After a three game losing streak, the San Francisco 49ers’ season looked to be spiraling. However, back-to-back dominant wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers has the 49ers’ 2023 campaign back on track.
Behind three touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, the 49ers cruised to their season straight victory with a 27-14 win over Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers on Sunday in Week 11.
With a win, the 49ers’ moved to 7-3 on the season, sitting atop the NFC West. Riding back-to-back victories, the 49ers will now travel to Seattle for a anticipated division game against the Seahawks on Thanksgiving.
Before Turkey day, here’s a look at all of the good, and some of the bad from the 49ers’ win over the Bucs in Week 11.
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Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy was nearly perfect on Sunday. What else can you say?
The 49ers young passer delivered three touchdowns on his way for throwing for 333 yards on 21-of-25 passing against the Bucs. Purdy finished with a flawless 158.3 passer rating on Sunday, the highest possible clip for a quarterback. Josh Allen was the only other player in the NFL this season to finish with a 158.3 passer rating.
During his dominant effort on Sunday, Purdy found Brandon Aiyuk for a 76-yard house call down the sideline. Purdy’s 76-yard strike counts for the longest touchdown pass of the 2023 NFL season.
Following Purdy’s six touchdown passes over the last two weeks, the former Iowa State Cyclone’s name should start buzzing in the MVP conversation.
Bad: Talanoa Hufanga's Injury
During the third quarter, Talanoa Hufanga exited the game after slipping on the field attempting to tackle Bucs running back Rachaad White. Following the game, Shanahan revealed the All-Pro safety’s injury could be serious. Shanahan couldn’t confirm anything, but the fear is an ACL injury.
49ers fear ACL injury for SS Talanoa Hufanga https://t.co/RvHdYkyoMO pic.twitter.com/bf5jBwJeID
— Niners Wire (@TheNinersWire) November 20, 2023
Good: Ji'Ayir Brown
With Hufanga out due to injury, rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown stepped in and shined. After shakey start following a long completion to Bucs wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, Brown quickly showed he belonged with a pair of clutch stops in the red zone.
Brown came up with a tough pass deflection in the end zone on fourth down while defending future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans. Brown followed his pass deflection with a interception in the end zone on the next drive to ice the game for the 49ers.
In his coming out party against the Bucs, the rookie defensive back finished with four tackles, three pass deflections and his first career interception.
Good: Brandon Aiyuk
As good as Brock Purdy was, Brandon Aiyuk deserves some credit. Aiyuk quietly put together a career-high performance with 156 yards through the air and a touchdown reception. Aiyuk nabbed a 76-yard catch down the sideline for a house call against the Bucs.
Aiyuk is now on his way to his second 1000-yard receiving season with 831 yards through 11 weeks. The Arizona State product will have six more games left on the schedule to collect the remaining 169 yards to get to 1000.
The Purdy to Aiyuk connection is quickly turning into one of the leagues most potent quarterback to receiver duos.
Good: Defensive Line
Against the Tristan Wirfs-led Buccaneers offensive line, the 49ers defensive front again caused havoc on Sunday. Following a five sack effort against the Jaguars, the 49ers pass rush racked up four sacks on Sunday against the Bucs.
Nick Bosa got past Luke Goedeke for a sack with Dre Greenlaw despite the Bucs right tackle being called for holding. Bosa also met Fred Warner at Baker Mayfield to force a sack-fumble. Warner came up with the fumble recovery. Later in the game, new pass rusher Chase Young beat Wirfs around the edge to get to Mayfield for sack.
The addition of Young on the defensive line has shown through two games as the group has piled up nine total sacks during the 49ers’ back-to-back wins.
Good: Seahawks lose vs. Rams
With a win on Sunday over the Bucs, the 49ers quickly tuned into the final minutes of the Los Angeles Rams home game against Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks.
After trailing for most of the game, the Rams drilled a go-ahead field goal with little time on the clock. Following Rams’ late field goal, Seahawks kicker Jason Myers missed a 55-yard field goal at the end of the game to help complete LA’s comeback win.
With the Seahawks loss, the 49ers now sit in sole possession of first place in the NFC West. At 7-3, the 49ers will now travel to Seattle on a short week for a primetime game on Thanksgiving against the Seahawks.
