The 49ers and the Buccaneers battled it out on Sunday, but ultimately a 44-yard walk-off field goal by 49ers' kicker Jake Moody sealed the deal. It was a tightly contested matchup, but the Bucs couldn’t come away with a win before their bye week.
Three takeaways from the Bucs' 23-20 loss:
1st Down: The Buccaneers’ offense was stunted from the start
It was a repeat of last week. The San Francisco 49ers played keepaway all game, and by halftime, were leading in all facets of the game. The 49ers distributed the ball with ease, amassing 338 passing yards, compared to the Buccaneers who just barely broke the hundred-yard mark at 108 passing yards.
In the running department, the Buccaneers were able to find their groove again, amassing 110 yards on the ground and breaking the hundred-yard mark for the fourth straight game. Meanwhile, the return of Christian McCaffery translated to 78 rushing yards on the ground.
All in all, the 49ers took complete control with 413 yards of total offense vs. the Bucs’ 215 yards of total offense.
2nd Down: Defense steps up, but it’s not enough
Aside from vital touchdown receptions by rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end George Kittle, the Bucs defense played stingy and kept the 49ers out of the end zone for the majority of the game.
Moody’s three missed field goals worked in the Bucs’ favor and kept the game close after crucial third-down stops. The Bucs’ defense once again got to the quarterback, sacking Brock Purdy three times in the backfield. Purdy found some success, collecting 353 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a 119.3 quarterback rating. Most importantly, the 49ers were able to drive the ball downfield to get in position for the 44-yard game-winning field goal.
Heading into the bye week, the question now becomes: Are there any changes that Coach Todd Bowles can make to help this defense find its footing and if so, what (or who) are they?
3rd Down - Time to hit the reset button
Dropping four straight games and falling to 4-6 before a bye week isn’t a favorable position, especially when the Atlanta Falcons possess a three-game lead. Many fans are going to hit the panic button and even call for the head coach’s job (it’s already happening if you take a look on social media).
It’s not time to hit the panic button yet, however, for two reasons.
No. 1: They have their most valuable players coming back from injury after the bye week. Mike Evans and Jamel Dean are slated to make their returns. If all goes well, the two could be suited up for the Bucs’ next game against the 2-8 New York Giants.
No. 2: There’s a path to the playoffs. The NFC South division crown may be out of the picture this season as the Falcons still have a three-game, but a wild card appearance is still in play. As it stands right now, the schedule eases up, and the combined win-loss record of the remaining teams should bode a little hope for the Krewe as a whole.
The Bucs head to MetLife Stadium to play the Giants up next and visit the Carolina Panthers before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bucs visit the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys before Christmas, and the last two games are at home against the Panthers and Saints. (Somewhat of deja vú to end the season if you ask me)
It’s not an ideal place to be, but this stretch of the schedule was expected to be a grind. The Bucs are still very much in this, but they’re going to have to get hot if they want to make a late-season push into the postseason. It’s time to rest up and refocus this week as the Buccaneers head into the bye week.
The 49ers and the Buccaneers battled it out on Sunday, but ultimately a 44-yard walk-off field goal by 49ers' kicker Jake Moody sealed the deal. It was a tightly contested matchup, but the Bucs couldn’t come away with a win before their bye week.
Three takeaways from the Bucs' 23-20 loss:
1st Down: The Buccaneers’ offense was stunted from the start
It was a repeat of last week. The San Francisco 49ers played keepaway all game, and by halftime, were leading in all facets of the game. The 49ers distributed the ball with ease, amassing 338 passing yards, compared to the Buccaneers who just barely broke the hundred-yard mark at 108 passing yards.
In the running department, the Buccaneers were able to find their groove again, amassing 110 yards on the ground and breaking the hundred-yard mark for the fourth straight game. Meanwhile, the return of Christian McCaffery translated to 78 rushing yards on the ground.
All in all, the 49ers took complete control with 413 yards of total offense vs. the Bucs’ 215 yards of total offense.
2nd Down: Defense steps up, but it’s not enough
Aside from vital touchdown receptions by rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end George Kittle, the Bucs defense played stingy and kept the 49ers out of the end zone for the majority of the game.
Moody’s three missed field goals worked in the Bucs’ favor and kept the game close after crucial third-down stops. The Bucs’ defense once again got to the quarterback, sacking Brock Purdy three times in the backfield. Purdy found some success, collecting 353 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a 119.3 quarterback rating. Most importantly, the 49ers were able to drive the ball downfield to get in position for the 44-yard game-winning field goal.
Heading into the bye week, the question now becomes: Are there any changes that Coach Todd Bowles can make to help this defense find its footing and if so, what (or who) are they?
3rd Down - Time to hit the reset button
Dropping four straight games and falling to 4-6 before a bye week isn’t a favorable position, especially when the Atlanta Falcons possess a three-game lead. Many fans are going to hit the panic button and even call for the head coach’s job (it’s already happening if you take a look on social media).
It’s not time to hit the panic button yet, however, for two reasons.
No. 1: They have their most valuable players coming back from injury after the bye week. Mike Evans and Jamel Dean are slated to make their returns. If all goes well, the two could be suited up for the Bucs’ next game against the 2-8 New York Giants.
No. 2: There’s a path to the playoffs. The NFC South division crown may be out of the picture this season as the Falcons still have a three-game, but a wild card appearance is still in play. As it stands right now, the schedule eases up, and the combined win-loss record of the remaining teams should bode a little hope for the Krewe as a whole.
The Bucs head to MetLife Stadium to play the Giants up next and visit the Carolina Panthers before hosting the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bucs visit the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys before Christmas, and the last two games are at home against the Panthers and Saints. (Somewhat of deja vú to end the season if you ask me)
It’s not an ideal place to be, but this stretch of the schedule was expected to be a grind. The Bucs are still very much in this, but they’re going to have to get hot if they want to make a late-season push into the postseason. It’s time to rest up and refocus this week as the Buccaneers head into the bye week.
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