LTAMPA, Fla. – Name it probably the most chaotic win in Kyle Shanahan’s 7 ½ seasons as 49ers coach, not less than one which didn’t instantly punch a playoff berth like in 2019 at Seattle or final January’s Tremendous Bowl ticket over the now-domineering Detroit Lions.
Sunday’s 23-20, walk-off in Tampa Bay had all of the traits that makes these 49ers … Shanahan’s greatest underachievers. Even after they win.
They’re 5-4. They blow fourth-quarter leads. They commit particular groups’ crimes. They dread the crimson zone offensively. They actually have a captain keen to publicly struggle a teammate, egads.
And, but, they’re solely a half-game out of first place within the cannibalizing NFC West, bunched up with the Arizona Cardinals (6-4), the Los Angeles Rams (4-4), and the Seattle Seahawks (4-5).
San Francisco 49ers tight finish George Kittle (85) celebrates after catching a landing move in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara) A.P. Picture
1. KITTLE CONNECTION
George Kittle’s team-high seventh landing – matching his second-most in a season – got here on an “off-schedule” play however one which works due to his on-demand reference to Brock Purdy. Keep in mind in Week 4 when Purdy heaved up a prayer to the again left of the tip zone to a triple-covered Kittle for a rating?
Mentioned Purdy: “Yeah, similar. It wasn’t the same play, obviously. It was off-schedule. As I was scrambling, I saw the leverage he had was outside. So I was, ‘Alright, George is a mismatch here with his size and strength and the hands he has.’ So, I just had to give him an opportunity to the sideline, so if it’s an incomplete pass it’s OK and we’ll live to see another down. But more than anything, he made the play and got his feet in.”
Kittle’s 11-yard landing catch put the Niners up 20-17 with seven minutes till Moody’s conquest. Purdy purchased 8.62 seconds— his longest time lapse for a TD move — earlier than discovering his bye-week trip buddy as removed from their Wyoming journey as attainable.
Mentioned Kittle: “My solely accountability on that play was to get coated by the security so Christian might rating a landing. I bought coated, Christian didn’t rating. I’m looking for Brock within the again, which is difficult to see generally, as a result of one in all his solely shortcomings is he’s not the tallest quarterback (at 6-foot-1), which is difficult to see generally.
“One thing I love with Brock and scramble drills: if you do lock eyes with him, he is going to give you time to make a move and get open,” Kittle added. “Once we locked eyes, I tried to give him space in the corner of the end zone, and he just dropped a dime like he always does.”
San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack with teammates throughout an NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Picture/Peter Joneleit)
2. BOSA’S HEALTH
You need extra out of Nick Bosa? You higher hope his proper hip harm isn’t recognized as something extra critical Monday.
He repeatedly prodded at it coming off the sector Sunday. And he was on the sector quite a bit (52 of 61 snaps), out of default with lackluster depth behind him, which has been an issue all season if no more.
You noticed him make a third-down sack on the Bucs’ penultimate possession, and a near-sack on an are-you-kidding-me fourth-down completion by Baker Mayfield on their last-minute, game-tying drive. Mayfield’s moxie is to be admired. Identical with Bosa’s, no matter your political views.
You lose Bosa for the following sport or so, you’re in dire straights. He’s not excellent, he’s not T.J. Watt, and he’s not rookie-of-the-year Bosa. However he’s the NFL’s best-paid defender for a purpose.
Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a move in opposition to Josh Hayes #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
3. DEEBO’S DISPUTE
His identify is Deebo, most well-liked over his given identify Tyshun and an appropriate moniker for his on-field bully habits that’s often reserved for defenders. However Deebo Samuel can be a crew captain, not a sofa potato or season-ticket holder demanding Jake Moody’s head (or foot).
Samuel implied afterward that his actions – confronting Moody after a 3rd missed subject objective, swiping at bodyguard Taybor Pepper’s throat – could have helped Moody’s mindset for the 44-yard, walk-off subject objective.
Bygones by advantage of victory? It might’t be that dismissible, not that it should advantage in-house self-discipline (minimal positive could be $62,500, per week of his base wage).
This can be a nice check of the 49ers’ locker room fortitude and cohesion. I’ve Acquired Your Again? Solely when there may be 0:00 and also you saved our bacon?
“I didn’t see any of it, so I don’t know how bad it was, but something I’m not too worried about, we’ll fix it,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “If it hasn’t been fixed already, we’ll fix it on the plane and go back to loving each other tomorrow.”
Ideally it’s that straightforward. Again in 2000, Steve Mariucci didn’t see Terrell Owens’ preliminary midfield celebration in Dallas that led to a one-game suspension and an indefinite rift of their relationship.
San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) celebrates with teammates after kicking the sport profitable subject objective in the course of the second half of an NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
4. MONEY MOODY?
Moody is a second-year kicker coming off what might have been a season-ending high-ankle harm, brought on by making an attempt to salvage this season’s spotty protection. The incident with Samuel might have unnerved him even additional after lacking three field-goal makes an attempt, earlier than nailing a game-winner from the identical distance he sliced and thus ignited Samuel’s frustrations.
Fairly than thank Samuel for what the broad again referred to as “a little motivation to go out there and make the field goal,” Moody shared the highlight.
“That’s just a credit to having great teammates, trusting me, picking me up. Coaches, they weren’t worried at all, had all the faith in the world and sent me back out there for six tries today. Thankfully I got another chance and was able to make it.”
Shanahan’s locker room speech: “Moody, he battled to come back. If you want practice for a mental strength, that was a hell of a job setting yourself up for that last rep. There was no more pressure on anyone than that dude. And he kicked it right in the middle. Respect, dude.”
San Fransisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) gestures on the sector after an NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Picture/Doug Murray)
5. POSTGAME LOOKS
Not precisely certain why the locker room doorways opened so late – half-hour after the sport, or 15 greater than allowed by the NFL’s media requirements – however Shanahan didn’t flip over the buffet. (It was exterior within the walkway to the buses.)
What we will share, for now, are the summarized appears to be like of these closely invested. They wore a sheepish grin.
Purdy wore an incredulous look as he walked to the interview room. Normal supervisor John Lynch shook his head and described the win as loopy and unbelievable. Proprietor Dr. John York would solely proffer: “You write the story.”
The 49ers cheated demise, after their failure to outlive preliminary NFC West matchups with Los Angeles and Arizona. Profitable after a fourth-quarter collapse/comeback/collapse/comeback? Labored this time.
Fred Warner, by the best way, didn’t keep up previous midnight to observe his alma mater BYU’s personal fanatical profitable end at Utah. Mentioned Warner: “I wish I would have watched. I was fast asleep for my big game today. I just heard about the very end and making a field goal to win it. We have to keep that going.”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
6. STEALTH PURDY
It’s not the way you begin however the way you end, proper? Purdy completed with surgical precision. An Military surgeon. He went left (6 yards to Jauan Jennings), then went proper (6 yards to Ricky Pearsall), then left (14 yards to Pearsall), then proper (13 yards to Jennings).
These early boundary throws took arm power and belief. He delivered to the tune of 353 yards on 25-of-36 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Brock ranks fifth in 49ers historical past with seven 300-yard passing video games behind Joe (35), Steve (28), Jeff (14) and Jimmy (7).
“Second half, I just told myself, ‘Alright dude, just go out and compete and rip it – don’t hesitate,’ ” Purdy mentioned. “And I thought in the second half we all did that. The guys were open, I didn’t hold back, and we just tried to stay ahead of the chains and move the ball and keep it simple. … We were all able to finish pretty well as a team.”
San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) appears to be like down after his second missed subject objective of the day throughout an NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Picture/Peter Joneleit)
7. WILD SPECIAL TEAMS
Moody missed three subject targets, then made the winner. Jacob Cowing muffed a punt return (as a result of Tremendous Bowl goat Darrell Luter Jr. bought legally pushed into him), then reeled off a 30-yard achieve in his encore that was one of the best of his 14-return profession.
Particular groups miscues are a trademark of this season’s crew. But, Cowing and Moody made massive performs.
I requested particular groups coordinator Brian Schneider on his approach out the stadium if he talked to Moody earlier than his fateful, ultimate kick. Schneider smiled and replied: “I said a lot to him. He’s good.”
Good, as a result of the 49ers are solely 9/seventeenth by means of this common season. Now shouldn’t be the time to buy a alternative leg. They did that final month. It bought Matthew Wright damage (on a kickoff sort out) and Anders Carlson a brand new job (the New York Jets signed him final week after the 49ers waived him).
8. YOU’RE THE ONE, JAUAN
The 49ers’ finest broad receiver is Jauan Jennings. It’s not simply that he caught 7-of-11 passes for a team-high 93 yards, or that his 11 ultimate yards after the catch allowed for Moody’s ultimate kick to slip inside the best upright.
Jennings is the 49ers must-have reply at cut up finish within the wake of Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending knee harm Oct. 20 in opposition to Kansas Metropolis. Jennings didn’t play in that sport or the following one due to a hip-muscle harm he should endure by means of Groundhog Day.
“We needed to get Jauan back in a starting position and this was his first time ever playing ‘X’ position, which he’ll be doing the rest of the year,” Shanahan mentioned. “He did a hell of a job.”
Insider be aware: Tampa’s press-box announcer pronounced Jennings’ first identify not less than three other ways. As somebody who wrote it as “Juan” not less than as soon as his first season, we’re all studying how you identify your identify within the NFL.
Jennings’ postgame reward wasn’t reserved for himself however fairly Moody’s kick, Kittle’s landing, Pearsall’s catches, Samuel’s 32-yard catch (to open the drive earlier than Moody’s ultimate miss). “All of it plays in hand,” Jennings unselfishly mentioned.
Ricky Pearsall #14 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball for a landing in the course of the first quarter in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
9. PEARSALL INITIATED
Rising pains, as outlined by Ricky Pearsall, after scoring his first landing on a 46-yard catch-and-run over the center, after a third-down move to him sailed by on the 49ers’ first possession. “The reason the pass was behind me was because I cut it short,” Pearsall defined. “So just getting on the same page, it’s just going to get much and much better, and I’m going to get more confident.”
Pearsall was clocked at 19.47 mph, the NFL’s Twentieth-fastest time this weekend; Samuel was quicker on a run for no achieve (19.68 mph) and a 32-yard catch (19.55 mph).
Not solely did Pearsall get his first landing ball to enshrine (through Kyle Juszczyk’s reclamation), Pearsall was bestowed the kukui nut necklace awarded to a participant of the sport through injured security Talanoa Hufanga. Pearsall fortunately didn’t be taught such an honor existed till postgame.
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball in opposition to Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Picture by Julio Aguilar/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
10. McCAFFRREY’S STATUS
Realistically, an important takeaway from this sport is that Christian McCaffrey walked away from his season debut “pretty good. I thought I was going to be more sore but, we’ll see how I feel tomorrow. I never like saying anything until you wake up.”
He confirmed glimpses of his 2023 NFL AP Offensive Participant of the Yr. Not a lot in a breakaway run and particularly so not ultimately zone. Nonetheless, his second effort, willpower and mere defensive distraction is richly wanted to get this offense again to its 30-for-Purdy machinations.
McCaffrey’s 107 yards from scrimmage (39 dashing, 68 receiving) marked his 56th profession sport with not less than 100 such yards, tying him with Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) for probably the most amongst NFL lively operating backs.
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“I’m just happy I’m here,” McCaffrey mentioned. “That was a long journey and a lot of long days, so it feels good to win and it feels good to just play in a football game again.”
