On Saturday, the Tennessee Titans will host the San Francisco 49ers as both teams kick off their three-game preseason slate. The 49ers play their first game since an overtime Super Bowl loss, while the Titans enter a new era under head coach Brian Callahan.
Here’s everything you need to know about this Week 1 preseason matchup between the 49ers and Titans, including how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans
- Start time: Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: Local
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: San Francisco 49ers Radio Network, Titans Radio Network
- Starting QBs: TBD, Will Levis
- Betting lines:
- Spread: TEN -4
- Total: 39.5
- Moneyline: TEN -205, SF +170
San Francisco got so close yet again. Since becoming head coach in 2017, Kyle Shanahan has led the 49ers to four NFC Conference Championship Games and two Super Bowls. And yet, they have not gotten to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, a feeling San Francisco has yearned for since 1994.
They plan to run it back again as Brock Purdy leads the offense out for his third season. Outside of a rough three-game stretch from Week 6-8, when San Francisco was missing a fair amount of players due to injury, and a poor performance against the red-hot Ravens in Week 16, Purdy showed us exactly what he could do the year before: take what the defense gave him and not make stupid mistakes.
The defense still has notable names, as DE Nick Bosa and LBs Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner are still with the team. However, the 2024 offseason saw the loss of Javon Kinlaw and Arik Armstead on the interior defensive line.
San Francisco brought in Jordan Elliot to add to the rotation, but the 49ers will need someone to step up beside Javon Hargrave. They also anxiously await the return of safety Talanoa Hufanga.
Meanwhile, the Titans had a complete makeover this offseason. Shortly after the 2023 regular season, Tennessee and former head coach Mike Vrabel agreed to part ways, as it was clear the franchise was headed towards a rebuild. The Titans hired Brian Callahan to take over, and thus, the changes began.
Veteran Ryan Tannehill is no longer with the team, as the offense is now in Will Levis’ hands. The second-year QB took over in Week 8 of the 2023 season and didn’t do too badly, completing 58.4% of his passes with eight TDs to four INTs. Now, with an entire NFL season and another offseason to prepare, will he be the answer under center Tennessee is looking for?
While Derrick Henry provided some relief to the quarterback the past six seasons, the First-team All-Pro RB signed with the Ravens in free agency. The Titans didn’t leave Levis hanging as they signed former Cowboys RB Tony Pollard to a three-year, $21.75 million contract.
Pollard wasn’t the only new playmaker acquired. The Titans also signed WR Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract and WR Tyler Boyd to a one-year, $2.4 million contract. Rounded out with Deandre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the Titans have quite a few options for Willis to toss the rock to. Tennessee lacked quality pass catchers in years past, but that won’t be an excuse in 2024.
2023 Stat Leaders
- QB:
- 49ers: Brock Purdy, 308 cmp/444 att, 4,280 yards, 31 TDs, eleven INTs
- Titans: Will Levis, 149 cmp/255 att, 1,808 yards, eight TDs, four INTs
- RB:
- 49ers: Christian McCaffrey, 272 carries, 1,459 yards, 14 TDs, two fumbles lost
- Titans: Derrick Henry, 280 carries, 1,167 yards, twelve TDs
- WR:
- 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk, 75 rec/105 targets, 1,342 yards, seven TDs, one fumble lost
- Titans: Deandre Hopkins, 75 rec/137 targets, 1,057 yards, seven TDs