Bucs Need A Quick Turn Around Before Thursday Night At Carolina

The Buccaneers fell in their season opener at home against the San Fransisco 49ers 31-17. The 49ers would get things going with an early field goal with 11:12 in the first quarter to give the 3-0 lead. The 49ers got the ball back, would throw a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave the Bucs the 7-3 lead from Vernon Hargreaves that electrified the crowd and gave the Bucs their only lead. Before the half, the 49ers would attempt a 36 yard Robbie Gould and the Bucs would keep the lead 7-6 at the half. The third quarter would mainly belong to the 49ers and with 12:31 left in the third quarter the 49ers would take the lead back as Richie James would score on a 39-yard pass from Jimmy Garaoppolo as the 49ers lead 13-7.

The third quarter would start with the 49ers extending the lead to 20-7 with a 31-yard pick-six from Richard Sherman with 11:44 left. The Bucs would get into the game with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston to Chris Godwin, and the Bucs were back in the game. The fourth quarter would start with the Bucs holding the 49ers and would get the ball back and would have a chance to take the lead, but unfortunately, the Bucs would get stopped and would have to settle for three and drew closer and still trailed 20-17 from a 31-yard Matt Gay field goal.

The Bucs defense would step up again by holding the 49ers again to another Robbie Gould field goal and would trail with 2:21 remaining in regulation and with the Bucs trailing by just six they would have a chance to march down the field and win the game. Jameis Winston would have one more shot at the endzone and to win the game, but unfortunately would throw his second pick-six for a 25-yard return by Ahkello Witherspoon and the 49ers would attempt a two-point conversion and they converted it on a pass from Jimmy Garappolo to Debo Samuel to run away with the 31-17 victory.

Personally, on the day the Bucs offense were not in sync at all as Jameis Winston was 20-36, 194 yards, one touchdown pass, and three interceptions, but I don’t just blame Winston for it all because the offensive line did not give him time at all and the communication just lacks between him and center Ryan Jensen between snap it seems. The only time it seemed that things were working on offense was when Ronald Jones got the ball, and he had 13 carries for 75 yards. Chris Godwin should have had more balls thrown to him as he only had three receptions 53 yards, but he did score one touchdown though.

Before the Bucs travel to Carolina Thursday night, they have to change up a lot of things on offense especially the offensive line and plan on giving Ronald Jones more carries. The defense should play the way they played today because they played well only giving up 21 points defensively and holding the 49ers to 98 rushing yards and 166 yards receiving. Personally, it’s nice that we don’t have to worry about the kicking anymore, but in a division game on the road, we should not let our guard down.