As the San Francisco 49ers head into Week 15, they find themselves in a spot every contender hopes for this late in the season: at home, facing a 2-11 Tennessee Titans team still trying to figure out who they are. The Niners, sitting at 9-4, are squarely in the NFC playoff picture, and this week isn’t about making a statement or lighting up the scoreboard - it’s about taking care of business.
This isn’t a game where Kyle Shanahan needs to dig deep into his bag of tricks. No need for gadget plays or a 300-yard passing day.
What the 49ers need right now is something far more straightforward: clean, consistent football. The kind of game where execution, not flash, is the difference.
The Titans, for all their struggles this season, are still a professional football team with pride - and a young quarterback in Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, who’s trying to find his footing in a tough situation. They’ve had a hard time protecting him, generating big plays, or sustaining drives. But if the 49ers get sloppy - penalties, turnovers, missed assignments - they risk doing the one thing you absolutely can’t do against a team like this: give them hope.
For San Francisco, the formula is simple. Establish the run early and often.
Christian McCaffrey remains the heartbeat of this offense, and when he’s rolling, everything else falls into place. His ability to churn out tough yards, move the chains, and keep the offense on schedule is exactly what the Niners need to methodically wear down a Tennessee defense that’s been on its heels most of the year.
The play-action game should naturally open up once McCaffrey and the run game start to work. That’s when Brock Purdy can start picking apart the middle of the field - hitting Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, or George Kittle in stride, letting them turn short gains into chunk plays.
None of it needs to be forced. Just stick to the rhythm, trust the system, and let the talent do what it does best.
Up front, the offensive line has a chance to control the game. They’ve been a stabilizing force all season, and against a Titans pass rush that hasn’t consistently gotten home, this is a matchup that favors the Niners in the trenches. Give Purdy time, give McCaffrey lanes, and the rest should take care of itself.
Defensively, the mission is just as clear. Cam Ward is still learning the speed and complexity of NFL defenses.
The last thing the 49ers want to do is give him confidence. That means staying disciplined in pass rush lanes, keeping him contained, and not letting him extend plays with his legs.
The Titans haven’t shown they can consistently win through structure - so don’t let them win through chaos.
Tackling fundamentals will be key. Rally to the ball.
Wrap up. No missed assignments, no busted coverages.
Tennessee’s offense hasn’t shown the ability to string together long drives, so don’t gift them yards through mental errors. Force them to earn every inch.
This is one of those December games where the better team just needs to play like it. No need to overthink it.
The Titans are evaluating for the future. The 49ers are chasing a playoff seed.
The stakes are different, and the approach should reflect that.
If the Niners do what they’re supposed to - stay efficient, limit mistakes, and play with the kind of professionalism that’s defined their season - this should be a comfortable win. Not a thriller, not a shootout, but a clean, controlled performance that keeps them on track in the NFC.
Sometimes, that’s exactly what you want in December. Not drama. Just dominance by doing the little things right.