Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From 49ers-Bucs
November 19th, 2023
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Let’s not overthink this. The other team’s better.
The Bucs were hoping the 49ers would self-destruct a bit Sunday, resulting in a huge upset. Instead, San Francisco won the turnover battle 2-0 en route to a 27-14 triumph that turned a little dicey toward the end.
Tampa Bay never quit after a disastrous third quarter that saw San Francisco march for TD drives of 98 and 79 yards to go up by 20 points. In the end, despite some fight by the visitors, the superior roster prevailed.
No surprise there, just like it was no surprise when the Bucs lined up against Philadelphia on a Monday night at home and came up short. And just like the Lions were too strong for Tampa Bay five weeks ago.
he Bucs weren’t playing the Titans or the Bears on Sunday — and it showed. They are who we thought they are, a pedestrian team in a division where pedestrian just might be good enough for another division title.
Although they made it interesting at the end, the Bucs were undermined by the usual suspects. They still can’t run the football worth a damn and for the second time in three weeks, they made the opposing passer look like vintage Dan Marino.
Brock Purdy posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating, in large part because his targets always seemed to be wide-ass open. Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle combined for 13 catches for 245 yards and a pair of scores.
Todd Bowles was so focused on containing Christian McCaffrey (103 yards from scrimmage) that something had to give. As a result, Kittle and Aiyuk ran free all afternoon. McCaffrey averaged only 3.7 yards on his 21 carries, but he opened the scoring by catching a 4-yard pass from Purdy.
And yes, he was wide open.
Baker Mayfield stood tall in the pocket against a deep and relentless rush, completing 29 passes for 246 yards. He made some gorgeous throws against tight coverage and wouldn’t allow his teammates to feel the game was ever out of hand.
Tampa Bay’s special teams enjoyed a solid game and the offensive line held up pretty well in pass protection as two of San Francisco’s four sacks came in the final, desperate drive. It was shocking to see Tristan Wirfs beaten cleanly for a late sack but hey, he’s human, and he was a bit hobbled at that point.
Here’s how the 49ers overtook Seattle atop the NFC West while dropping the Bucs a full game behind idle New Orleans:
* Trailing only 13-7 at the half, the Bucs failed to show up for the third quarter. The big play was Aiyuk’s 76-yard TD grab past Jamel Dean down the left sideline. Given that the 49ers began the possession at their 2-yard line following a Jake Camarda punt, it was a back-breaker. For the period, Tampa Bay was outgained 177-42.
Jamel Dean
* Speaking of Dean, between injuries and ineffectiveness, his 2023 season has been utterly forgettable.
* In contrast, Antoine Winfield Jr. continued to shine with a 16-tackle effort. YaYa Diaby also excelled with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. His snap count is about to go up significantly.
* The depressing numbers are in for the Buc ground game. This time it was 66 yards on 18 carries, an average of 3.7 yards. Par for the course. No wonder Mayfield dropped back to pass 37 times in the second half alone.
* Mike Evans latched onto a 1-yard TD flip in the second quarter, but the 49ers did a good job on him. He was targeted 12 times but finished with five catches for only 43 yards.
* Fred Warner had himself a day with 12 stops, a forced fumble and a half-sack. No two ways about it … the guy’s a great player.
Returner/receiver/runner Deven Thompkins.
* It’s a tribute to Mayfield’s resourcefulness that the Bucs converted 7-of-14 on third down against the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense.
* Deven Thompkins provided a late spark with a 51-yard punt return, the longest by a Buc since Bobby Rainey brought one back 58 yards against Jacksonville in 2015.
* Calijah Kancey didn’t make the postgame stat sheet. Zeroes across.
* The Bucs slid to 4-6 with their fifth setback in the past six games, yet all is not lost in the hapless NFC South. That’s because the division is a cumulative 14-26. Every other division leader has at least 7 wins, so it’s beginning to look like 8-9 might be good enough for the NFC’s No. 4 playoff seed once again.
What a sorry state of affairs.
Ira Kaufman Dissects The Recent Front Office Activity, Talks Playoff Drive, Fresh Overhype, Bucs-Niners Predictions & Perceptions, And More
November 19th, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Just checking in, Ira. Has Bowles been fired yet?
November 19th, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Sad sad sad draft evaluation of talent!!!!!
And to think of all the players who were NOT selected as in (EDGE JOSH ALLEN) at 7 to the Jags and we got horse 🐎 boy
November 19th, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Ira K.,
Has thanksgiving cocktail party started early for you ?
Toilet Bowl defense kept the 49’ers to only 10 points in the entire first half while offense only scored 7 points in three qb’s and you blame the defense for this loss while you praising the offense with the trash qb, Baker. LOL
November 19th, 2023 at 10:22 pm
The Bucs front office can no longer get a pass…..
Brandon Aiyuk who’s on a 4 year $12 million contract embarrassed the $100 million boys Davis and Dean all day…..
This was as clear of a talent difference as youll see in the NFL….
John Lynch > Jason Licht
November 19th, 2023 at 10:24 pm
BLOW IT UP
November 19th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
Baker made “gorgeous throws”? When? Did those gorgeous throws happen during the first 3 quarters when he scored 7 points? Or in the 4th when he helped score another 7 points?
Lol…Baker is not good. He had less than 100 yds passing in the first half. He overthrows, and underthrows and get a lot of balls batted at the line. He does this every week. He starts too slow, every game.
If you’re a Baker fan, you’re a fan of mediocrity. 🤷🏾♂️
November 19th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
come on ira…tristan was def hobbled to give up the sack…
even cozmo could have scooted around him if he thought baker looked like a bowl of kibble
November 19th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
Joe was right Baker is still the best qb in this black hole division and that is a hard to swallow. As of now 65% of the flash poll says the season is over. Start Trask now, he deserve it as a high drafted NFL Player as we will have no high picks next year due to Toilet Bowl and Baker mediocrity.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:33 pm
Tbbucs3 –
How many championships has Lynch won? Licht 1, Lynch 0
Lynch could have drafted future HOF Tristan Wirfs, instead he traded the pick to Licht and he took backup DL Javon Kinlaw. Licht 2, Lynch 0
Licht spent a #1 pick on Jameis, who was let go after his rookie contract ended. Niners spent 3 first round picks on Trey Lance, who was traded for a jar of pickles after less than 3 years. Licht 3, Lynch 0.
John Lynch has done a pretty good job for sure, but he also has an excellent coaching staff. Licht was left with Bowles and salary cap hell after Arians and Brady left. But it was worth it for a championship.
Until Lynch wins it all, Licht > Lynch.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:35 pm
“Calijah Kancey didn’t make the postgame stat sheet. Zeroes across.”
Same for JTS. Zero stats.
Logan Hall had 1 tackle today.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:36 pm
Ira,
As you said” This division is the sorry state of affairs”. A team leads the division without a winning record. That is imaginable.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
Start Trask, Start Trask now. Start the future. End this circus show. We are not going any where with Toilet Bowl and Baker.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Facts:
The Bucs suck.
The so called leadership sucks.
The coaches suck.
The running game sucks.
The Defense sucks.
There will be no playoffs.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:45 pm
You cant possibly think Licht is a better GM than Lynch unless your stuck in the year 2020
Watch the game again, the 49ers pushed this team around like rag dolls….completely physically outmatch in all phases.
Brock Purdy treated this defense like he was facing the 49ers scout team….the only difference is the 49ers scout team is tougher than the Bucs defense
November 19th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
Come on guys.
Seriously, did anybody REALLY thing the Bucs would go out to SF and beat the 49ers?
The Bucs have some good players but so does every other NFL team .
The Bucs are a bad football team with horrible coaching and a GM that has made some questionable choices.
Things are not going to get any better here for quite some time.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
Secondary play was atrocious, running game is putrid, the QB can’t hit anyone downfield. What stood out to me is the Bucs chewed up half the 4th quarter down by two scores on a drive that fizzled out. The constant 5 yard out plays by Mayfield and the offense is not playing to win, have to throw down field which is not Bakers game.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
@Jeebs: “Licht was left with Bowles and salary cap hell after Arians and Brady left.”
I agree with your post, except for the above excuse. It is the GM’s responsibility to hire a HC and manage the cap, not 2 the responsibility of 2 retirees (BA and Brady).
Licht does not have a very good track record picking HCs, other than the meatball lobbed in his lap whe BA told Licht to make an offer.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:55 pm
Jeebs
I need whatever you’re smoking.
Licht is the GM, he wasn’t “left” with Bowles, he could have fired him and this bloated staff. He created his own salary cap problems.
Which team is/ has been better consistently? Don’t forget Lynch inherited a five alarm dumpster fire 🔥.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:59 pm
To go 8-9, this poorly coached team has to finish 4-3.
I laugh.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:08 pm
I was impressed that the Bucs didn’t completely embarrass themselves.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:14 pm
I agree Jeebs, Licht has brought us a Super Bowl. If he’s done it once, he can do it again, let him rework the team. We could do a lot worse then Licht as GM.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:18 pm
If the season ended today, I would re-sign Mayfield 100% and roll with him and Trask next season again at minimum.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:38 pm
I’m beginning to suspect most of the people on this site don’t watch the games, and certainly don’t rewatch them.
I just rewatched the game.
This Bucs team with 2/3 the cap of the rest of the league was two red-zone drops from upsetting one of the best NFC teams.
This is not a matter of opinion, or conjecture, it’s right there on the film, of an offense that played very well against a top 5 NFL defense.
Spend more time watching and less commenting, and you’d see a team that competed its ass off…even the defense which blew the 3rd quarter but tightened up in the 4th to give the offense the chance to come back…which they almost did.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:39 pm
@richard – Licht only won a SB because of Brady. Brady’s gone.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:50 pm
We are third in this ugly high school level division.
I didn’t have to rewatch the game. This Sorry Bucs team was four Baker’s dropped passes by 49’ers defenders to be a blow out game. I said before it’s wrong time to put the blame on everyone except trash Baker.
They all failed against a solid team as usual. Fire them all and start a fresh team with our young talented players. It is time to rebuild.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:01 am
Bucs fans don’t worry. We trust Baker is the man. Baker will have at least two more wins against Panthers followed by Baker’s first win against 49’ers in first round of playoffs. See there are so much hope. Be happy.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:15 am
Look at Licht’s record with Brady and then without Brady…
…then Licht my b***s.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:17 am
“Deven Thompkins provided a late spark with a 51-yard punt return, the longest by a Buc since Bobby Rainey brought one back 58 yards against Jacksonville in 2015.”
When he was running that back, I recalled visions of Michael Spurlock. I felt that tinge of excitement for a few seconds.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:18 am
If this mouth breather gets another shot to choose a HC…
And another chance to waste draft picks on non-impact players…
November 20th, 2023 at 12:20 am
Bee Says:
November 19th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
“Baker made “gorgeous throws”? When? Did those gorgeous throws happen during the first 3 quarters when he scored 7 points? Or in the 4th when he helped score another 7 points?
Lol…Baker is not good. He had less than 100 yds passing in the first half. He overthrows, and underthrows and get a lot of balls batted at the line. He does this every week. He starts too slow, every game.
If you’re a Baker fan, you’re a fan of mediocrity.”
Worth repeating.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:21 am
Jeebs the Honey Bear Says
“How many championships has Lynch won? Licht 1, Lynch 0”
Um…Lynch has a Superbowl ring. You miscounted.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:25 am
David: You continue to troll your way through the season. Oh, I almost forgot. You were the sick individual who wished for Baker to get injured. Man, something is really wrong with you. Please get some help, soon.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:29 am
ElioT Says
“If this mouth breather gets another shot to choose a HC…
And another chance to waste draft picks on non-impact players…”
He landed on 4 this year and 5 last year…that’s actually not bad overall.
And he had no first rounder last year, but both 2nd rounders are panning out as they develop.
That’s an average of 56+%. That makes him above average.
November 20th, 2023 at 12:31 am
ElioT Says:
“…then Licht my b***s.”
I don’t think you know how his name is pronounced, lol. That just sounds painful
November 20th, 2023 at 12:32 am
Watch More All-22 Before Commenting Says
“I just rewatched the game. ”
Not at regular speed you didn’t 😉
November 20th, 2023 at 12:33 am
I take that back…forgot I had a 4 hour broadcast after the game, lol.
November 20th, 2023 at 2:02 am
David Says:
November 20th, 2023 at 12:01 am
Bucs fans don’t worry. We trust Baker is the man. Baker will have at least two more wins against Panthers followed by Baker’s first win against 49’ers in first round of playoffs. See there are so much hope. Be happy.
———
YES! WAY TO KEEP UP THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE!
WELCOME TO #TEAMPOSITIVE!
November 20th, 2023 at 2:06 am
Kancy was hurt again early in 1st qtr. Then LVD got hurt, and some other players. I saw some positives in this game. But I am concerned about some health. We held the 49s to a field goal once.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:33 am
if you think Baker Mayfield. is then problem, then you just don’t like Baker Mayfield. when I look at positions the Bucs need for next year, its DL, OL, and RB. unless Carolina and NE start winning games, you’re going to need to be in the top 10 in the draft to get one of the stud QBs to come out.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:39 am
On any other team, YaYa would be playing 75% of the defensive snaps and he would be in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:40 am
LMFAO @ “Yet all is not lost”.
This place is Bizzaro World.
November 20th, 2023 at 7:29 am
Ira,
It’s time to face the music. The hype failed. The moxy didn’t do diddly. This experiment is over. As Rod Munch says, it’s time to “Just move on and see what is in box 2.”
As you and Joe dance around the failure that is Baker Mayfield with your endless excuses, why is it that I detect a palpable fear in seeing see what our 6’5″ second-round quarterback can do with the starting offense in a game? It’s almost like you guys have your quarterback whispering credibility on the line or something! 🙂
November 20th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Bee Says: “Baker starts too slow, every game.”
100%. Then, when the opposing team has a comfortable lead late in the game and its defense goes into a soft prevent, Baker gets to pad his game stats, which Joe and Ira then point to as evidence of Baker’s skill. Wash, rinse, and repeat. 4-6.
November 20th, 2023 at 7:58 am
we had multiple chances in the 4th to bring it to a one score game… we just couldn’t cash that check… we have enough talent, but baker and the play calling is what it is, just average. and please cut one of our seemingly overpaid CBs
November 20th, 2023 at 8:34 am
The last thing this franchise needs to do again is slop into the playoffs and get embarrassed again, forcing them to pick #19 instead of #10.
November 20th, 2023 at 10:14 am
Besides a weak offensive line, Davis and Dean are our weakest link in the defense. Baker has to run for his life too many times and Davis and Dean are good at tackling after the catch, but are not able to intercept or break-up passes.
November 20th, 2023 at 11:44 am
Anybody crying about the secondary can EAD as they’ve clearly forgotten the performance, talent, and potential they showed in our 2020 Super Bowl run and choke out of the greatest QB since sliced bread in Mahomes. They’re not playing well at the moment. It’s true… but they’ve been excellent since they came into the league… maybe they aren’t healthy, maybe they’re in a funk, but whatever it is, be careful for what you wish for… good CBs don’t grow on trees and these guys have proven in the past that they’re among the best and a HUGE upgrade over Danny,. LaQuan, and EJ.