TAMPA, Fla. – Christian McCaffrey’s season debut Sunday has the 49ers hoping he’ll spark playoff runs, just as he did the previous two seasons.
The déjà vu doesn’t stop there.
The 49ers are coming off their Week 9 bye and seeking a win in Florida. Sound familiar? Such was the case last year, when they won in Jacksonville to snap a three-game skid and launch a Super Bowl run.
The déjà vu doesn’t stop there.
This season, the Bucs started 3-1, lost four of their next five, then next face the 49ers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Last season, the Bucs started 3-1, lost four of their next five, then fell to the 49ers, 27-14 at Levi’s Stadium.
“Obviously it wasn’t the start we would have anticipated or hoped for, but we have to live with that,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “We’re a 4-4 football team right now. We have nine games to see how we want to be the rest of the season.”
Such playoff pushes are an annual ritual under coach Kyle Shanahan tracing to the 2019 season, which opened … here, when defensive back Nick Bosa made his NFL debut on a tender ankle and the 49ers launched an 8-0 start.
In this first game back in Tampa, the 49ers may need Bosa to battle through a hip injury and have their defense again dictate a victory. Then again, their offense could revert to 2023 high-scoring form with McCaffrey’s long-awaited season debut.
Here are five ways to beat the Bucs for a – déjà vu — third straight season:
1. MAKE ROOM FOR CMC
Two months after McCaffrey figured to start his season, the 49ers can hand him the ball (or throw it to him) and spruce up their touchdown production. His Achilles tendinitis subsided enough for this past week’s re-entry to practice, and this game offers his first test at full-speed cuts amid full-contact action.
Speaking of which, rookie rusher Isaac Guerendo pointed to McCaffrey’s change-of-direction footwork as something to model. “The efficiency in and out of cuts that he has is like no one else,” Guerendo said.
Added run-game coordinator Christ Foerster: “It’s like all of a sudden it’s just ‘bam’ and he hits the hole right in time, perfect timing, perfect pacing of the play, catches some balls down the field and things like that. It’s nice.”
Aside from Brandon Aiyuk’s Oct. 20 exit to a knee injury, the 49ers’ offense is essentially at full strength, and that should enhance McCaffrey’s transition. “All hands on deck,” wide receiver Deebo Samuel said.
2. EXPLOIT FRESH LEGS
Not only do the 49ers have fresh legs, their opponent could be exhausted.
The Bucs’ defense played 85 snaps in Monday night’s overtime loss at Kansas City, where the Chiefs’ five scoring drives each consisted of at least 10 plays.
The Buccaneers’ injury report lists 13 players, and while wide receiver Mike Evans is the only one already ruled out, six are questionable, including wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and safeties Jordan Whitehead and Tykee Smith.
Extending offensive drives will be key for Brock Purdy …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
