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.