Niners Nation
The Niners continue their stingy ways in the secondary. The offense has no issue...between the 20s. And then, there’s the special teams
The San Francisco 49ers 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday was as accurate of a depiction as you’ll get from the 2024 version of the Niners.
If somebody asked you to describe Kyle Shanahan’s squad in 2024, it's the game you'd reference.
We saw shades of 2023 as the offense recorded season highs in yards after catch (182) and plays with 20+ YAC (4). Adding Christian McCaffrey meant there weren’t as many third downs, and moving the ball up and down the field was effortless.
But missed field goals, a turnover, and two other possessions when the offense settled for three points summed up that side of the ball all season. It's a potent offense that can score 40 points rolling out of bed, but they keep stubbing their toe every few steps.
The defense ended its three-game streak of multiple turnovers but only allowed one touchdown when the Buccaneers were forced to drive a full field. Outside of that second-quarter touchdown, the 49ers allowed 145 yards on 48 plays.
Tampa Bay went 5-for-14 on third down. Baker Mayfield was a miracle worker without his top wideouts. Giving the other team credit is OK, and it’s due with Mayfield. The defense had the Buccaneers dead to rights on several plays, but Baker found a way.
Let’s get into the reason the score was 23-20.
The 49ers reaped the benefits of McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings on the first play from scrimmage. Jennings blocked the safety out of the hole for a six-yard gain.
The passing game looked like the Niners from a year ago. Forty-five percent of Purdy’s yards came on in-breaking routes. The 49ers want to live over the middle of the field. The best routes Jennings, Deebo Samuel, and Ricky Pearsall run are all in-breaking routes. Get your playmakers the ball on the run, and they’ll reward you. That’s what happened against the Buccaneers.
Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle all had a reception of at least 30 yards. It’s pick-your-poison defensively when each eligible receiver on offense is a threat to score whenever they touch the ball.
Jennings assumed the role of WR1 out of the bye week. He finished with 11 targets, compared to seven from McCaffrey. Pearsall and Samuel each finished with six. Kittle only had three, as he stayed into block 18.9 percent of the time due to Tampa Bay’s blitzing.
Jennings played eight more snaps than any receiver. Each pass catcher had at least three first downs, with Jennings leading the way at five.
The Buccaneers did not have a wide receiver catch more than two passes. The Buccaneers did not have a receiver with more than 11 receiving yards. It was a mismatch of epic proportions between the trio of Isaac Yiadom, Renardo Green, and Deommodore...
