What 49ers can learn from Titans Week 15 loss to Steelers

Takeaway No. 5: Jimmy Garoppolo should stay upright

The 49ers offensive line did a great job keeping quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from getting hit or sacked in Week 15 against the Falcons. Zero sacks and only three quarterback hits is a solid stat line, for sure, and the Niners can take that kind of momentum into Week 16 against a Titans defense that didn’t manage to do anywhere near enough to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

True, Roethlisberger was sacked three times against Tennessee, but it’s important to acknowledge just how bad Pittsburgh’s own O-line has been this season, ranked 28th in pass protection before Week 15, according to Football Outsiders.

San Francisco, meanwhile, was ranked 19th in this same category before its zero-sack performance last Sunday.

Titans defenders Harold Landry, Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry do pose pass-rushing problems, as this trio has a combined 25.5 sacks between them. But if a woefully inadequate Steelers O-line can protect an immobile and poorly throwing Roethlisberger enough to the tune of just three sacks, the 49ers can rest assured knowing their pass-protecting efforts should be vastly superior.

The Niners and Titans kick off their Thursday Night Football matchup on Dec. 23 at 8:20 p.m. from Nissan Stadium.