from Jennings.
Pearsall made the biggest play of the opening drive of the second half with a 38-yard catch and run on a crossing route that set up Jennings’ second touchdown, which made it a 14-point game. He finished with 6 catches for a game-high 96 yards.
But Pearsall limped off the field after making an impressive third-down conversion with 4:42 remaining. He fell while coming back to catch a pass on third-and-11, and then went back into the blue tent to get looked at.
Jennings, meanwhile, made the most of his opportunities. He scored touchdowns on two of his three receptions. Jennings is in the final year of his contract, making him a player to keep an eye on down the stretch, particularly now with a void at the position after Aiyuk’s fallout.
Playoffs looking more and more likely
The 49ers entered the day as the No. 6 seed in the NFC. And depending on your probability model of choice, held a 90% to 94% chance at reaching the postseason. The number should go up now that San Francisco is up to 10 wins with three games remaining while the Packers, who were the No. 2 seed, lost to the Broncos; and the Rams held off the Lions, who dropped to 8-6 after beginning the day one spot behind San Francisco in the No. 8 seed.
Sunday was the first game of December for Kyle Shanahan. It has been his second-most winning month since taking the job in 2017. Shanahan’s winning percentage in November is 61% including the 4-1 mark last month. For December games, Shanahan has logged a 22-15 record (59%).
The 49ers had a 34-36 record combined in September and October, and 41-27 in November and December. Suffice to say, Shanahan’s team playing well in the second half of the season is on brand and could help bring some momentum rolling into the playoffs.
McCaffrey’s quiet day after injury scare
Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers’ do-everything offensive weapon, was active for the game after landing on Saturday’s injury report with a back issue.
Christian McCaffrey, No. 23, runs with the ball against Kendell Brooks of the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Santa Clara. Ezra Shaw Getty Images
McCaffrey came in leading the NFL with 322 offensive touches, including a team-leading 85 catches, 44 more than second-place Jennings. Of course, any time McCaffrey injury news pops up is notable for the 49ers after what happened in 2024 when he unexpectedly missed the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
McCaffrey scored his 14th touchdown of the season early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run that made it 14-3. It was an otherwise quiet game for the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year. He had 73 yards and averaged just 3.3 per carry. He also only had 1 catch going for 14 yards.
The good news? The 49ers had a season-high 430 yards despite McCaffrey’s modest day.
49ers benefiting from lackluster QB opponents
Two things are true when it comes to the 49ers’ impressive record despite battling injuries throughout the year: Shanahan and Robert Saleh are as strong a duo any head coach and defensive coordinator pairing in the NFL; and the 49ers are benefitting from their schedule of also-ran quarterback opponents.
The latest on Sunday was rookie Cam Ward, the first overall pick of the Titans last spring who came into Sunday ranked 33rd among qualified passers in QBR (31.0). San Francisco had already beaten six signal callers ranked 15th or worst coming into the week including Shedeaur Sanders 19.9 (60th), Kyler Murray 46.5 (37th), Jacoby Brissett 43.8 (25), Bryce Young 45.9 (24), Spencer Rattler 49.8 (21) and Michael Penix 56.6 (15).
However, the 49ers came into the game ranked dead last in sacks, with 16, while missing Nick Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams to ACL tears. And even the league’s least productive quarterbacks can be effective against lackluster pass rushes. That was the case when Ward had all the time he needed to step into a 34-yard touchdown throw to Gunnar Helm.
Gunnar Helm, No. 84 of the Tennessee Titans, dives into the end zone for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Santa Clara. Ezra Shaw Getty Images
Ward had a chance to tie the game late in the first half, a snap after Malik Mustapha dropped a would-be interception, when he missed a wide-open Van Jefferson for what would have been a 40-yard touchdown while he was trailed by cornerback Renardo Green. The drive ended with a missed 50-yard field goal.
The 49ers didn’t pay for their two defensive mistakes in the dropped interception and blown coverage.
Ward didn’t show much throughout the game, finishing 18 of 29 for 170 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Titans were just 3 of 9 on third down. They scored touchdowns on their final two possessions but the game never felt in danger.