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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Kyle Madson

Notebook from 49ers blowout win over Buccaneers

The 49ers put it on the Buccaneers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. They scored on their opening possession and never looked back in a 35-7 romp over Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

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Here are our notes from a big San Francisco victory:

First quarter

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

– Brock Purdy got WHACKED on the first snap of the game. It was flagged for roughing the passer, but that’s not a good sign for his awareness against a blitz-heavy defense.

– Purdy has settled in a little after a couple early mistakes, and the first run of the game is a 21-yard scamper for Christian McCaffrey that gets the 49ers to the red zone.

– And now a Deebo Samuel touchdown on a toss play to the right. Vintage 49ers drive there and a good block by Mike McGlinchey to spring him. It’s 7-0, 49ers and a nice drive by Purdy with one third-down conversion.

– Tons of pressure early on Tom Brady. He found Leonard Fournette on a checkdown on his first pass attempt. Then he stuffed one into the turf on his next throw. That’s what San Francisco has to do all game.

– Kevin Givens is hurt for San Francisco. That’s not great. Wonder if we see the Bucs try to find success running inside since the 49ers don’t have a ton of size on the interior. The 49ers announced he’s questionable to return.

– Nick Bosa and Charles Omenihu nearly get home on a third-and-9. They should have success any time they can get Tampa into third-and-long.

– Purdy missed a screen pass to Kittle on a first down. Second-and-long isn’t ideal for this offense.

– A long TD pass to Bucs WR Mike Evans was called back for holding. It looked like a mixup between Talanoa Hufanga and Jimmie Ward. Nobody covered Evans down the field. That can’t happen again.

– Purdy is a little bit of a mess in the pocket, but he’s making plays and doing the smart thing by looking for George Kittle when in doubt.

– The 49ers are leaning heavily on their playmakers. Kittle, McCaffrey and Samuel are the only offensive players with touches.

– Hey there’s a pass to Tyler Kroft! He draws a pass interference penalty in the end zone. Nice find by Purdy on the run.

End of first quarter: 49ers 7, Buccaneers 0

Second quarter

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

– First play of the second quarter is a rushing TD for Purdy. He did a nice job scanning the field before taking off after seeing there was nobody open. He broke a tackle en route to the end zone and the 49ers are up 14-0.

– Third-and-3 for the Bucs and the 49ers get home again. Arik Armstead got a hit on Brady as he was throwing and forced the incompletion.

– Okay, Brock! What a throw on the run to Samuel after evading a pass rusher.

– WOW! A 27-yard strike from Purdy to McCaffrey on a third-and-5 against an all-out blitz. This is unbelievable. It’s 21-0, 49ers and Purdy has a TD pass on his ledger now.

– Another three-and-out for the Buccaneers. This offense is abysmal.

– Oh, no. Deebo is hurt. That looks so bad. He was carted off.

– Samuel fumbled on the play he was hurt on and the Bucs recovered. The momentum in this game has completely shifted. The 49ers are shook after the Samuel injury.

– Wow. The 49ers defense stiffens in the red zone. Brady just missed Evans on a fourth-and-2 from inside the 10. Still 21-0, 49ers.

– There’s Brandon Aiyuk. His first target comes with 1:20 left in the first half and it goes for 25 yards.

– Oof. Bad interception into traffic by Purdy. It was negated by a defensive holding call, but that’s still not a ball that can be thrown. It looked like the Bucs dropped a DL into coverage and the QB didn’t see him.

– Purdy deep to Aiyuk for a TD the play after the negated interception. Holy smokes. The 49ers are ahead 28-0 and Purdy has accounted for three touchdowns. This is unbelievable. What a route by Aiyuk to get open. All Purdy had to do was get it to him.

Halftime: 49ers 28, Buccaneers 0

Third quarter

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

– Brady opens the second half with an interception to close the Bucs’ first possession. One play earlier he whacked his hand on a helmet and then sailed a throw that Tashaun Gipson picked off. That’s only his fourth pick of the year.

– And the 49ers capitalize. McCaffrey goes 38 yards for a score. It’s 35-0 and San Francisco is rolling. This is unreal.

– Deommodore Lenoir got cooked, but Brady underthrew his WR.

– Now Dre Greenlaw intercepts Brady. Unreal grab by the LB. Brady had just three INTs all year, and now has thrown two today.

– Jimmie Ward nearly got home on a blitz. He would’ve racked up Brady pretty bad if RB Leonard Fournette hadn’t been there to pick him up. Ward left the game shortly, but returned.

– Wow. Greenlaw nearly had another INT, but instead it gets tipped up and lands in the hands of Bucs WR Russell Gage for a Buccaneers TD to make it 35-7. TB had to work HARD for that score.

– Jordan Mason is in and cruising. He’s up to 33 yards on five carries.

End of third quarter: 49ers 35, Buccaneers 7 

Fourth quarter

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

– Sheesh. Now Kerry Hyder is hurt. The 49ers DL depth is really thin.

– Brady deep throws have shown his age. He’s underthrown several and his latest one got knocked down by Lenoir who caught up thanks to the underthrow.

– The Bucs converted a fourth-and-13. That’s not one the 49ers will love watching on tape.

– Hey Josh Johnson is in at QB!

– The 49ers forced another turnover on a fourth-and-1. Azeez Al-Shaair recovered a fumble. That’s three takeaways on the day.

– Hey Danny Gray! He grabbed a 10-yard catch on a fourth-and-7 for his first-career reception to help the 49ers salt the game away.

End of game: 49ers 35, Buccaneers 7

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