Studs and Duds: Purdy dazzles, Pearsall dominates in 49ers’ win over Titans

SANTA CLARA — Was it more interesting than it had to be?

Sure. But isn’t that the story of the San Francisco 49ers’ 2025 season?

Ride the chaos; the ups and downs are extra fun this season. A season that, in all eventualities and likelihood, will extend into the playoffs with the Niners’ 37-24 win Sunday.

Here are the studs and duds from a deeply strange game:

Studs

Brock Purdy • QB

» With his brain, his arm, and his legs all operating at full throttle, Purdy turned in a downright brilliant quarterbacking performance Sunday.

Purdy was pushing the ball to all corners of the field, picking up first downs — and more — with his scrambling ability, and keeping the Niners in the right looks against a Tennessee defense that has an elite defensive tackle, a couple of other nice pieces, and little else.

It was his best performance of the campaign to date, and a nice point of encouragement as the Niners head into a playoff-line final three games and then the playoffs proper.

Jauan Jennings • WR

» The only Niners receiver with a receiving touchdown this season, Jennings now has seven.

His first-quarter snag was a matter of will and length — against solid coverage from Tennessee nickelback Kevin Winson, Jennings boxed him out on a whip route and snagged the ball with strength and certitude. Purdy spent most of last season force-feeding Jennings the ball — it was about the only thing that worked for the Niners last year.

Perhaps the same thing is coming down the stretch this season? He’s playing his best ball right now.

Ricky Pearsall • WR

» Wide open all day. Gains on gains on gains.

The narrative around Pearsall going into this week — that he’s not getting open — was laughable and ignorant.

I doubt anyone will question whether No. 1 is the real deal after this six-catch, 96-yard game.

The only question: can he keep playing? Pearsall injured his ankle in the first quarter, returned, and then appeared to re-aggravate the injury in the fourth.

George Kittle • TE

» Death, taxes, George Kittle turning in four quarters of winning football. He makes the brilliant look routine. He had eight catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Demarcus Robinson • WR

» He’s an excellent receiver. Surprisingly, he’s taken this long for the 49ers to figure this out. He was on the receiving end of a 29-yard scramble drill, a big gain, and then hit the big block to free Kittle on a 24-yard gain, setting up the Niners’ second touchdown.

If this guy is a tertiary option behind Jennings and Pearsall — and, of course, Kittle and McCaffrey — the Niners are in a great spot moving forward in December and January.

CJ West • DT

» The Titans’ interior offensive line was getting three, four, five yards of push to start this game.

Then the Niners threw CJ West into the fray.

No one moves West.

He was stout against the double teams and played miles wide on head-to-head blocks. His presence solidified a defensive line that was being decimated early.

And when he was out of the game, the Titans — and everyone watching the game — noticed.

Duds

Curtis Robinson • LB

Even when he could see it, Robinson couldn’t do anything about it.

Slow to recognize and even slower to respond, Robinson turned in one of the most woeful middle linebacker performances I’ve seen at the NFL level.

And when the Titans ran any run-pass option plays? He might have been better off lying down on the field — maybe someone would trip over him.

Tatum Bethune cannot come back soon enough.

Malik Mustapha • S

» Don’t let the box score and a team leading nine tackles fool you, Mustapha looked a step behind — tentative — all game, and while his dropped interception at the end of the first half didn’t burn the 49ers, it was certainly in line with his performance on the day. Some wonder if the Kurtenbach Curse is, in fact, real.

Kalia Davis • DT

There’s a reason we didn’t see him much after the first quarter.

Davis makes some nice plays with his explosion off the line, but against an offensive line of any quality, he’s a sitting duck.

The Titans exposed him with trap blocks and duo attacks. Robert Saleh had no choice but to bench him.