Niners Nation
The first half was nerve-wracking for the now 10-4 San Francisco 49ers, who let the 2-12 Tennessee Titans hang around to the tune of a seven-point lead at halftime. But the offense finished off a game in which it scored on seven of its eight offensive drives, en route to a 37-24 win.
Both the run game and defense struggled, with Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson averaging just over 3 yards per carry, and the defense unable to keep the Tennessee offense at bay.
But it was the passing game that won the game on Sunday for the 49ers, and because of it, all three stars came from the 49ers’ pass attack. Here are the three stars from the 49ers’ tenth win of the season:
Third star: WR Jauan Jennings
While George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall finished with more receptions, targets, and yards, Jennings was Brock Purdy’s favorite target in the end zone on Sunday.
Jennings only had three receptions on five targets in the win, but two of the three receptions put points on the board for the 49ers, resulting in Jennings’ fifth and sixth touchdown receptions in his last six games.
While Jennings’ first target of the game resulted in an incomplete pass, he would find paydirt on the very next play, putting a finish to an opening drive that took 12 plays and covered 70 yards. The receiver started his route by going to the inside, but quickly cut back out, using his size to power through safety Kevin Winston Jr. Once Jennings got through the safety, Purdy got the ball to him, holding onto the pass as Winston brought him to the ground to put the 49ers up seven to open the scoring for San Francisco.
Jennings would only see one more target in the first half – an incompletion –, but Purdy would reward his patience to start the second half. With San Francisco holding onto a seven-point lead at the half, the offense put together a quick drive to open the third quarter. On the fourth play of the drive, Jennings was lined up in the slot and ran an out route along the goal line. Once the receiver broke outwards near the end zone, it was a race between him and safety Amani Hooker to the pylon.
It would be a race Jennings won, hauling in the pass for his second reception and second touchdown of the game.
Jennings would finish his day with a big 20-yard reception to help what turned out to be a field goal-scoring drive, to extend the 49ers’ lead to three scores in the fourth quarter, helping put the game out of reach. After a slow start to the season, Jennings has returned to form, and Sunday was just the latest of his stellar performances.
Second star: WR George Kittle
While Jennings had more touchdowns, Kittle was Brock Purdy’s favorite target, and Kittle repaid the quarterback with a big game on Sunday.
Kittle finished with a team-high eight...
