SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers’ three victories over their past four games have come against teams in the bottom quarter of the league.
The competition gets a lot more challenging for Jimmy Garoppolo and Co., as the 49ers close out the season against three teams currently jockeying for playoff positioning.
First up, the Tennessee Titans, who come to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday as the current No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs with an 8-5 record. After back-to-back road victories, the 49ers can finish the season with some momentum against teams that are playing for their postseason lives.
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“I think getting these last two have been big for us,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We got close in a number (of games) 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 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.”
Garoppolo will face his biggest tests since arriving on the scene with the 49ers. His 624 yards passing the past two games are the most in franchise history for a player making his first two starts.
But after facing the Titans (8-5), the 49ers conclude the season against Jacksonville (9-4) and the Los Angeles Rams (9-4).
San Francisco 49ers
“We have a little bit of momentum with us right now,” Garoppolo said, adding that the 49ers first must concentrate on putting together good practices.
“I think that’s what’s really helped us these last two weeks is we’re putting in the time, practice has been good tempo and everything and I think that carries over to Sunday.”
After facing Tennessee, which as the league’s No. 18 pass defense, the 49ers face the best pass defense in the league when the Jaguars come to Levi’s Stadium on Christmas Eve.