San Francisco @ Tampa Bay preview
Raymond James Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2016 ) Tampa Bay 34, San Francisco 17
Jameis Winston is back at the helm of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ prolific passing game, which he will try to guide to a win over the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Each team has lost seven of its last eight contests.
Winston replaced a struggling Ryan Fitzpatrick during last week’s 38-35 road loss to the New York Giants and on Monday was named the starter once again, as coach Dirk Koetter continues to search for consistency under center. "Our quarterback play in general has been spectacular at times and not good enough at times," Koetter told reporters. "Almost every game, we get some beautiful, beautiful play at quarterback, some tremendous throws, some great decision-making, some beautiful adjustments. But at other times, we've had some bad decision-making that has resulted in turnovers, and that's hurting our team." The 49ers can relate, as they’ve used three different starting quarterbacks due to Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury and C.J. Beathard’s ineffectiveness, eventually handing the job to the 23-year-old Nick Mullens. San Francisco is 1-1 since Mullens took over, posting a blowout victory over Oakland before suffering a 27-23 loss to the Giants prior to last week’s bye.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Buccaneers -3. O/U: 54.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (2-8): Mullens has breathed new life in the passing attack since taking the reins, giving the 49ers another element to complement an effective ground game led by Matt Breida. Mullens doesn’t have much of a receiving corps with which to work, but tight end George Kittle has been a favorite target, catching 13 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. The defense has been strong, especially in recent weeks, and ranks 10th in total defense, but the 49ers need more takeaways - they’ve forced an NFL-worst five turnovers in 10 contests.
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (3-7): Tampa Bay leads the league in passing and total offense but is eighth in scoring offense and last in scoring defense. The prime reason is the fact that Winston and Fitzpatrick have combined to throw 23 interceptions, contributing to the Bucs’ league-worst minus-23 turnover ratio. The secondary has improved after being torched early in the season, but the run defense is sliding in the wrong direction as it gave up 163 rushing yards to the Giants.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Bucs have posted more than 500 total yards in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history and have topped 500 five times this season.
2. Breida averages 5.59 yards per carry, the most in the league among players with at least 100 carries.
3. Tampa Bay placed TE O.J. Howard on injured reserve after he suffered an ankle injury against the Giants. Howard ranks third on the team in receiving yards (565) and is tied with Mike Evans with a team-high five touchdown receptions.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers 30, 49ers 27