SAN FRANCISCO – In uniform for just the third time this season, wide receiver Jason Hill made the most of his opportunity Sunday. Hill caught four passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

The first was one of the best touchdown passes of Alex Smith's career. At the Tennessee 20-yard line, Smith broke free of a would-be tackler, sprinted to his right, and just before running out of bounds threw across his body to Hill, who was alone in the back of the end zone.

Smith also found Hill for a three-yard touchdown pass late in the game.

"He and I got a lot of work together the first six weeks of the season, working out there on the scout team together," Smith said. "I've got a trust in Jason, and it showed out there today."

Hill hasn't been happy about his lack of playing time this season, but when he approached Mike Singletary on Friday, the coach told him he'd be active.

"He said you have to be ready. And (receivers) coach (Jerry) Sullivan said the same thing – be ready," Hill said. "I thought if I could get out there, I could make a difference."

Hill's playing time came at the expense of veteran Isaac Bruce, who didn't play in the second half and finished with one catch for three yards.

Run ragged – The 49ers entered the game with the league's second-best run defense, one that has held opponents to just under 85 rushing yards a game. That ranking, however, is bound to drop after Chris Johnson's 135-yard performance.

Johnson's most damaging run was one of his shortest. Facing fourth-and-one at the San Francisco 2-yard line, the Titans called for a pitch to Johnson. The 49ers seemed to have the play strung out, but Johnson was able to beat linebacker Parys Haralson around the outside and scoot in for the go-ahead touchdown.

"You can't take anything away from the guy," said Patrick Willis, who finished with 10 tackles. "The kid is fast and he can run. If you give him what he is looking for, which is the edge, he can turn and run like there's no tomorrow."

Century mark – Vernon Davis is hoping for a trip to the Pro Bowl after the season, and Sunday he finished with Pro Bowl-like numbers. The 49ers tight end finished with 10 receptions for a career-high 102 receiving yards. It was the first time the former first-round draft pick has reached the 100-yard mark.

Afterward, Davis struck a theme that his coach and teammates also stressed in the locker room: The 49ers have to learn to finish off opponents when they get a lead.

"I feel good about the team," Davis said. "We have a lot of time. This isn't the end of the world. We just have to keep getting better in practice and learn how to finish games."

Injuries – The 49ers picked a bad time to have their longest injury list of the season since they host the Bears on Thursday night. Players usually have two days to heal – Monday and Tuesday – before practice begins for the next week. The 49ers have today off but are expected to practice Tuesday.

The injured 49ers were: safety Curtis Taylor (shin bruise), running back Michael Robinson (shoulder), cornerback Tarell Brown (bruised ribs), guard David Baas (shoulder), tight end Delanie Walker (knee), Frank Gore (eye), safety Michael Lewis (quadriceps strain), tight end Davis (shoulder) and running back Glen Coffee (concussion).

Taylor, Lewis and Coffee did not return to the game after their injuries.

Read Matthew Barrows' archives and blogs at www.sacbee.com/sf49ers.