Buccaneers Vs. 49ers: LaGarrette Blount Suffers Undisclosed Leg Injury

Coming off a a very strong Money Night performance last week, this was supposed to be the beginning of LaGarrette Blount's National coming out party. But instead Blount suffered an undisclosed leg injury that forced him to the sideline for much of the second half. The Bucs are still being tightlipped about the nature of the injury, according to Stephen Holder of TampaBay.com.

Asked whether Blount could have returned to the game, coach Raheem Morris said, “I just listen to what my doctors tell me. I know he didn’t come back. He was icing down. Healthy men have to play. That was Kregg Lumpkin and Allen Bradford when we pulled (Earnest Graham) out of there.”

This was a bad week for the Bucs injury-wise because they also lost Gerald McCoy in this one with a leg injury that looked a little bit more serious than Blount's. We'll have more on the injury as soon as we find out more information.

For more on the Buccaneers, head over to our Bucs blog Bucs Nation. For more on the 49ers head over to Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Things We Think We Learned After the Debacle in San Francisco

What can you learn from a 48-3 shellacking? SB Nation Tampa Bay has five things we think we learned.

49ers vs. Buccaneers: San Francisco Takes Tampa Bay to the Woodshed, 48-3

The San Francisco 49ers obliterated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by the count of 48-3. Tampa Bay simply had nothing for the Niners, who improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2002.

The Bucs had their three game streak snapped and saw injuries to key players Gerald McCoy and LeGarrette Blount. Blount took a shot on his knee while being tackled in the third quarter. McCoy may be more serious as he left in the 2nd quarter with an ankle injury.

Without McCoy, the Niners were able to get Frank Gore and their running game going. Gore went for 125 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. As a team the Niners rolled up 216 yards on the ground.

Much maligned San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith outplayed Josh Freeman, completing 11 of 19 for 170 yards and three scores.

Josh Freeman looked like a rookie today, completing just 17 of 33 for 187 yards. His two interceptions turned into 14 Forty-Niner points and his receivers dropped too many passes.

The Niners would finish with 421 total yards to Tampa Bay’s 272.

It was a complete and utter whiff for the Bucs this week. They were outplayed in every facet of the football game, out-coached, and out-willed.

The Bucs (3-2) won’t have a lot of time to wallow in their misery as the division leading New Orleans Saints invade Raymond James Stadium.

Week 5 NFL Scores: Saints Tame Newton, Panthers

In the only early game Sunday in the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte 30-27. The Saints relied on an all-too-common virtuoso performance from Drew Brees, who threw for 359 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Panthers limited the Saints on the ground to just over 100 yards rushing, and no one member of their tandem was able to get going.

For the Panthers, DeAngelo Williams had a great game, carrying nine times for 115 yards and a 69-yard touchdown. Cam Newton struggled at times, but ended up with 224 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. The difference was, get ready for it...Drew Brees, who led the team to rack up 444 total yards.

Newton continues his good play and is exceeding his expectations to this point. Only time will tell if he is able to turn Carolina into a contender in the future, but at least he has them playing competitively at the moment.

49ers vs. Buccaneers: Bucs Losing Their Composure as Niners Pour it On At the End of the Third Quarter, 34-3

The San Francisco 49ers are pouring it on, up 34-3 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the Niners’ latest scoring drive, Tampa Bay was flagged for two personal fouls, one on the head coach, as the Bucs are losing their composure.

Tampa Bay’s defensive backs are struggling as well, dropping two easy interceptions and allowing Vernon Davis to beat them for a 23 yard touchdown.

A Mike Williams fumble has the Niners in scoring position once again at the end of the third quarter.

49ers vs. Buccaneers: San Francisco Dominates Tampa Bay in First Half, Lead 24-3

The Monday Night Hangover has bitten the Bucs hard as the San Francisco 49ers have built a 24-3 half-time lead.

Bucs QB Josh Freeman is struggling, completing just 10 of 22 passes for 108 yards and 2 interceptions. He was lucky to not have two more picks as he continued to try to force passes into double coverage.

He’s not getting any help from his receivers, who’ve dropped several passes.

Meanwhile, without Gerald McCoy (who left the game with an injury to his ankle), the 49ers have been carving up the Bucs’ defense. Frank Gore has 59 yards rushing and a touchdown while Alex Smith has been efficient, completing 6-for-10 for 92 yards and a score.

San Francisco has the advantage in yardage 174 to 145 but the story of the game has been the turnovers.

Carlos Rogers’ pick six got the Niners rolling to a 14-3 advantage, then another interception by Chris Culliver gave San Francisco excellent field position.

Frank Gore would add to the lead five plays later.

A Ted Ginn, Jr. return would set up another 49ers field goal.

Josh Freeman does have 8 come from behind victories in his short NFL career, but a 21 point deficit might be a tall challenge.

49ers vs. Buccaneers: Freeman Throws Another Pick, Niners Add to Their Lead, 21-3

We expected the Bucs to be a little flat coming off Monday Night Football but the Niners are taking Tampa Bay to the woodshed, they lead the Bucs 21-3 with 7:56 to go in the first half.

Freeman has thrown into double coverage twice and it’s cost him. Carlos Rogers intercepted Freeman for a pick six, then on the next drive Chris Culliver took a Freeman pass away from intended receiver Michael Spurlock.

The Niners would drive 57 yards in 5 plays and Frank Gore would plunge in from the 2 yd line.

Injury Update: Gerald McCoy has an ankle injury, his return is questionable.

49ers vs. Buccaneers: Niners Jump on Slumbering Bucs Defense, Lead 14-3 early in the 2nd Quarter

The San Francisco 49ers are off to a terrific start as their quarterback Alex Smith is hotter than a match, hitting Delanie Walker on 26 yard score to give the Niners an early lead.

Freeman and the Bucs would answer with a 13 play 74 yard drive that would stall and the Bucs had to settle for a 24 yard field goal to pull within 7-3.

The Niners marched right back down the field but with 0:12 seconds left in the first quarter, Frank Gore fumbled at the Bucs’ 11 yard line, which was recovered by Tampa Bay’s Mason Foster.

On the first play of the second quarter, Carlos Rogers intercepted Freeman and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.

San Francisco lead 14 -3 with 14:39 left in the first half.

Injury note: Gerald McCoy was carted to the locker room with what is believe to be a leg injury.

Buccaneers Vs. 49ers: NFL Week 5 Friday Injury Report

Week 5 in the National Football League is not exactly chock full of great matchups, at least not compared to Week 4. This Sunday also marks the first week of byes across the league, and with six teams not playing this week, there are 13 games instead of 16 for fans to watch and enjoy. One of the more intriguing matchups however will take place in San Francisco when the 3-1 49ers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also 3-1.

For Tampa Bay, every Sunday is important as the Saints and Falcons will most likely continue to win games and contend for a playoff berth. For the 49ers, the stakes are a bit lower considering how putrid the NFC West is. I’m sure Jim Harbaugh is not thinking in those terms though. Despite the 3-1 start, the 49ers have plenty of room to improve. They’ll get a nice test on both sides of the ball from Raheem Morris’ Buccaneers squad.

Let’s take a look at the Friday injury reports for both squads before the weekend officially starts and the countdown to Sunday football begins in earnest.

Tampa Bay:

Out (will not play Sunday): S Devin Holland (back), T James Lee (knee), TE Luke Stocker (knee), WR Sammie Stroughter (foot)

Doubtful: LB Zach Diles (hamstring)

Questionable: LB Quincy Black (ankle)

Probable: DE Michael Bennett (groin), DE Tim Crowder (knee), RB Earnest Graham (hamstring), TE Zack Pianalto (calf), CB Aqib Talib (knee)

San Francisco

Out: CB Tramaine Brock (hand), WR Braylon Edwards (knee), RB Moran Norris (fibula)

Doubtful: DT Isaac Sopoaga (infection)

Questionable: CB Shawntae Spencer (toe)

Probable: WR Michael Crabtree (foot), RB Frank Gore (ankle), G Mike Iupati (neck), G Adam Snyder (hamstring)

For more on the Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation. For more on the 49ers head over to Niners Nation.

Week 5 NFL Lines And Odds: Buccaneers Vs. 49ers

Injury Update: Luke Stocker To Miss 49ers Game With Knee Injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to pull out a dramatic win in their Monday Night Football matchup against the Indianapolis Colts this past week, but they didn’t escape the game completely unscathed. According to Rick Stroud from the St. Petersburg Times, late in the game rookie tight end Luke Stocker suffered a knee injury, making him unlikely to play this weekend against the 49ers.

Stocker was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of this year’s draft, and he’s had a big impact on the Bucs’ running game so far this season. The Bucs are reliant on LeGarrette Blount, as he’s one of their best offensive weapons, so it will be interesting to see how/if Stocker’s absence affects the Bucs’ running game.

According to Bucs Nation, the Buccaneers don’t have many other great options behind Stocker:

The Bucs have two rookie TEs on the roster in Zack Pianalto and Collin Franklin to replace Luke Stocker. Pianalto has barely seen the field and missed Monday’s game with an injury, which lead to the Bucs promoting Franklin from the practice squad. Franklin played some snaps against the Colts, but didn’t do anything to stand out.

Stocker is currently considered week-to-week.

For daily coverage and analysis on the Buccaneers, be sure to check out our Bucs blog: Bucs Nation.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hope for San Francisco treat Against the Niners

SB Nation Tampa Bay previews the Bucs-Niners game.

Week 5 NFL Lines And Odds: 49ers Vs. Buccaneers Expected To Be Close

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head west to face the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, Oct. 8, in a battle of two 3-1 teams. The Bucs' strong defense, coupled with heady late-game play from quarterback Josh Freeman, have helped them pull out some narrow victories; most recently, they needed LeGarrette Blount's 35-yard touchdown dash in the fourth quarter Monday night to avoid earning the dubious distinction of being the first team to lose to the Indianapolis Colts this season.

San Francisco has faced a tougher schedule, with its lone loss coming in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys. Further, the 49ers' defense has forced 11 turnovers already, and at least two in each game; they'll present the toughest defensive challenge the Bucs have yet faced.

As one might expect, given the similar records and pedigree of both squads, the line only narrowly favors host San Francisco, according to SB Nation partner OddsShark. The 49ers stood as 2.5-point favorites when the line opened, but have ranged from one- to three-point favorites in the days since.

49ers Vs. Buccaneers: Can Tampa Bay Keep Maintain Momentum On A Short Week?

Coming off their win over the Indianapolis Colts, the Bucs have to travel cross country for a mid-Sunday matchup with the San Fransisco 49ers.