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The Tennessee Titans Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers was certainly a thrilling one to watch. Tennessee entered the locker room down 10-0 but emerged victorious on a late, 44-yard field-goal by kicker Randy Bullock, which gave Tennessee the lead for good. Tennessee improved to 10-5 with the victory and can clinch the AFC South if the Indianapolis Colts lose on Christmas Day. After the clutch win, we take a look at the Titans-49ers game with a few Titans Week 16 takeaways in mind.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel heard the noise about how the team was down the entire left side of their offensive line and was in trouble. Vrabel's Titans responded, as they faced an early deficit heading into the locker room at halftime but seized control of the game in the second half, thanks to the gutsy play of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, a monster performance from wide receiver AJ Brown in his first game back from injury, and more timely takeaways from the underrated defense.
At 10-5, the Titans are on the doorstep of clinching the AFC South. With that in mind, here are a few Tennessee Titans Week 16 takeaways from their win over the San Francisco 49ers.
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Tennessee Titans Week 16 Takeaways
3. People forget how good Ryan Tannehill is running the ball
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Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was always known more for his passing ability than for his ability to scramble upon his arrival in Tennessee. Well, in two-and-a-half years with Tennessee, Tannehill has been amazing with his legs, rushing for 18 touchdowns along with 200-plus yards in two of those years. However, it was one play on Thursday night that exemplified just how good Tannehill can be on the move. The 49ers defense took away all of Tannehill's downfield receivers in coverage and there was no checkdown available for the Tennessee quarterback, so he tucked the ball and ran 23 yards downfield into field goal range. It was a back-breaking play. People- and the 49ers defense- forgot how good Ryan Tannehill is running the ball.
2. AJ Brown is an alpha wide receiver
Titans fans probably already knew this before this game but it's officially time to announce it to the rest of the world. AJ Brown is a bona fide, stud wide receiver in the NFL. In his first game back from a chest injury, Brown, who said he probably shouldn't have been out there, caught 11 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. He was everything a team could possibly want in a receiver, as he accounted for over half of the Titans' receiving yards- the most by any player in the NFL this season- and he had eight catches on third down, the most by any player since 1978, per Field Yates of ESPN. Brown was dependable, he was explosive and he flat-out dominated the 49ers defense when the Titans needed him most like a true alpha wideout.
1. Mike Vrabel's Titans shouldn't be overlooked again
It wasn't looking good for the Titans heading into this game, especially after a disappointing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Mike Vrabel wouldn't let his team give into the noise and wouldn't let them take a woe-is-me approach because of players down due to COVID-19. Vrabel and the Titans came out and responded when they were down, proving that they shouldn't be overlooked anymore. The Titans have a very capable quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. They have Vrabel, who players seem like they'll run through a wall for. Once healthy, they have a physical battering ram of a running back in Derrick Henry. They have a true alpha receiver in AJ Brown. Finally, they have an underrated, opportunistic defense that creates a big play when they need it most, as seen against the 49ers last night and against the Los Angeles Rams earlier this year. Mike Vrabel's Titans could be a force to be reckoned with come January if they make it to the playoffs.
