NASHVILLE – The Titans face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Levi's Stadium.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Cam Begins Final Stretch
Cam Ward has started all 13 games for the Titans, who now have four games left in the 2025 season. Ward's season has provided some ups and downs, and plenty of learning moments for the rookie quarterback. The Titans would love to see Ward finish the year on a high note, while building confidence heading into 2026. Ward has 2,468 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions on the year, but he's in the bottom five in the league in passer rating (74.9) and sacks taken (49). Ward is coming off his first career game with multiple passing touchdowns. It was also his first game without multiple sacks taken. After scoring their first opening drive touchdown of the year this past Sunday, the Titans, who have scored at least three points on their opening drive in four straight games, would love to start fast and do it again. The 49ers, however, haven't allowed points in the opponent's opening drive in three straight games, which is tied for the third-longest active streak in the NFL.
Keep on Running
Titans running back Tony Pollard ran for a career-high 161 yards this past Sunday against the Browns, including a 65-yard touchdown run. It was the best rushing performance of the season for the Titans, who had struggled running the football in previous weeks. Can the Titans sustain momentum in the Bay Area? The Titans will try -- Pollard has accounted for 65.5 percent of Tennessee's carries in 2025, which is sixth in the NFL. The 49ers are allowing 4.18 yards per carry (15th in NFL) and 103.8 rushing yards (12th) per game this season.
Don't Let McCaffrey Bounce Back
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in touches per game (24.8) and he's third in the NFL in scrimmage yards per game (127.3) in 2025. McCaffrey ranks third in the NFL in carries (237) and fifth in receptions (85). So, expect the 49ers to continue riding McCaffrey. The Titans need to limit McCaffrey's effectiveness, which the Browns were able to do the last time out. McCaffrey managed just 74 scrimmage yards in Week 13, which was only his 2nd game in 2025 with fewer than 80 scrimmage yards. Coming off a bye, McCaffrey will be rested, and ready to go. The Titans, who allow 350.92 yards per game in 2025 (26th in the NFL) and 5.8 yards per play (27th), need to keep him from getting back on track.
Jeffery Simmons and the Pass Rush
The Titans recorded a whopping 41 quarterback pressures last week in Cleveland, with Jeffery Simmons (11), Arden Key (9) and Jihad Ward (8) leading the way. Simmons has eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss on the season, which are both first among defensive tackles. Simmons also has a career-high 18 quarterback hits, with four games to play. The 49ers, and quarterback Brock Purdy, will be focused on slowing down Simmons on Sunday. The Titans would love to pressure these 49ers into some mistakes, something other teams have been able to do – the 49ers have as many giveaways (9) in the five games Purdy has started as they had in eight games started by Mac Jones in 2025. Simmons, by the way, has 306 QB pressures over the last five seasons, which is second only to Chris Jones (392).
Special Teams
Titans special teams coordinator John Fassel has made special teams fun again in Tennessee. The Titans blocked a punt for the first time since 2012 last week, and it was just the latest special moment for this bunch. Titans return man Chimere Dike leads the NFL with 1,984 all-purpose yards, and he's on pace for 2,594 yards, which would be the fourth most in a season in the Super Bowl era. Of course breaking another long one would raise his average, and potentially set a record-breaking season in motion. Dike is worth watching every week.
Two in a Row
Can the Titans win two in a row? We'll have to wait to see the scoreboard at the end to find out the answer to this one. It's hard to believe, but the Titans haven't won back-to-back games since October of 2022. The Titans have won 12 games since then, but 12 straight times they haven't been able to win the following week. This is an ugly streak that eventually needs to end. It won't be easy this Sunday – the Titans are 12 ½ point underdogs in this one.
