The San Francisco 49ers open their final nine games of the regular season with a road trip to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For the 49ers, this Week 10 bout will determine the tenor of the rest of their season. A win keeps them in a tie for the top of the division. A loss puts them on the outside looking in at the NFC West, and at a wild card spot where the No. 7 seed belongs to the 6-3 Green Bay Packers.
Week 10 won’t just be a big one for the 49ers. Their opponent will also be entering with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on with the Buccaneers in 2024:
What did the Buccaneers do last game?
Tampa Bay visited the Kansas City Chiefs and fell 30-24 in overtime. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was impressive against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. He threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, but he was outdueled by Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’s 291 yards and three touchdowns.
What’s the Buccaneers’ record?
The Bucs are now 4-5 after their loss to the Chiefs. They’re comfortably No. 2 in the NFC South ahead of the 2-7 Carolina Panthers and 2-7 New Orleans Saints. They’re now 2.0 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Falcons. In the NFC playoff race, the Bucs are 0.5 games behind the 49ers at No. 11 overall.
What’s the Buccaneers injury situation?
One of Tampa Bay’s issues during their three-game losing skid is their injuries at wide receiver. Chris Godwin is out for the year with an ankle injury, and Mike Evans is out for several weeks with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Greg Gaines was also out of Monday’s game with a calf injury.
Where do the Buccaneers rank in offense?
Even with the injuries the Bucs’ offense has been outstanding under the guidance of offensive coordinator Liam Coen. They rank No. 5 in total yards, No. 5 in yards per play and No. 3 in points per game. They posted 24 points vs. Kansas City — the second-highest output against them all season.
Where do the Buccaneers rank in defense?
It’s less pretty defensively for head coach Todd Bowles’s club. They’re No. 30 in the NFL in yards allowed per game and No. 30 in yards allowed per play. Their run defense is allowing 5.19 yards per play, which is tied with the New York Giants for the worst mark in the league. That makes it no surprise that the Buccaneers rank 28th in points allowed.
What happened last time the 49ers and Buccaneers played?
The 49ers are 20-6 all-time in the regular season vs. Tampa Bay, including wins in each of their last three matchups. Last time they played was in 2023 with the 49ers handling business at Levi’s Stadium and securing a 27-14 win. San Francisco also hosted the Buccaneers in 2022 and blew them out 35-7 in Brock Purdy’s first start at quarterback.
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