Titans 19, 49ers 13: Slye From 50-Plus, Ward's Night After the Opening Drive

August 13, 2026 - Santa Clara - Cam Ward looked like the Titans' starter for 11 plays. Then he looked like a quarterback whose mechanics sped up, which is what Robert Saleh said afterward, and which is the whole point of August.

The Tennessee Titans beat the San Francisco 49ers 19-13 at Levi's Stadium because Joey Slye made four field goals, three from 50-plus, and because Tony Pollard finished the only Tennessee touchdown drive. San Francisco's answer was Patrick Taylor Jr. from a yard, plus Eddy Pineiro from 52 and 41.

Tennessee's starters lasted about 20 snaps. The rest was the kicker.

Ninety-five yards, then two empty series

Opening drive: 11 plays, 95 yards, 5:10. Ward went 2-of-4 for 34 yards. The Titans ran the ball and won the line. Pollard scored from 5. 7-0.

Ward's next two possessions: 3-of-8 for 23 yards, 15 yards of offense, no points. Carnell Tate, the No. 4 pick, was targeted three times. All incomplete. One near the goal line was broken up by 49ers rookie Ephesians Prysock. Ward finished 5-of-12 for 57 yards and one rush for 2 yards.

Kurtis Rourke then moved San Francisco 68 yards. Taylor scored from the 1. 7-7. Slye hit from 39 with 1:21 left in the half, then from 55 as the clock hit zero. 13-7, Titans.

Slye added 53 in the third and 58 with 2:23 left. Pineiro's 41-yarder made it 19-13. Tennessee's later quarterbacks were Mitchell Trubisky (2-of-3, 23 yards), Will Levis (3-of-8, 42 yards, 22 rush yards), and Hendon Hooker (2-of-3, 17 yards). Saleh praised Slye's 4-for-4 night the same way a coach praises a specialist who just won him an evaluation game.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Thursday's kicks and lines:

Slye: 39-yard FG (7), 55 (11), 53 (11), 58 (11), extra point (2) = 42 kicker fantasy points. That is a Star-band kicker night if it happened in Week 8. Pineiro: 52-yard FG (11), 41-yard FG (9), extra point (2) = 22. Ward's 57 pass yards = 4.6. Pollard's verified 5-yard touchdown is 6 plus 1.3 from those yards. We are not filling in an unverified full rushing line. Taylor's 1-yard TD is 6 plus 0.3.

Fantasy points grade the box. They do not grade whether Ward's second and third drives were protection, timing, or both. Saleh already told you the tape will.

Track Ward, Pollard, Slye, and the Titans on the marketplace.

*Sources: ESPN, AP via ABC, The Tennessean live updates. Information only; not financial advice.*