Analysis: Jimmy Garoppolo, Robbie Gould do Titans in as playoff hopes dwindle
A quick analysis of the Titans’ 25-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.
What it means?
The Titans just made the last two games a lot harder than they needed to be. And now, a postseason that seemed for certain might not be. With the loss, the Titans are now 8-6, which is the same record as the Ravens (currently on the outside looking in) and the Bills (the projected sixth seed). As of Sunday night, the Titans are still grasping for that fifth seed, but now wins against the Rams (10-4) and the Jaguars (10-4) become necessary.
Oh, and the Ravens finish up the season with the Colts (3-11) and the Bengals (5-9). The Bills have the Patriots (11-3) and the Dolphins (6-8).
More:The Titans are headed for another quiet, regretful January
Turning point
There wasn't so much a "turning point" in this game as the 49ers led for a majority, but it was the plays that didn't happen that could have turned the tide. The Titans could have taken an early 7-6 lead in the first quarter, but tight end Delanie Walker dropped a touchdown pass. Then, in the second half, cornerback Adoree Jackson let an interception in the end zone fall out of his hands. Either one of those plays could have changed the tide of the game and maybe given the Titans the win.
Star watch
QB Marcus Mariota: 23-for-33 for 241 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions
RB DeMarco Murray: 18 carries for 59 yards; one catch for 4 yards
RB Derrick Henry: Seven carries for 19 yards; two catches for 9 yards
WR Rishard Matthews: Six catches for a team-high 95 yards with one touchdown
TE Delanie Walker: Five catches for 37 yards and one touchdown
Scoring rundown
First quarter
SF: Robbie Gould 38-yard field goal. 49ers, 3-0.
SF: Gould 48-yard field goal. 49ers, 6-0.
Second quarter
TEN: Ryan Succop 40-yard field goal. 49ers, 6-3.
SF: Garrett Celek 5-yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo (Gould kick). 49ers, 13-3.
SF: Gould 28-yard field goal. 49ers, 16-3.
TEN: Delanie Walker 4-yard pass from Marcus Mariota (Succop kick). 49ers, 16-10.
Third quarter
TEN: Succop 31-yard field goal. 49ers, 16-13
Fourth quarter
TEN: Rishard Matthews 8-yard pass from Mariota (Succop kick). Titans 20-16
SF: Gould 50-yard field goal. Titans, 20-19
SF: Gould 48-yard field goal. 49ers, 22-20
TEN: Succop 50-yard field goal. Titans, 23-22
SF: Succop 45-yard field goal. 49ers, 25-23
Stat recap
RUSHING
TEN: DeMarco Murray 18-59; Derrick Henry 7-19; Taywan Taylor 1-8; Marcus Mariota 2-4
SF: Carlos Hyde 16-25; Matt Breida 5-16; Marquise Goodwin 1-10
PASSING
TEN: Mariota 23-33, 241 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
SF: Garoppolo 31-43, 381 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
RECEIVING
TEN: Rishard Matthews 6-95, 1 TD; Eric Decker 5-63; Walker 5-37, 1 TD; Corey Davis 3-28; Henry 2-9; Jonnu Smith 1-5; Murray 1-4.
SF: Goodwin 10-114; Kendrick Bourne 4-85; Celek 3-63, 1 TD; George Kittle 4-52; Trent Taylor 4-40; Kyle Juszczyk 2-16; Hyde 2-14; Aldrick Robinson 1-3; Garoppolo 1-(-6).
By the numbers
1: Carries Titans running back Derrick Henry had in the first half. He finished with seven.
0: Interceptions for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, just the fifth game this season he has not thrown a pick.
381: Passing yards for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the most passing yards the Titans have allowed this season.
3,081: Career yards for Titans receiver Rishard Matthews, who had 95 yards Sunday.
29: Field goals in a season for Titans placekicker Ryan Succop, who made three Sunday. He had 28 in 2012.
26: Touchdowns receptions for tight end Delanie Walker with the Titans, which puts him 10th all-time with the franchise.
6: Field goals attempted and made by 49ers placekicker Robbie Gould to set franchise records in both categories.
51: Rushing yards by the 49ers, the least given up by the Titans this season.
Up next
The Titans return home for the final two games of the season. Next week, they will spend their Christmas Eve afternoon taking on the Los Angeles Rams in a noon kickoff.