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Preview for San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers (4-1) face another daunting road game when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) on Sunday in a battle with a fellow NFC contender thriving amid injury adversity.
Despite a series of injuries on both sides of the ball, the 49ers stunned their NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, thanks to a valiant effort from backup quarterback Mac Jones.
After helping the 49ers win 26-23 in overtime, Jones hopes to improve to 4-0 as a starter for San Francisco, with starting quarterback Brock Purdy still on the bench due to a grass toe.
The 49ers beat the Rams despite a magnificent performance by Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford. This week, they face a challenger, Baker Mayfield, who is playing at an MVP level.
Mayfield was sensational last week as the Buccaneers topped the Seattle Seahawks in a thriller in the Pacific Northwest, throwing for 379 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay to a 38-35 victory at Lumen Field.
Tampa Bay’s offense will be without the services of wide receivers Chris Godwin (fibula) and Mike Evans (hamstring).
However, Mayfield will remain confident he has the tools to succeed against the 49er defense, with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka emerging as the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year after a sensational start to his career.
The first-round pick had 163 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions against Seattle. Following that performance, Egbuka now has 25 receptions, 445 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in five games, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions, 400 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in the first five games of his career.
Against a vulnerable 49ers secondary, Mayfield and Egbuka will look to ensure their obvious relationship yields more dramatic results, while the Bucs will hope for an increase in rushing production from Rachaad White, who scored two touchdowns in the absence of Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) in Seattle but averaged just 2.9 yards per rush.
Both the Buccaneers and 49ers have struggled to achieve rushing efficiency this season, with San Francisco unusually tied for the worst yards per carry average in the NFL (3.1).
The 49ers have failed to score a rushing touchdown so far this season, but running back Christian McCaffrey is on a historic pace as a pass catcher. McCaffrey is on pace for more than 1,300 yards passing, and if he has 50 receiving yards in this one, he will become the first running back in NFL history to do so in each of the first six games of a season.
While wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) and star tight end George Kittle (hamstring) remain on the bench, the 49ers will get Jauan Jennings (knee/rib) back to attack a depleted Tampa Bay secondary missing starting cornerback Zyon McCollum (thumb) and backup Benjamin Morrison (biceps femoris).
Facing a Tampa Bay defensive front featuring the likes of Vita Vea, Haason Reddick and YaYa Diaby, the emphasis will be on Jones to get the ball out quickly and keep the 49ers on schedule as they look to keep up with the mighty Buccaneers.
