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49ers fall to Titans in last second field goal
Tennessee Titans kicker Randy Bullock (14) watches his 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The field goal gave the Titans a 20-17 win. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
2021.12.23 – Tennessee’s Randy Bullock booted a 44-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining and the 49ers fall to the Titans that rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat San Francisco 20-17 Thursday night.
Coach Mike Vrabel heard that his banged-up Titans were being written off after the left side of their offensive line was ruled out a day before hosting the streaking 49ers.
Then they lost their backup left tackle to a positive COVID-19 test Thursday morning, forcing them to use their 52nd different starter and 88th player this season.
“We’re not dead yet,” Vrabel said.
Alive and kicking. The Titans (10-5) are a win or a Colts’ loss away from clinching their second straight AFC South title despite losing three of their past four games to drop from the AFC’s top seed to third. Indianapolis plays Arizona on Saturday. Tennesse moved to second in the AFC.
2022.01.01 – 49ers vs. Texans (LOMBARDI : Lance over Garoppolo)
2022.01.01 – 49ers vs. Texans (LOMBARDI : Lance over Garoppolo)
2021.12.29 – 49ers (LOMBARDI : Garoppolo’s chance to play vs. Texans)
2021.12.29 – 49ers (LOMBARDI : Garoppolo’s chance to play vs. Texans)
2021.12.23 – (SF 49ers @ Tennessee Titans) NFL Video Highlights
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
2021.12.23 – (SF 49ers @ Tennessee Titans) NFL Video Highlights
Ryan Tannehill threw for just 40 yards in the first half but finished with 209 yards and a TD for Tennessee. A.J. Brown caught 11 passes for 145 yards hours after being activated off injured reserve, and his 18-yard TD catch gave Tennessee a 17-10 lead early in the fourth.
“It was all on us and we just had to make a play,” Brown said. “Then we had to make another play. That was the mindset. Just come out here and make plays, so that’s what we did.”
The Titans also picked off two passes, sacked Jimmy Garoppolo twice and forced the Niners to turn it over on downs once.
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (NBC: Kyle displeased with 49ers miscues)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws as he is pressured by Tennessee Titans defenders in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (NBC: Kyle displeased with 49ers miscues)
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (NBC: Kyle displeased with 49ers miscues)
San Francisco had one final chance. Garoppolo completed a 16-yard pass to Pro Bowl receiver Deebo Samuel, who fumbled, starting three laterals before Jayon Brown finally tackled Brandon Aiyuk to end the game.
The 49ers (8-7) lost for the second time in seven games as they try to hold onto a wild-card berth in the NFC. Their loss ensured a playoff berth for Dallas, which can clinch the NFC East with a win over Washington on Sunday night.
Garoppolo tied it with a 2-yard TD pass to Aiyuk with 2:20 left, a score set up by a 56-yard catch-and-run by Samuel down to the Tennessee 6.
After squandering a 10-0 halftime lead and eventually pulling even at 17, the 49ers caved to the AFC South-leading Titans and lost the game on a last-minute field goal.
This hurts the 49ers’ egos and holiday spirit more so than their playoff hopes. At 8-7, they remain in the NFC’s sixth of seven playoff spots.
The 49ers lacked the efficiency that produced wins in five of their previous six games.
The Niners dominated the first half but missed chances for a bigger lead.
Garoppolo had gone 84 consecutive passes since last throwing an interception. Garoppolo finished 25-of-34 for 306 yards.
Garoppolo moved the 49ers down the field at ease early, setting up Jeff Wilson’s 1-yard plunge on the opening drive and giving them goal-to-go on the second possession. Titans cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins beat 49ers tight end George Kittle for a what Vrabel called a “critical” interception in the end zone.
“We were running out of steam there,” Vrabel said. “We were flatlining, and he made a huge play for us.”
A face mask penalty on Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams forced the Niners to settle for a 48-yard field goal by Robbie Gould and a 10-0 lead.
“We should’ve been up more, that was for sure,” Shanahan said.
Garoppolo knows the Niners had their chances.
“It’s tough when you let one like this slip away,” Garoppolo said.
The Niners led 10-0 at halftime, their first time shutting out an opponent in the first half since the 2019 NFC title game against Green Bay. That also marked four straight scoreless quarters for the Titans.
“I don’t want to say it’s a blessing in disguise, but our backs are against the wall and we have to win,” Niners tight end George Kittle said.
The 49ers are a half-game up on the 7-7 logjam involving the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, though the 49ers own head-to-head tiebreakers over the Vikings and the Eagles.
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (LOMBARDI : Garoppolo’s rough outing)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) gets sack by Tennessee Titans defenders in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (LOMBARDI : Garoppolo’s rough outing)
2021.12.23 – 49ers @ Titans (LOMBARDI : Garoppolo’s rough outing)
Tennessee played without the left side of its offensive line with left tackle Taylor Lewan out with an injured back and left guard Rodger Saffold on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Rookie Dillon Radunz, a second-round pick out of North Dakota State, replaced Lewan, and the Titans gave up four sacks.
Tennessee finally strung together a 13-play drive to open the third quarter, matching its first-half production at 55 yards, with Tannehill completing three straight passes on third down until missing a screen to Jeremy McNichols. Bullock kicked a 38-yard field goal to pull the Titans within 10-3.
Titans safety Amani Hooker picked off his first pass this season on the Niners’ next play, returning it 21 yards to the San Francisco 18. D’Onta Foreman finished that short drive with a tying 3-yard TD run.
Then the Tennessee defense, as healthy as it’s been in weeks, forced the Niners to turn it over on downs at the Titans 41 late in the third after having fourth-and-1 when Williams false started.
THIRD DOWN WOES
The Titans had their biggest plays on third down and finished 9 of 16. That included a 42-yard completion from Tannehill to Brown on a free play when Arden Key jumped offsides on the final play of the third quarter and was one of six big third-down conversions the Niners allowed in the second half.
INJURIES
Samuel returned after going down at the end of his 56-yarder, and Niners defensive lineman D.J. Jones hurt an ankle but returned. Shanahan said linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hurt a knee and didn’t return.
Titans defensive lineman Naquan Jones went down late in the third quarter. Brown had been out since injuring his chest in Week 11 against Houston.
UP NEXT
Niners host Houston on Jan. 2 in their regular season home finale.
Titans host Miami on Jan. 2 in their regular season home finale.
Related – See below: Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Related: 49ers Pound Falcons for 5th win in 6 games
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!