49ers seek to extend win streak

Dec 14, 2017 - 2:19 AM SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers are proud to boast: If the NFL playoffs began this week as an everyone's-invited tournament, they would enter as one of the hottest teams in the league.

Such is the state of NFL parity that only seven teams, including the 3-10 49ers, will take the field for Week 15 with a winning streak of two or more games. Only two (Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Chargers) have won more than two in a row.

So, let the pre-playoffs begin. Or in the 49ers' case: A run of three games against clubs trying to get into the season-ending, 12-team affair.

First, the Tennessee Titans (8-5), currently the fifth-seeded team in the AFC.

Then, the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4), leaders of the AFC South and current AFC No. 3 seed.

And lastly, the Los Angeles Rams (9-4), the top dog in the NFC West and current third seed in the NFC.

"It'll be a good challenge," said Jimmy Garoppolo, who became the third 49ers quarterback ever to win his first two road starts by leading victories over the Chicago Bears (15-14) and Houston Texans (26-16) the past two weeks.

"We really can't look too far ahead because these are three good teams we're about to play. The Titans are a very, very talented team who's in the playoff hunt. We've just got to keep doing what we've been doing, working hard and plucking away at it."

The 49ers plucked the lowly Bears and Texans on the strength of Garoppolo's arm and kicker Robbie Gould's leg.

This week, the defense will be in the spotlight against the Titans' elusive quarterback, Marcus Mariota.

For 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the chances of beating Tennessee have increased because of the momentum gained with wins the last two weeks.

"Getting these last two have been big for us," he assured. "We got close in a number early in the year and then came up short, which I think got real frustrating. We hit a lull with that and with the little bit of injuries in the same span. Then I thought we rebounded where it started versus the (New York) Giants, then had a setback versus Seattle, and then played better versus Chicago and that led to us playing better last week versus Houston.

"I hope that continues to lead us into playing better this week. The more you win, that's how you develop real confidence, and the more you win players believe truly that they have a chance to win instead of just hoping. The more that happens, the easier it gets."

The 49ers won't win a Super Bowl by sweeping their next three games against playoff contenders. But they could have something in common with this year's champ -- a winning streak at season's end.

"It's a neat challenge right now. We're going against three teams who are all playing for their playoff lives," Shanahan gushed. "I think if anyone's ever been in that situation, you get the intensity that picks up in those types of buildings.

"I think that's a goal for our team. I want us to be as intense as we can every single possible game, whether you're playing for the playoffs, you're in the playoffs or it's the first game of the year. I don't want there to be a difference.

"We plan on being in (playoff-contending position) next year and I'd like that not to be just the first time we have that feeling. I'd like us to feel like that now and treat it that way."

SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. 49ers lead series, 8-5. The road team has won the last two head-to-heads, with San Francisco triumphing 31-17 at Tennessee in 2013 the last time they met. The Titans prevailed 34-27 in the most recent meeting in San Francisco in 2009. The series dates back to the year of the AFL-NFL merger (1970), when John Brodie threw three touchdown passes in a 30-20 49ers win at the Astrodome over the then-Houston Oilers.

--Levi's Stadium often is criticized for not being much of a home-field advantage, with the fans seemingly more concerned about the sun and the traffic than the game itself.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recognizes it's up to his team to change that mindset.

"I hope we play better there than we have," he said of the home field, where the 49ers opened 0-4 before a 31-21 win over the New York Giants in Week 10.

"There have been times, like in that (Los Angeles) Rams game (a 41-39 loss in Week 3), where I thought it got pretty loud for us. I thought our fans were great in the Giants game in that second half, when we gave them some reasons to get into it and excited. I know the Seattle game (a 24-13 loss in Week 12) was bad. Jimmy (Garoppolo) came in and threw that touchdown at the last second.

"I was going off the field very frustrated and I heard our fans still cheering and excited because of the way it ended. So, I do think there has been some good things in our stadium. But considering how our record has been here this year and the last few years, obviously we've got to give them a little bit more to be entertained and have reasons to get excited and get there early and have their energy throughout four quarters."

--Now that he's got a pretty good grasp on the playbook, Jimmy Garoppolo has had time to study up on the club's fans.

"The Faithful," he has been informed. Not "49ers Nation."

"Got some heat for that, for saying, '49ers Nation,'" he disclosed Wednesday. "But 'The Faithful,' they're an awesome fan base. It'll be fun to get in front of them this Sunday."

There's more to being the leader of the 49ers than just an unbeaten record as a starting quarterback, he's found out.

"My friend sent me a couple of tweet reactions," he said of his incorrect label of the fans. "They didn't get on me; it was in a good way. I don't know who they were specifically. My friends in a group text all texted me like, 'Man you've got to get this right. Come on, these are your fans now.' So, it was just a little funny thing."

NOTES: RT Trent Brown (strained shoulder) was held out of practice Wednesday. It appears his schedule will be the same this week as it has the last two -- limited in workouts and a game-time decision on Sunday. He has missed the last three games. ... WR/KR Victor Bolden Jr. (sprained ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. He suffered the injury in the Week 14 win at Houston. ... WR Max McCaffrey was added to the 53-man roster Wednesday after being snatched from the Green Bay Packers' practice squad. The Duke product played five games for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, making one catch for four yards. He is the son of former 49ers WR Ed McCaffrey and brother of Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.