Game Overview ::
By >> Mike johnson
- Titans rookie QB Cam Ward has been held under seven yards per pass attempt in 12 of 13 games this season.
- Tony Pollard had his best game of the season last week against the Browns strong run defense.
- San Francisco is in the thick of the NFC playoff race and only a game behind the division leaders, while coming off their Week 14 bye.
- The 49ers are averaging 29 points per game since getting their offensive skill players back to full health in Week 11.
- Christian McCaffrey has 22 or more PPR points in 10 of 13 games this season, including three games of 35+.
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How tennessee Will Try To Win ::
The biggest issue for the Titans offense this season has seemingly been pass protection, as they rank 31st in the league in sacks allowed despite not trying to be an aggressive passing team. Most of the time game script hasn’t allowed Tennessee to play conservatively, however, as their inability to sustain drives and score points gives opponents so many possessions that inevitably they fall behind and defenses tee off on Cam Ward, whose receivers are one of the worst groups in the league and struggle to get open. The team is 2-11 and everything about this season has been disappointing after the excitement of adding Ward with the first selection in April’s draft. It is hard to expect a much different outcome, however, when you give him a questionable offensive line, mediocre defense, and arguably the worst group of skill players in the league. It is somewhat similar to the rookie season for Bryce Young with Carolina, where he simply didn’t have enough to overcome all the challenges on the roster.
Looking at things from a more optimistic perspective, the Titans are coming off their best offensive performance of the season against a very good Browns defense and this week they get to face a 49ers defense that is solid and well coached, but profiles in a way that in theory should be ideal for the Titans offense. The 49ers are last in the league in blitz rate and QB pressure rate, while also ranking 22nd in PFF coverage grades. If there was ever an offense who could benefit from facing a defense that doesn’t get much pressure, it is the Titans. The 49ers also rank 26th in PFF run defense grade and have given up strong games to opposing running backs in several instances in recent weeks. The biggest problem for the 49ers is their pass defense is designed in a way that relies on Nick Bosa and company getting pressure up front without needing to send extra rushers and their run defense is designed in a way that expects their front four to occupy blockers, while their linebackers (led by Fred Warner) cover ground and make plays on ball carriers. The 49ers have been without both Warner and Bosa for a long time now, but their defensive scheme/approach has not changed. All of that being said, they may have turned a corner as in their last two games they held the Browns and Panthers to an average of 8.5 points and 241 total yards per game.
The Titans have the third highest pass rate in the NFL, but that is mostly due to the game scripts they have faced. They are coming off a game where their running game provided production for basically the first time all year, as Tony Pollard had 25 rushes for 161 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland last week. Expect them to try to build on that success against this 49ers defense as they look to slow the game down and limit possessions. Pollard and Tyjae Spears had been splitting work, but the nod this week has to go to Pollard after a performance like that. When the Titans do take to the air, expect Ward’s primary targets to be fellow rookie Chimere Dike, who plays primarily in the slot, and tight ends Chig Okonkwo and Gunnar Helm. These three all do the majority of their work in the short to intermediate areas of the field and can make plays after the catch. The 49ers drop a lot of bodies into coverage and do a good job of protecting the boundaries and downfield areas, so Ward will gladly take what is given to him in the quick passing game. Ultimately the Titans will not be trying to get into a shootout with the 49ers in San Francisco, so we should expect them to be conservative with their tempo and try to extend drives and shorten the game.
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