The San Francisco 49ers are heating up at just the right time. With a 37-24 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, they’ve now rattled off four straight victories and improved to 11-4 on the season.
That keeps them firmly in the playoff picture as the NFC’s No. 6 seed, just a half-game behind both the Seahawks and Rams in a suddenly tight NFC West race. With three games to go, they’ve built a two-game cushion over the Lions in the standings and are in solid position to punch their postseason ticket.
This one was all about offensive execution. The 49ers scored on seven of their eight drives - that’s not a typo - and looked in complete control for most of the afternoon.
The only blemish? A strip-fumble.
Outside of that, it was a near-flawless showing from a unit that’s rounding into form at the right time.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from Sunday’s win - starting with the guy under center who’s stacking strong performances when it matters most.
Brock Purdy is Building Momentum
Two weeks ago against Cleveland, Brock Purdy didn’t light up the stat sheet, but his decision-making stood out. He avoided negative plays, got rid of the ball when he needed to, and didn’t put it in harm’s way - the kind of smart, efficient quarterbacking that wins games in December.
This week? He took it to another level.
Purdy threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, adding 44 yards on the ground. He was the engine behind San Francisco’s offensive machine, leading scoring drives on all but one possession. From the opening whistle, he was locked in - completing 5-of-6 passes for 50 yards on the first drive, capped off with a four-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings.
What stood out was how Purdy operated both within the structure of the offense and when things broke down. He made plays from the pocket, extended others with his legs, and kept the chains moving. Seven of his completions went for 20+ yards, and he was especially dangerous on third downs - which brings us to the next point.
Third-Down Execution Was Elite
The 49ers have been one of the NFL’s best third-down teams all season, and that trend continued on Sunday. They converted 9-of-15 third downs and their only fourth-down attempt. That included a crucial 3rd-and-13 where Purdy extended the play and found Ricky Pearsall to keep the drive alive.
This wasn’t just about converting in key moments - it was about sustaining drives and controlling the tempo. Four of San Francisco’s possessions went 10 plays or longer. They also had scoring drives of seven and eight plays, methodically moving the ball and keeping the Titans’ defense on the field.
On the other side, Tennessee struggled on third down, going just 3-of-9. But in the first half, the Titans didn’t even need to get to third down all that often - and that’s where the red flag comes in for San Francisco.
Run Defense Remains a Concern
Let’s call it what it was - the 49ers got gashed on the ground. Tennessee racked up 136 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry, with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears combining for 138 yards on just 17 carries. That’s 8.1 yards per attempt from the Titans’ top two backs - and it’s a big reason this game stayed competitive into the second half.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider Tennessee came into the game averaging just 4.1 yards per carry and ranked 31st in the league in rushing yards per game. This wasn’t a top-tier rushing attack. But they looked like one on Sunday, consistently finding space and putting the 49ers in uncomfortable spots on early downs.
Eventually, the scoreboard forced the Titans to abandon the run as they trailed by three scores entering the fourth quarter. But the issue is clear: against better offenses - and San Francisco has three tough matchups left on the schedule - this kind of run defense won’t cut it.
What’s Next?
With the offense firing on all cylinders and Purdy playing some of his best football of the year, the 49ers look like a team ready to make noise in January. But the run defense is a lingering concern that could become a major issue if it’s not cleaned up quickly.
Still, with three games left and a playoff berth within reach, San Francisco is in a strong position. If they can tighten things up on the defensive side, especially up front, this is a team no one will want to face come postseason time.