Just two days after Week 15 ended, Week 16 of the NFL season gets underway on Thursday, with the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Tennessee Titans. Both teams are currently fighting for their playoff lives, so motivation shouldn’t be an issue on either side. On the road, the 49ers are listed as 3.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 44.5 points.
The Titans appear to be in a little bit of trouble after losing three of their last four games. The only silver lining is that Tennessee swept the Colts, giving the Titans the head-to-head tiebreaker. That means the Titans only need two wins to clinch the AFC South, and that’s if the Colts win out, so they remain in good shape.
As for the 49ers, they are coming on strong late in the season with five wins in their last six games. They’ve forced their way into the playoff race and currently hold one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC. Of course, the race remains tight, and the 49ers have road games with the Titans and Rams left on the schedule, so nothing is a lock.
Pound the Ground
Nowadays, the San Francisco offense is only as good as its rushing attack, although the running game has been excellent in recent weeks. Even with leading rusher Elijah Mitchell missing last week’s game, Jeff Wilson stepped up in his place and ran for over 100 yards. As long as the 49ers run the ball effectively, they won’t have to lean too much on Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been solid but unspectacular this year.
Of course, the San Francisco defense also deserves a little bit of credit for the team’s recent hot streak. Nick Bosa has looked like a Defensive Player of the Year contender over the last month or two, changing the way the 49ers play defense. While they are far from perfect, the 49ers have held three of their last six opponents to 13 points or less, which has been a nice complement for their run-heavy offense.
Running Out of Options
Surprisingly, the Titans have been able to replace Derrick Henry in their rushing attack, as D’Onta Foreman has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his last three games. However, Ryan Tannehill’s struggles can be considered one reason why Tennessee has lost three of four games. Tannehill has two touchdown passes and six interceptions in those four games while also getting sacked 12 times.
The Tennessee offense is also hurting, with A.J. Brown sidelined and Julio Jones questionable to play on Thursday. Needless to say, that’s putting a little extra pressure on the Tennessee defense, which has been up and down all year. While the Titans have difference-makers at all three levels, they’ve given up at least 30 points in five games this season, so good offensive teams can do some damage against them.
Titan Up
While the Titans appear to be spiraling at the moment, they have played much better at home this season, including wins over the Colts, Bills, and Chiefs. The 49ers are a capable offensive team but not necessarily explosive. That should keep them from getting too comfortable, giving Tennessee value as a 3.5-point home underdog.
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