BUCS at 49ERS
WHEN: Sunday, November 19, 2023 | WHERE: Levi’s Stadium | KICKOFF: 4:05 p.m. ET | TV: FOX
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Davis | ANALYST: Daryl Johnston | SIDELINE: Pam Oliver
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
Sport day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report employees to make its weekly sport predictions and provide up our sport preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you suppose within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.
Scott Reynolds: Overmatched Bucs Get Crushed By 49ers
The 49ers have scored 30 factors or extra in all six of their victories this 12 months, together with a 34-3 dismantling of the Jaguars final week in Jacksonville. In San Francisco’s three losses the workforce has solely scored 17 factors. Whereas Tampa Bay’s protection appeared nice final week, the Titans solely had two actual weapons to deal with – operating again Derrick Henry and large receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The 49ers have 4 in operating again Christian McCaffrey, tight finish George Kittle and large receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiuyk. Containing two is one factor, however stopping all 4 is a pipe dream. If the Texans can drop 39 factors on the Bucs protection I see the 49ers scoring no less than 30 – even when Todd Bowles blitzes extra, as he did final week towards the Titans, and performs much less gentle zone protection. I’m guessing McCaffrey and Kittle go off on Sunday.
Offensively, the Bucs inside offensive line might be uncovered by defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave, who is perhaps the 49ers’ finest defensive lineman this 12 months. Linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw will take out the Bucs run sport and take away Rachaad White out of the backfield.
The 49ers are too veteran of a team and too talented for this Bucs squad to deal with, particularly on the highway. Cue the blowout, though it is going to be barely nearer than a 12 months in the past.
REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: 49ers 33, Bucs 13
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 6-3
Matt Matera: Bucs Can’t Beat Good Groups
If the Eagles and Lions have been the 2 hardest matchups for the Bucs this season, the 49ers must be the second hardest after Philadelphia however earlier than Detroit. The Bucs scored simply 11 factors going through the Eagles and have been even worse with six factors towards the Lions, so why will or not it’s any higher occurring the highway to play the 49ers? The worst factor for the Bucs is that the 49ers are totally wholesome, so their expertise alone can get the higher of the Bucs’ group.
The Bucs offense has two issues going for them in the meanwhile – huge performs to Mike Evans and display performs to Rachaad White, which get him out in house and let him make strikes. Drawback is, the 49ers have the perfect linebacker duo within the sport with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. They’ll be capable to snuff out the screens to White immediately. With the Bucs’ incapability to run, I don’t be ok with Baker Mayfield having to drop again a number of occasions with an excellent go rush going after him.
The excellent news is the Bucs protection was capable of get again on monitor final week most notably with their go rush. However that was the Titans and that is the 49ers. The Bucs gained’t generate any strain on the left aspect towards Trent Williams, however they’ll attempt to take benefit on the best. I’d wish to see them do a pair extra stunts that will get Vita Vea or Calijah Kancey out on the sting and create mismatches.
They’ve to have the ability to cease Christian McCaffrey, however I’m much more involved about Deebo Samuel. Tampa Bay might need to shade a security to his aspect on every play. We all know how unhealthy the Bucs are in zone, and Samuel can beat most cornerbacks one-on-one. There’s simply too many weapons on San Fran’s aspect to take care of.
A loss isn’t season ending for the Bucs. I simply don’t suppose they’ll show but that they’re able to tackle higher competitors. A minimum of they’ll nonetheless be within the race for the division.
MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: 49ers 28, Bucs 10
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 6-3
Bailey Adams: The Hole Is Too Massive For The Bucs To Overcome
Take a look at this sport 10 alternative ways and also you’re in all probability going to see the 49ers decide up the win in 9 of them. All the things appears to be stacked towards the Bucs on this one, from the struggles they’ve traditionally had out west to the truth that there’s merely a big hole between them and the 49ers.
San Francisco’s three-game shedding streak seems to be firmly within the rearview mirror after a 34-3 domination in Jacksonville final week. And it wouldn’t be a shock to see the same level differential right here.
Now I’m not going to go so far as really predicting a 31-point loss for the Bucs, who misplaced by 28 in San Francisco final 12 months with the best quarterback of all time underneath heart. I really suppose they enhance upon that time differential, as they’ve appeared to determine some issues out on either side of the ball and in consequence, they may completely rally and win the division with some stable play down the stretch.
However I feel their potential run towards a 3rd straight NFC South title is more likely to start subsequent week as a result of I simply don’t see them stealing a win right here. Each means I take a look at it, the 49ers simply have a greater and deeper roster whereas additionally having a greater teaching employees. San Francisco’s offense doesn’t appear like a superb matchup for Tampa Bay’s protection and I don’t suppose Baker Mayfield and the offense are going to exit and win a shoutout.
I feel Tampa Bay falls behind early and struggles to essentially get again into it, guaranteeing that Weeks 1 and a couple of stay the newest time this workforce has gained back-to-back video games. However hope shouldn’t be misplaced for the Bucs, as they’ll quickly enter a stretch that ought to be extra manageable. They very nicely might end 2023 sturdy and discover themselves with a house playoff sport come January.
ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: 49ers 31, Bucs 14
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 5-4
Josh Queipo: Bucs Fail To Get To .500
The Bucs have been embarrassed final 12 months in San Francisco by a workforce that was clearly higher than them in virtually each side of the sport. One 12 months onward and most of the storylines stay the identical.
The 49ers go rush might be an onslaught for a Bucs offensive that’s good on the edges, however struggles within the inside. With out a run sport to assist decelerate San Francisco’s bevy of go rushers, the Bucs offense will as soon as once more look very increase or bust.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, coming off of maybe their finest efficiency of the 12 months, the Bucs protection can have their fingers full matched up towards a few of the finest play makers within the NFL. Getting Trent Williams, and Deebo Samuel again will make for a troublesome project for the Bucs back and front seven.
Finally, while you add in that the 2 teaching staffs are in fully completely different tiers, San Francisco wins this pretty simply.
QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: 49ers 28, Bucs 17
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 6-3
Adam Slivon: San Francisco Déjà vu? Bucs Lose Once more On West Coast
Taking a look at Sunday’s matchup between the Bucs and 49ers, it attracts loads of parallels to Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Eagles in addition to final season’s Week 14 drubbing in San Francisco. With how the Bucs have performed towards projected playoff groups this season, it’s troublesome to see how the outcomes are going to be any completely different this time round.
That’s not to say there isn’t an opportunity any given Sunday, and the Bucs lastly have some momentum after defeating the Titans 20-6. It is going to take one other defensive masterclass by head coach Todd Bowles to close down all of San Francisco’s offensive weapons.
The Brock Purdy present had a pleasant opening pilot final season as he picked aside Tampa Bay’s protection in his first NFL begin. The entire identical weapons round Purdy stay, from versatile weapons in Christian McCaffery and Deebo Samuel to main receiver Brandon Aiyuk and top-three tight finish George Kittle.
If the Bucs can restrict them from lighting up the scoreboard, they then can have the issue of getting factors of their very own towards the 49ers’ protection. Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave towards Tampa Bay’s inside offensive line is a matchup nightmare, whereas Nick Bosa and Chase Younger are certain to win at occasions towards Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke.
Rachaad White has discovered little success on the bottom this 12 months, and with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw patrolling the center, it is going to additionally show difficult for White to have any via the air.
One of many solely benefits the Bucs have is their prime receivers towards the 49ers’ secondary, and loads of their offense will come from Baker Mayfield discovering Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – if Mayfield will get the time to throw. If there was any week to get Trey Palmer or one other receiver concerned in inventive methods, Sunday could be pretty much as good of a time as any.
It is going to take throwing all the pieces however the kitchen sink on the 49ers to win, however it’s laborious to consider the Bucs can management either side of the ball sufficient to drag off a win on the West Coast.
SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: 49ers 31, Bucs 17
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 7-2