Football fans must have enjoyed Week 15 of the 2021 NFL season because there was a game almost every day.
While the COVID-19 outbreak forced the rescheduling of some games, it also shortened the turnover between Weeks 15 and 16.
Two days after four teams played on Tuesday, Week 16 starts with the Tennessee Titans facing the San Francisco 49ers.
MAJOR playoff implications on TNF. 🔥#FTTB | #Titans
📺: #SFvsTEN — 8pm ET on @nflnetwork
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/XaZuxeHGQO— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2021
Though both teams are currently hanging onto playoff spots, their position is by no means safe.
They can’t afford to lose, especially with how tight the Wild Card race on both conferences is shaping up to be.
With so much at stake, expect both squads to deliver outstanding performances.
Why The Titans Need To Win
It’s fascinating how the Titans are holding their ground after losing Derrick Henry to a potential season-ending foot injury.
The run game continued to be the focal point of their offense, courtesy of players like Adrian Peterson, Dontrell Hilliard, and D’onta Foreman.
Unfortunately, they’ve lost three of their last four games to bring their record to 9-5 after Week 15.
They are still in the driver’s seat in the AFC South, but the Indianapolis Colts trimmed the gap to one game.
TNF in BNA 🏈 pic.twitter.com/iRxcUQEdrX
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 23, 2021
That said, Tennessee must win over the 49ers to maintain a wider cushion with two games left to play.
Likewise, losing to San Francisco might drop them into the AFC Wild Card logjam, where nine teams are competing for three playoff spots.
Head coach Mike Vrabel will not change his game plan to defeat the Niners.
Hilliard and Foreman will continue to get their carries, mainly because they each had a 100-yard rushing game over the last three weeks.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will also look for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for pass plays off play-action.
Mike Vrabel is 18-15 straight up (55%) in his career as an underdog.
That's the best underdog win % by any coach since 2000 (min. 15 games).#Titans pic.twitter.com/vNzWI5waSb
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) December 22, 2021
Scoring enough points has been the foremost concern for Tennessee as they reached the 20-point mark once in their last four games.
Generating more points while limiting their penalties and turnovers might help them beat San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Titans also need their defense to maintain their solid play, with Jeffery Simmons leading the pass rush from the interior and Kevin Byard commanding the secondary.
Why the 49ers Need To Win
If the Titans are clinging onto a postseason ticket, the 49ers entered the NFC playoff bracket by winning five of their last six games.
At 8-6, the Kyle Shanahan-coached team currently holds the sixth spot but is by no means safe in the playoff race.
Dropping their three remaining games will push them out of the Wild Card battle, especially if the other teams in the hunt suddenly find their rhythm.
The Niners looked hopeless at the season’s start because injuries started to pile up for them again.
However, they also banked on their run-first approach to collect more victories.
'Twas the night before gameday…
🎁 #SFvsTEN at 5:20pm PT on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/fo0qPMUK0O
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 23, 2021
Jimmy Garoppolo is playing solidly but with little fanfare.
His stats won’t dazzle anyone because he’s executing the Niners offense according to design.
He’s not forcing throws downfield, and he doesn’t mind Jeff Wilson Jr., Elijah Mitchell, and Deebo Samuel moving the chains with their feet.
After all, why fix what continues to work, especially when you have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.
Nick Bosa leads the line on a defense that hopes to break through the formidable Titans offensive front.
Bosa is built different 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/tFefxD6S4v
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 23, 2021
Josh Norman may not have the numbers, but he’s using his veteran smarts to provide shut-down coverage with the other defensive backs.
It won’t be shocking if this matchup turns out to be a low-scoring affair.
Still, the 49ers hope to edge the Titans to keep their playoff spot intact despite that possibility.
NEXT: The Cam Newton Experiment Has Failed
