The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Tennessee Titans 37-24 on Sunday, October 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, kicking off the final stretch of their season with a strong offensive performance after the bye. Brock Purdy delivered three touchdown passes, underscoring the Niners’ expectation that their high-powered offense will carry them deep into the playoffs.
We’ll spell out the key takeaway first: with everyone on the field contributing, San Francisco’s standard is to move the ball and score, regardless of opponent. Purdy echoed that belief after the game, highlighting the depth across receivers, tight ends, and running backs that allows the offense to stay prolific as the season progresses.
Coming off the bye, San Francisco looked exceptionally sharp on offense, scoring on their first five possessions—the first time they did so since 2021. Purdy connected for two touchdowns with Jauan Jennings and added a third on a one-yard jump pass to George Kittle, a play that coach Kyle Shanahan joked he usually ribs Purdy about, though he admitted it’s a spark they’ll happily ride when it works. Shanahan even joked that Purdy is like Michael Jordan when he’s rolling, noting the joy of watching him drive the ball. Purdy finished 23 of 30 for 295 yards and added four first downs with his legs, including a 26-yard scramble—the longest by the 49ers this season.
Christian McCaffrey praised Purdy’s leadership, saying he “was awesome today,” as Purdy commanded the huddle, displayed mobility, and threw well downfield, with teammates making plays around him. Purdy’s performance helped San Francisco hold a 37-24 lead throughout the game.
Meanwhile, rookie Cam Ward of the Titans threw a touchdown to Gunnar Helm in the second quarter and another to defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons in the fourth, but Tennessee couldn’t build momentum after a brief first-half surge. Ward finished with 170 passing yards, and the Titans, who have struggled to string wins together, remained in a three-way tie for the worst record in the league and have not posted back-to-back victories since November 2022.
The Titans squandered a prime opportunity late in the first half when Ward overthrew a wide-open Van Jefferson on a deep shot, and Joey Slye missed a 50-yard field goal on the final play of the half, keeping San Francisco ahead 17-10. The 49ers extended their advantage to 14 points on the opening drive of the second half when Purdy found Jennings again, and Tennessee’s offense was stifled early in the third quarter as the Niners controlled the clock by converting 9 of 15 third-down attempts.
Interim Titans coach Mike McCoy emphasized the importance of getting opponents off the field on third down, noting that staying on the field too long in those situations allows the other team to rack up points.
Defensively, Jeffery Simmons stood out for Tennessee, recording a strip-sack on Purdy and catching a one-yard TD pass in the same game—a rare feat. In fact, this marked just the sixth time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 that a player had a sack, a forced fumble, and a receiving touchdown in the same game, joining the club with players like J.J. Watt and others who have accomplished it before.
Injuries surfaced on both sides. For the Titans, three safeties left with injuries in the first half (Xavier Woods hamstring, Mike Brown ankle, Kevin Winston hamstring), along with injuries to Kevin Zeitler (groin), Van Jefferson (back), and Cedric Gray (concussion) in the second half. For the 49ers, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was scratched due to a knee issue before kickoff. Ricky Pearsall left with an ankle injury on the first play, but returned to finish with six catches for 96 yards, though he later exited with a knee issue that the team hopes is minor. Spencer Burford also suffered an ankle injury but returned.
Looking ahead
Titans: Host the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.
49ers: Travel to Indianapolis for a December 22 matchup.
AP NFL:
https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
