NFL Scores: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Send San Francisco 49ers To Sixth Straight Loss
The Super Bowl is looking smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, as the San Francisco 49ers are spiraling down the NFL ladder at a rapid rate. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Niners by a score of 34-17 on Sunday, as reported by ESPN. Changes should be expected soon.
Jameis Winston has shown potential to be a superstar in the NFL. Against the San Francisco 49ers, he looked every bit the part. Winston threw three touchdowns against a defense that used to be one of the best and most dominant in the National Football League. He also did it with ease.
When the San Francisco 49ers were perennial contenders for the Super Bowl, their defense was led by Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman. They were easily one of the best inside linebackers that the NFL has ever seen. Willis abruptly retired and Bowman has struggled to stay on the field because of injuries.
Fact: @Qui22Rodgers is SHIFTY.
45-yard pick-up for the @TBBuccaneers! #TBvsSF https://t.co/hlUZGc8Tx2
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 23, 2016
Momentum plays a big part in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers were actually up by a score of 14-0 after the first quarter ended. Unfortunately, they were unable to score in the second and third quarter, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to put up 27 straight points.
In his second game back as being a starter, Colin Kaepernick once again failed to convince the NFL that he was worthy of being a star in the league. The former Nevada star was only able to put up 143 passing yards, which will make it harder for him to secure a big contract in free agency next summer.
Knowing that the San Francisco 49ers have been struggling with stopping the run, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff wisely put together a game plan where they would rely heavily on their running backs. It worked out to perfection as the team racked up 249 rushing yards.
Not coincidentally, during the sixth straight losses by the San Francisco 49ers, the defense has given up 100 yards rushing to various running backs that they have played against. NFL teams are going to continue to attack the Niners in that fashion for the rest of the season.
Jacquizz Rodgers has looked pedestrian for much of the season. Last week, he had 101 rushing yards against a Carolina Panthers defense that seems mentally defeated for the season. This week, he torched the San Francisco 49ers for 154 yards. Rodgers needs to figure out how to keep riding the momentum.
With their quarterback position in a flux, the San Francisco 49ers were hoping to receive more help from their rushing attack. That did not happen. While the team managed to combine for 160 rushing yards and a touchdown, much of that was from Colin Kaepernick. He had 84 yards on the ground, which was more than any other Niners running back.
In regards to the passing game, the San Francisco 49ers were simply not able to get anything going. Their top receiver against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was running back Shaun Draughn. The former North Carolina Tar Heels star had a touchdown and his five catches were two more than any other Niners receivers.
With the loss, the San Francisco 49ers are now sitting on a 1-6 record. Any chance of catching the 4-1 Seattle Seahawks are a pipe dream. They are now easily the worst team in the NFC West, which is quite the drop.
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they are now sitting on a 3-3 record. In the weak NFC South division, that is good enough to be second place. They are also only a single win behind the Atlanta Falcons. Jameis Winston still has a chance of guiding the Buccaneers into the NFL Playoffs.
[Featured Image by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
