SANTA CLARA – Their ugly-sweater Christmas party is done. The annual team picture is taken. A long-awaited bye in Week 14 has come and gone.
Time for the 49ers to finish a playoff push.
Currently slotted as the No. 6 seed, the 49ers (9-4) close their regular season with 3-of-4 games at Levi’s Stadium, starting Sunday there against the bottom-dwelling Tennessee Titans (2-11).
“This will be a big game for us to see, ‘Hey, can we go out and score a ton of points?’ My expectation is ‘yes’ and my hope is ‘yes,’ ” tight end George Kittle said. “It’s that time of year you’ve got to show up, otherwise we’re going to be out of it.”
San Francisco 49ers George Kittle #85 practices at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The 49ers are on a three-game win streak, but their season average of 23.6 points per game is scrawnier than any of coach Kyle Shanahan’s four previous playoff teams, ranking them mid (16th) in the NFL.
The Titans are 31st at just 15.5 points per game behind quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. They’re getting outscored a league-worst 12 points per game.
Here are five ways to ensure the 49ers do not get upset by the visiting Titans:
1. TACKLE BETTER
Last game, the 49ers allowed 94 first-half rushing yards in Cleveland before making adjustments and prevailing 26-8 on Nov. 30.
“The bye week came at a perfect time. Our guys were getting a little tired, which probably led to the, you know we had a lot of missed tackles, for example, against Cleveland,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “There’s a direct correlation between being tired and missed tackles for football teams throughout the course of the year.”
Third-string linebacker Curtis Robinson again will be relaying Saleh’s calls in the huddle for a third straight game in place of Tatum Bethune (out; ankle), all while Fred Warner accelerates his ankle rehabilitation for an improbable playoff return.
Titans running back Tony Pollard is coming off a career-best game, having rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns through a cavernous Browns’ defense last Sunday. Pollard sustained a fractured lower leg three years ago at Levi’s Stadium when tackled by Jimmie Ward in a playoff game with the Cowboys. Saleh is also on the lookout for Pollard’s backup, Tyjae Spears, who’s a greater threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
2. McCAFFREY’S STATUS
Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice this past week with an illness but it is not expected to curtail his availability Sunday. Otherwise, Brian Robinson is coming off his most productive month with the 49ers and could serve as a bridge until McCaffrey feels fully healthy.
As for McCaffrey’s bid for 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving, he has 151 rushing yards and 194 receiving yards to go. Those numbers are getting overshadowed, however, by McCaffrey’s resurgence across the goal line. He has eight rushing touchdowns the past eight games after none the first five games.
“He’s always had a nose for the end zone,” left tackle Trent Williams said, “and he’s enabled offensive coordinators to do a larger array of things, put him different spots, to help get high touchdown numbers.”
The Titans have allowed at least one rushing touchdown in every game this season except one (vs. Houston), and their run defense ranks 18th (122.5 yards per game).
3. SPECIAL TEAMS SPOTLIGHT
The 49ers welcome kicker Eddy Piñeiro back from a two-game hiatus, having strained his hamstring on a point-after kick Nov. 16. About those pesky PATs: Piñeiro is 18-of-22 on them, which isn’t great but is masked by his 22-of-22 excellence on field-goal attempts.
Piñeiro has never kicked in the playoffs, and en route there this season, he’ll have three home games and one indoor Dec. 22 at Indianapolis.
“Playing meaningful games is awesome,” Piñeiro said. “Here towards the end of the year, the weather gets windier and it’s tougher to kick in those conditions, but it’s fun and I’m happy to be back.”
Piñeiro’s kickoffs also could play a critical factor in this game. Chimere Dike leads the NFL with 1,323 yards on 51 kick returns. Punter Thomas Morstead and his coverage unit also must be on point as Dike leads the NFL with a 19.9-yard average per punt return, with two going for touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy #13 throws during practice at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
4. PURDY’S PROGRESS
Brock Purdy has quarterbacked the 49ers to three straight wins in as many games since his right big toe was healthy enough to return from a six-game hiatus. Last home game, however, Purdy chucked up three interceptions.
Wearing only a small splint for his big toe, Purdy’s mobility seems to have improved, and, by virtue, so should his mechanics and accuracy, as he acknowledged. “Obviously it’s my right toe, and so driving off that, like all that, that really does impact everything with my mechanics and all that,” Purdy said. “Coming back, it was about getting that right and getting back to how I’ve played ball before. … I’ve got to finish out strong.”
The Titans have just six interceptions all season: three by linebacker Cody Barton, two by safety Xavier Woods, and one by Roger McCreary, who’s been traded to the Rams.
As adept at Purdy was last game at throwing away passes and avoiding the Browns’ Myles Garrett (one sack), this game’s biggest challenge will come up the gut from Jeffrey Simmons, a seventh-year veteran defensive tackle who has eight sacks and 18 quarterback hits. On the edges are Jihad Ward (4 ½ sacks) and former 49er Arden Key, who has four sacks and most often will oppose right tackle Colton McKivitz.
San Francisco 49ers Renardo Green makes a catch during practice at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
5. BAY AREA HABITS
Ward hasn’t had much success as a No. 1 overall draft pick, and the Titans fired his first coach, Brian Callahan, after a 1-5 start. But not only is Ward coming off a road win (albeit in Cleveland), he is coming back to the Bay Area, where he pulled off a marquee comeback last year to rally Miami past Cal.
While he’s thrown just nine touchdown passes this season and seven interceptions, Ward’s been sacked 49 times, tied with the Raiders’ Geno Smith for most in the NFL.
Ward’s No. 1 target has been rookie Elic Ayomanor, a fourth-round pick out of Stanford. He’s been targeted 67 times, yet totaled just 30 receptions (353 yards, three touchdowns). Ayomanor praised Ward to Tennessee reporters: “I like his mentality, how he approaches the game, the way he approaches winning.”
A silly subplot this week in Tennessee was what was said after their win in Cleveland. It started with Ward saying how the victory masked the Titans’ flaws and they need to improve. On the flight home, Key commandeered the intercom and told teammates: “You all enjoy this! Don’t listen to what Cam said! You all enjoy this! It’s hard to win in this league.” That story was relayed by Titans sideline reporter Will Boling, who reportedly has since had his plane privileges revoked.