The Tennessee Titans have a tough road game ahead of them in Week 15 when they face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CST.

Almost no one has predicted a Titans’ win this week, and for good reason. The 49ers are fresh off a bye; they are a stable team with one of the most complete defenses in the league, and they are on a playoff surge. The Titans have faced a ton of adversity this year, on top of having one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. They aren’t headed to the playoffs, but winning is still the goal.

It won’t be an easy task, but there are six things the Titans must do to secure a win over the 49ers this Sunday.

Control the line of scrimmage

This applies to both sides of the ball. The Titans’ offensive line has struggled to protect Cam Ward all season, and they’ve failed to create running lanes for Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. San Francisco’s defensive front can generate pressure, even without Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. But if the Titans can handle the 49ers’ rush and open holes for the running backs, they’ll be able to sustain drives and limit negative plays.

Understand, this is a tall task for the Titans’ offensive line.

The defensive front will have its work cut out for it as well, but Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat must make it possible for the linebackers to get pressure on Brock Purdy and limit the impact of Christian McCaffrey. They won’t be able to stop them on every play, but clogging the lanes will lessen what the 49ers’ offense can do.

Ground and pound

The 49ers’ pass rush is one of the best in the league, which is how they shut down opponents. They clog the running lanes and force the quarterback out of the pocket and into making risky throws. Last week, Tony Pollard posted a career performance against the Cleveland Browns, with 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Titans must build on that, as establishing the run not only keeps the 49ers’ offense off the field but also reduces the pressure on Cam Ward. Getting Pollard going early will help the Titans control the line of scrimmage on offense and help offset the Titans’ historically poor third-down conversion rate.

Limit turnovers

The Titans have 14 fumbles on the season, and Cam Ward has thrown seven interceptions. The 49ers’ offense thrives on efficiency and ball security, so the Titans must do the same to stay competitive. The Titans’ defense isn’t great at takeaways this year (six fumble recoveries and six interceptions), and against Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, that isn’t likely to change this week. Turnovers in a game like this can swing field position and momentum, so the Titans must maintain ball security.

Force third-down stops

The Titans allow their opponents to convert on third down almost 39% of the time, and fourth down is even higher at just over 73%. San Francisco is one of the best third-down conversion teams in the league, converting on over 48% of their third-down conversion attempts and almost 59% on fourth-down conversion attempts. Stopping them on early downs and forcing punts will be critical against this team. That means disciplined gap assignments and tackling from the Titans’ defense to disrupt the 49ers’ rhythm.

Win situational battles

In a game where the Titans are the unquestionable underdogs, winning the little things can keep the game close. That means avoiding penalties, executing in the red zone, making smart play-calls late in drives, and playing a clean game. These situational edges can make a big difference when facing a team with more overall talent, and give the Titans a path to victory.

Exploit 49ers’ injury vulnerabilities

Aside from Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, Yetur Gross-Matos and Fred Warner are also on injured reserve, and three additional players have been ruled out on defense. They will have slim depth on the edge and linebacker positions, so if the Titans can identify and exploit these spots in the defense, especially early, it could create unexpected opportunities on offense. Like Pollard breaking free for a big run, or Ward finding Chimere Dike down the field. The 49ers’ defense is still very good, but if the Titans attack where they are the weakest, it will help their cause.