Bucks at 49ERS
when: Sunday, November 19, 2023 | where: Levi’s Stadium | kick off: 4:05 PM ET | tv set: Fox
For each play: Joe Davis | Analyst: Darryl Johnston | Side job: pam oliver
wireless: 98 Rock 97.9FM | For each play: Gene Deckerhoff Analyst: Dave Moore | Side job: TJ Rives
As game day approaches, it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make their weekly game predictions and provide game previews for this week’s matchups. Let us know what you think in the comment section of the article. Please also add your predictions.
Scott Reynolds: Overwhelming Bucks crushed by 49ers
Bucks OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The 49ers have scored 30 or more points in all six of their wins this year, including a 34-3 victory over the Jaguars in Jacksonville last week. In San Francisco’s three losses, the team has scored just 17 points. Tampa Bay’s defense looked great last week, but the only real weapons the Titans had against them were running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The 49ers have running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Iwik. Including two is one thing, but stopping all four is a pipe dream. If the Texans can hold the Bucs’ defense down by 39 points, the 49ers will score at least 30 points, even if Todd Bowles blitzes more and plays less soft zone coverage like he did last week against the Titans. I think we will get it. I think McCaffrey and Kittle will be out on Sunday.
Offensively, the Bucs’ interior offensive line will be exposed by defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave, who might be the 49ers’ best defensive linemen this year. Linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw will control the Bucs’ run game and take Rashard White out of the backfield.
49ers are veteran team and have too much talent This Bucks team has to compete, especially on the road. There are signs of an explosion, but it’s probably a little closer than it was a year ago.
Reynolds game prediction: 49ers 33, Bucs 13
Reynolds season record: 6 wins, 3 losses.
Matt Matera: “The Bucks can’t beat good teams”
If the Eagles and Lions were the toughest matchup. bucks The 49ers have to be the second toughest team this season, behind Philadelphia and ahead of Detroit. Why is it better for the Bucks to go on the road and play the 49ers when they only scored 11 points against the Eagles and were even worse with 6 points against the Lions? The worst thing for the Bucks is that with the 49ers fully healthy, their talent alone could outshine the Bucks’ group.
Bucs DT Kariya Kanshi – Photo by Cliff Welch P/R
There are two things going on with the Bucs offense at the moment. Mike Evans’ big play and Rathard White’s screen play. This allows him to break out into space and make movement. The problem is, the 49ers have the best linebacker duo in the game in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. They will be able to quickly erase the screen to white. It doesn’t feel good that Baker Mayfield has had to step back so many times with a great pass rush because the Bucs can’t run.
The good news is that the Bucs’ defense was able to get back on track last week, especially on the pass rush. But that’s the Titans and this is the 49ers. The Bucks won’t be able to pressure Trent Williams on the left side, but they could take advantage on the right side. I wish they would do a few more stunts that would give Vita Veer and Kaliya Kanshi an advantage and create mismatches.
They have to stop Christian McCaffrey, but I’m more worried about Deebo Samuel. Tampa Bay may need to have a safety on their side on each play. We know how bad the Bucs are in the zone, and Samuel can beat most cornerbacks one-on-one. San Fran has too many weapons to deal with.
Losing isn’t the end of the season for the Bucks. However, I don’t think they can prove they are ready to take on better competition yet. At least they’ll still be in divisional contention.
Matera Prediction: 49ers 28, Bucs 10
Matera’s season record: 6 wins, 3 losses
Bailey Adams: “The gap is too big for the Bucks to overcome”
Bucks CB Carlton Davis III and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo courtesy of USA Today
If you look at this game 10 ways, you’ll probably see the 49ers win nine of them. Everything seems to be stacking up against the Bucks in this game, from their historical struggles in the West to the fact that there’s simply a huge gap between them and the 49ers.
San Francisco’s three-game losing streak appears to be firmly in the rearview mirror after a 34-3 blowout in Jacksonville last week. And it would not be surprising to see a similar point difference here.
Now, I’m not actually going to predict that the Bucs will lose by 31 points, but last year in San Francisco they had the best quarterback of all time under center and they lost by 28 points. In fact, I think they’ve improved that point differential. It looks like they figured out some things on both sides of the ball and as a result, they’ll definitely fight back and win the division with solid play down the stretch.
But I don’t see them stealing a win here, so I think it’s much more likely that a potential run towards a third consecutive NFC South title begins next week. No matter how you look at it, the 49ers have a better, deeper roster, as well as a better coaching staff. San Francisco’s offense doesn’t look like a good fit with Tampa Bay’s defense, and I don’t think Baker Mayfield and the offense will be able to be active and win big cheers.
Tampa Bay fell behind early on and has struggled to really get back on its feet, and I think the most recent games this team won back-to-back games are definitely Weeks 1 and 2. But hope shouldn’t be lost for the Bucks. Because they will soon enter a more manageable period. They have a good chance of finishing 2023 on a strong note and playing a home playoff game in January.
Adams game prediction: 49ers 31, Bucs 14
Adams’ season record: 5 wins, 4 losses.
Josh Quapo: Bucks failed to reach .500
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucks embarrassed a team that was clearly better than them in almost every facet of the game last year in San Francisco. A year later, much of the storyline remains the same.
The 49ers’ pass rush will be an onslaught against a Bucs offense that excels on the edge but struggles inside. Without the run game to slow down San Francisco’s swarm of pass rushers, the Bucs’ offense will once again be hit and miss.
On the other side of the ball, the Bucks’ defense, which had perhaps its best performance this year, will be at full strength against some of the NFL’s best playmakers. Bringing back Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel will be a difficult task for the Bucks’ front and back sevens.
At the end of the day, add in the fact that the two coaching staffs are from completely different tiers, and San Francisco wins this one pretty easily.
Quipo’s game prediction: 49ers 28, Bucs 17
Queipo’s season record: 6-3
Adam Slivon: San Francisco Deja vu?The Bucks lost again on the West Coast.
Sunday’s matchup between the Bucks and 49ers draws many similarities to Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Eagles and last season’s Week 14 loss at San Francisco. Considering how the Bucks have fared against playoff-bound teams this season, it’s hard to see how things will be different this time around.
Bucs ILB Devin White, 49ers QB Brock Purdy, OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo courtesy of USA Today
That doesn’t mean they don’t have a chance Sunday, though, as the Bucks finally got their momentum back with a 20-6 win over the Titans. To shut down all of San Francisco’s offensive weapons, they will need another defensive masterclass from head coach Todd Bowles.
Brock Purdy’s show had a great opening pilot last season, tearing apart Tampa Bay’s defense in his first NFL start. All of the same weapons remain around Purdy, from the versatile weapons of Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel to top receiver Brandon Aiyuk and top-three tight end George Kittle.
If the Bucks can limit the lights on the scoreboard, it will be difficult for them to score points on their own against the 49ers’ defense. Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave will be a nightmare matchup against Tampa Bay’s Interior offensive line, but Nick Bosa and Chase Young will definitely beat Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke.
Rashard White has had little success on the ground this year, and with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw cycling through the middle, success in the air could also prove difficult for White.
One of the Bucs’ only advantages is their top receiver over the 49ers’ secondary, and if Mayfield has time to throw, much of the offense will come from Baker Mayfield finding Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Dew. If there’s ever a week to involve Trey Palmer or any of the other receivers in a creative way, Sunday would be just as great.
The 49ers will need to throw everything but the kitchen sink to win, but it’s hard to believe the Bucks can control both sides of the ball enough to win on the West Coast.
Slivong’s game prediction: 49ers 31, Bucs 17
Slivon Season Record: 7-2
