BucsGameday Staff Score Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers At San Francisco 49ers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally snapped their four-game losing streak with a decisive performance against the Tennessee Titans. There's still an opportunity for the Buccaneers to regroup after moving back to second place in the NFC South. In fact, the team can retake control of the division this weekend if they can pull off an upset over the San Francisco 49ers.
It won't be easy with the 49ers holding the second-best point differential (+109) in the NFL. San Francisco has dropped three of its past four games entering the contest against the Buccaneers but did pull off a dominant 34-3 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend.
Tampa Bay will need its defense to step up to the plate in a matchup against the combination of quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffery. Purdy has tossed three touchdowns to five interceptions in San Francisco's three losses and 12 touchdowns to zero interceptions in the six wins.
Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Buccaneers and 49ers prepare to face off in Levi's Stadium.
Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)
I'll be honest, the Buccaneers surprised me with their performance in the win over Tennessee last weekend. It was the most impressive outing for the defense this season as they finished with more tackles for loss (10) than points allowed (six). In the end, the team only surrendered 209 yards and held Derek Henry to just 24 yards on the ground.
Tampa Bay will face an even bigger test on the West Coast against Christian McCaffery and a deadly San Francisco offense. McCaffery has recorded six games of 100+ yards from scrimmage through the 49ers' first nine contests of the season. He had his streak of 17 consecutive games with a touchdown snapped against the Jaguars.
With San Francisco back on track, I think this game will prove to be a mismatch for the Buccaneers. I expect Tampa Bay to struggle pretty heavily this Sunday.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-4
49ers 38, Buccaneers 17
Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)
If the Buccaneers can get Rachaad White going again in the passing game and Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans can connect, Tampa Bay can stay in this game. It’ll be a tough task for Todd Bowles’ defense but more importantly, points need to be put up on the board. Also, give more opportunities to Trey Palmer in one-on-one situations. I have the Buccaneers losing this one but surprising us by sticking around longer than expected.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-4
49ers 34, Buccaneers 23
David Harrison (@DHarrison82)
Many are going to expect the Buccaneers to lose this matchup, and for good reason. While Tampa Bay certainly had talent, the 49ers have that and an identity. While the Bucs continue to find out who they truly are, I think they compete but ultimately fall short this week.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-5
49ers 24, Buccaneers 17
Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers)
Although the Buccaneers managed to finally end their 4-game losing streak last weekend, it took a home matchup against a very unimpressive Tennessee Titans squad to do it. The San Francisco 49ers present an entirely new set of challenges.
After acquiring Chase Young, San Francisco may have an even more imposing defensive line than the Philadelphia Eagles, who absolutely manhandled the Bucs in the trenches when the two teams met back in Week 3.
The Bucs will need to do something they haven't done all season, which is play well on both sides of the ball at the same time, if they are to have any hope of keeping this game close. Traveling across the country only adds to the inconvenience of having to face one of the few legitimate NFC title contenders.
I think the Buccaneers manage to cover the spread (49ers -11.5), but San Francisco is just too well-rounded of a football team to fall to the Bucs in this game.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-4
49ers 21, Buccaneers 14
Caleb Skinner (@chsnole)
I have been wayyyyy wrong when it comes to my predictions this season for the Buccaneers so here’s to hoping we can break the streak.
The Buccaneers have their hands full this week against the potent San Francisco 49ers and it will also be on the road. The Buccaneers have found ways to win, but have folded against tougher competition. The defense got back on track last week against the Titans, but they will have to deal with a whole other level of an offense with the Niners. I just don’t see the Bucs getting enough done in this one, dropping the contest by 2+ touchdowns.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-6
49ers 35, Buccaneers 17
JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face an uphill battle when they fly to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Sunday. The 49ers are in the top ten in most of the common statistical per-game categories in the NFL. While the Bucs are near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories except for points allowed and rushing yards allowed.
Protection will be key to allow routes to develop for Mayfield to move the chains through the air. On defense limiting McCaffrey and company from gaining yards after the catch and contact will be huge. The Bucs had a bounce-back win against the Titans but can't keep it going falling to the 49ers in their last big opponent on the schedule.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 7-2
49ers 23, Buccaneers 13
Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)
While the Buccaneers finally got back in the win column a week ago, so did the 49ers. Scoring on the 49ers' defense will be no easy task for the Buccaneers' offense which has been up and down. The 49ers are the better team and that will show on Sunday.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 6-3
49ers 27, Buccaneers 17
Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson)
The Buccaneers are playing the same team that beat them 35-7 last year. While the 49ers team is very similar to last year's team, the Bucs have a new quarterback, offensive coordinator, and have a big challenge ahead of them. In all of their wins, the 49ers have got up big early against teams and put their foot on the gas pedal. It will be hard to avoid a similar outcome for the Bucs on Sunday.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-4
49ers 35, Buccaneers 20
Cody Haynes (@codyh33)
The Bucs finally snapped their losing streak with an impressive win against the Titans. This week, the Bucs have a long flight to Santa Clara, California to play a very good 49ers team. The last time these two teams played was Brock Purdy’s first NFL start and the 49ers offense showed up, beating the Bucs 35-7. If this team wants any shot at winning this matchup, they need to play defense like they did against the Titans last Sunday.
Get pressure on Purdy and make him make mistakes. Offensively, Baker needs to continue to target Evans and Godwin. Keep finding Rachaad in space as well. Though I do believe the Bucs will play better this time around, I don’t believe it will be enough to win.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 2-3 (joined in middle of season)
49ers 24, Buccaneers 17
Matthew Hewitt (@BucsTrackerNFL)
The Buccaneers looked a lot better last week but this will be the biggest test of the 2023 season. The Bucs will have to play a nearly perfect game if they want to win. For some reason, I think the Bucs will play their best game of the season and beat the 49ers on a walk-off field goal.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-2 (joined in middle of season)
Buccaneers 24, 49ers 23
CONSENSUS: 49ers (9-1)
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