49ers – Buccaneers Live Blog

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) week 14 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6) from Levi’s Stadium. I will provide updates and analysis from the press box throughout the game.

12:15 Inactive for the 49ers today are Jimmy Garoppolo, Hassan Ridgeway, Jaylon Moore, Ross Dwelley, Curtis Robinson, Nick Zakelj, Ty Davis-Price.

San Francisco elevated Tevin Coleman from the practice squad yesterday. They prefer having him active over Davis-Price who they selected in the third round.

Inactive for the Buccaneers are Kyle Trask, Kyle Rudolph, Breshad Perriman, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Antoine Winfield, Mike Edwards, Tristan Wirfs. 

Tampa Bay will be without both starting safeties and its starting right tackle. 

1:15 This game sets up very similar to the 49ers week three game at Denver. We have a quarterback making his first start of the season against a very good defense. 

Everything about this game points to a low scoring battle which will be won by the team that makes fewer mistakes. The difference is very likely to be the quarterback who plays the best. 

1:23 Tampa Bay won the toss and deferred to the second half. Brock Purdy will open the game.

1:30 What a start!

Brock Purdy gets blasted by Keanu Neal. The safety came on a blitz and hit the quarterback in the head leading to a personal foul. 

The rookie didn’t back down, throwing on the next three plays. On third and seven Purdy hit George Kittle over the middle to convert for a first down. 

Christian McCaffrey exploded up the middle on a zone read for 21 and Samuel went around the right side on the next play from 13 yards out to get the 49ers on the board.

49ers 7 Buccaneers 0

1:36 Kevin Givens goes down on an incompletion from Brady to Mike Evans. Kerry Hyder Jr. will replace him. 

1:43 Tampa Bay moves the ball to the 49ers 38 before San Francisco’s defense stops the drive. 

Ryan Succop tries a field goal from 55-yards out, but it’s tipped at the line of scrimmage and is no good. 

The key for San Francisco on that possession was holding Leonard Fournette to a gain of only one on first down. That allowed Nick Bosa and the pass rush to take off at Brady on third down. Bosa hit Brady who was able to get the ball away to avoid a sack.

1:50 Brock Purdy had a big play opportunity on first down, but his screen pass to George Kittle was too high. Purdy had to get the ball over the onrushing defensive end and couldn’t get it up and down. 

Quick possession for San Francisco after Trent Williams was called for holding to wipe out an 11-yard Purdy scramble.

Buccaneer defensive tackle Vita Vea went off the field with a calf injury. His return to the game is doubtful. 

1:55 Talanoa Hufanga with a blown coverage leads to a long touchdown pass from Brady to Mike Evans. The 49ers catch a break when it is called back for holding.

1:57 The 49ers defense takes advantage of the penalty.

The offense will take over at their own 38. San Francisco’s had good field position to start all three possessions. Ray-Ray McCloud has improved San Francisco’s return game in recent weeks. 

2:05 Christian McCaffrey with consecutive gains of 13-yards on toss sweeps to the left side. Well blocked up front and the running back exploded through the hole.

2:07 Nice play on third and one from the eight by Brock Purdy. The underneath tight end wasn’t open as he rolled right so Purdy to a shot at Tyler Kroft who was interfered with by Keanu Neal.

2:09 Brock Purdy opens the second quarter with a two-yard scramble for a touchdown. 

Tampa Bay got pressure, but Purdy stepped up and ran right through the middle of the defense for the score. That is something this offense did not have with Jimmy Garoppolo.

49ers 14 Buccaneers 0

2:14 A quick three and out for the 49ers defense. Arik Armstead makes his presence felt on third down, fhitting Tom Brady as he begins to throw and forcing an incompletion. 

The 49ers clearly are the better team.

2:18 Brock Purdy with a wild play. The rookie makes a Tampa defender miss, then finds Deebo Samuel for a gain of 18. 

He is really good with his feet. 

2:23 WOW. Purdy beats a Tampa Bay blitz with a deep throw down the left sideline to Christian McCaffrey, but McCaffrey is ruled to be bobbling the ball as he goes out of bounds. 

That looks like a catch. So close.

After review the play is ruled a touchdown. What a start for Brock Purdy.

49ers 21 Buccaneers 0

2:32 Jimmie Ward nearly gets his third interception of the season. Brady was trying to hit Chris Godwin on a screen to the left and Ward jumped it, What a play.

2:34 Ward with another big play, knocking away a pass from Brady to Godwin over the middle on third and six. 

I don’t see any way Tampa Bay can score more than 21 points today. They are overwhelmed by the 49ers defense. 

2:42 Up by 21, Deebo Samuel goes down with an injury running the ball into the middle of the line. This looks like a bad injury. 

He was up for a minute, but the cart is now on the field to take him off. 

2:48 Huge stop by the 49er defense. Brady gets the Bucs to the eight, but Jimmie Ward forces incompletions on third and fourth down to get the ball back for the offense. 

2:59 This first half could not have gone any better for Brock Purdy. He leads the 49ers on a 91-yard touchdown drive, finishing it off with a 32-yard touchdown deep down the left sideline to Brandon Aiyuk. 

49ers 28 Buccaneers 0

3:05 Brock Purdy in the first half: 14-18, 185 yards and two touchdowns. He’s doing this against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

3:20 Tom Brady is picked off by Tashaun Gipson on the third play of the second half. Brady’s pass sailed on him right to the 49ers safety.

Deebo Samuel has been ruled out for the rest of the game with an ankle injury. 

3:21 On second down, Christian McCaffrey splits the Bucs defense and makes a house call from 38 yards out.

49ers 35 Buccaneers 0

3:31 Dre Greenlaw with the 49ers second interception of the half. The linebacker jumped up, got a hand on the ball and caught his own deflection. 

Tom Brady looks old.

A couple plays earlier he had Scotty Miller open deep down the left sideline and underthrew the receiver so bad that Deommodore Lenoir was able to knock it away with his back despite never turning around.

3:49 Tampa Bay finally gets on the scoreboard. Brady’s pass to Chris Godwin bounces out of his hands and Russell Gage Jr. if there to snatch the ball out of the air. 

49ers 35 Buccaneers 7

3:58 Jordan Mason is something else. The rookie back continues to make the most of his opportunities. 

49ers win 35-7.