The San Francisco 49ers improved to 4-10 following a 25-23 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. Tennessee regained the lead in the final two minutes of the contest before Jimmy Garoppolo engineered a game-winning drive that set up Robbie Gould for a walk-off field goal.
The Titans have now dropped back-to-back contests to NFC West opponents. Meanwhile, the 49ers have won four of their last five games including each of their last three.
Take a look at what members of the Titans said postgame about the loss.
Head coach Mike Mularkey on the emotional loss to the 49ers:
"All losses are pretty tough to be honest with you. I haven't had a really good one since I've been playing or coaching. So, you know it's disappointing. We've won a lot of these games, these types of games, again we had a chance to win all the way down to the last play of the game, and that's all you can ask from your team, that you have a chance. And we certainly had plenty."
Mularkey on the Titans decision to run on 3rd-and-2 on their final drive:
"Well, we knew we didn't want to take a sack. Felt like we had a good play call based on the fronts we were getting, and just felt like we could hit a pretty good run right there. I mean, obviously they stopped us, but that was the thought. Certainly didn't want to lose any yards."
Mularkey on Garoppolo's abaility to sustain drives:
"A lot of pinpoint throws. A lot of very catchable throws, very tough to defend throws. I thought he made a lot of plays for that, I mean he made a lot of plays out of the pocket, he made a lot of plays for that offense."
Mularkey on holding the 49ers to six field goals:
"No, it was really good. You know, we need to, if we can hold them to punting that would be even better. I think they only punted once. You'd like to get some drives when you're stopped down in their territory more than, I mean you know, stopping them after a turnover was a big, big for us, but we need to get some punts more than field goals. And that'd be the difference in the game too."
QB Marcus Mariota on the Titans defense on the final drive:
"It is tough, but I wouldn't want to have any other defense in that situation. Our guys have pulled us out numerous times and we trust those guys to make the play. The 49ers, you have to give them credit. They made the plays in the end to win the game."
Mariota on having to settle for a field goal in the final minutes of the contest:
"I think they had two timeouts left you know, we would have had an opportunity to push the ball a little further and run some clock out, make them drain their timeouts, but again, we just didn't make the play. The 49ers defense came out and stopped us short and that's ultimately what happened."
WR Rishard Matthews on the Titans ability to respond to the 49ers:
"Yes, offensively we were getting it done. We were getting it done the whole game. The defense stepped up when it needed to. It's just the last drive, we couldn't convert and we had to settle for a field goal. We let them get down there and score."
S Kevin Byard on the Titans defense against the 49ers:
"We really didn't make any plays on defense, especially in the secondary. I think we gave up like 400 yards. That is the game right there. We didn't make any plays at all."
Byard on his impression of Garoppolo:
"He is a good player. He is one hell of a player. I think the 49ers got themselves a quarterback. We gave them a lot of plays a whole lot of plays. I give him credit, but we gave up a lot of plays today for sure."
DT Jurell Casey on the 49ers passing game:
"We definitely could have helped out. Pass rush and coverage go hand-in-hand. We didn't put enough pressure on them today. We allowed them to sit back there and pick our guys apart. It did not turn out to our favor."
LB Avery Williamson on Garoppolo's game:
"I definitely give him credit. He's a good quarterback, but we've got to make sure we're good lineman and make plays. We made some good tackles today, and gave them some extra yards. We weren't getting off the field fast enough and we've got to do a better job about that."
