Tennessee Titans-San Francisco 49ers Dwell Updates, Evaluation
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans usually have a pretty good idea of what they’re up against when they play Thursday nights.
This time is an exception. The matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at Nissan Stadium is their first Thursday night game against an NFC opponent since 2008 when they faced Detroit in a Thanksgiving competition.
Eight of the last 10 played against teams from their division, either Indianapolis or Jacksonville, which they face twice a year each year. The exceptions during this period (2012, 2017) were both games against Pittsburgh, a team that appears more often than not on the schedule.
Tennessee and San Francisco last played in 2017.
“You’re trying to get in as much as you can,” said quarterback Ryan Tannehill of the week’s preparations. “You don’t want to burn yourself out, so to speak. Rest and relaxation is enormous. Still [you] want to be prepared. [You] still want to see what they did on tape. “
The Titans are 9-5 but have lost three of their last four. The 49ers stand 8-6 and have won five of the last six.
So regardless of how much Tennessee learned about the opponent in a short week, it has to figure out how to win again.
Off to kick-off.
FIRST QUARTER
Tennessee wins the coin toss and postpones its option until the second half. San Francisco gets the ball first.
The opening kickoff reaches the end zone for a touchback. 49ers’ ball at 25.
Buster Skrine starts in the cornerback across from Kristian Fulton. Jackrabbit Jenkins, who missed the last two games due to injury, will appear to be a situational sub in this one.
(9:57) The 49ers march across the field in nine games – and never have a third residue – until the touchdown. Jeff Wilson topped it off with a 1-yard run after Deebo Samuel’s 23-yard catch-and-run, the longest game of possession. Scoring run: 9 games, 75 yards, 5:03. SAN FRANCISCO 7, LAKE TENNESS 0
Along with Arizona, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and New England, San Francisco is the only team to score a touchdown against Tennessee in the first quarter of this season.
Second-round pick Dillon Radunz starts on the left tackle instead of Taylor Lewan. It’s his first NFL start in limited playtime (everyone on guard) in the first 14 games.
(6:31) A draw in 3rd and 15th place in the 47s triggers some boos after only scoring three yards. Three games earlier, Ryan Tannehill met Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for 14 yards on the third and 11. Tannehill was dismissed in the subsequent first down for a loss of eight yards, which led to another long yard situation.
(5:48) Brett Kern’s first punt of the evening is a touchback.
(3:54) A screen pass to Kyle Juszczyk wins 26 yards on the Tennessee 40. To make matters worse, there is a facemask penalty against Kristian Fulton 15 yards.
(1:36) Jackrabbit Jenkins intercepts a pass in the end zone, thwarting San Francisco’s chance for an early double-digit lead. Jenkins is the third cornerback but is playing outside in the nickel with Buster Skrine in the slot.
The San Francisco offense has played 17 games and won 132 yards but still hasn’t finished third.
(0:12) AJ Brown’s first touch is an end-around (officially it is a pass because the ball went forward) on third-and-3 from Tennessee 27. It loses three yards. The Titans will poke again to begin the second quarter.
The Titans had 11 yards in nine games in the first 15 minutes.
SECOND QUARTER
(11:35) San Francisco tries fourth and keeps moving with an 11 yard reception from Deebo Samuel.
