San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Preview, prediction and odds

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers review

The San Francisco 49ers (4-1) face another grueling road game when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) on Sunday in a battle with a fellow NFC contender who is thriving amid injury adversity.

Despite a host of injuries on both sides of the ball, the 49ers stunned their NFC West rivals Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football behind a valiant effort from backup quarterback Mac Jones.

After helping the 49ers to a 26-23 overtime win, Jones hopes to improve to 4-0 as San Francisco’s starter, with starting quarterback Brock Purdy sidelined with a toe injury.

The 49ers prevailed over the Rams despite a stellar performance by Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford. This week they face signal caller Baker Mayfield who is playing at an MVP level.

Mayfield was sensational last week as the Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks in a thriller in the Pacific Northwest, throwing for 379 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay to a 38-35 victory at Lumen Field.

Tampa Bay’s offense will be minus the services of wide receivers Chris Godwin (fibula) and Mike Evans (hamstring).

However, Mayfield will remain confident that he has the tools to succeed against the 49er defense, with Emeka Egbuka widely viewed as the Offensive Rookie of the Year after an exciting start to his career.

First round pick He went for 163 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions against Seattle. Following that performance, Egbuka now has 25 catches, 445 yards and five touchdown receptions through five games, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions, 400 yards and five touchdown receptions in his first five career games.

Against a weak 49ers secondary, Mayfield and Egbuka will make sure their obvious relationship yields more exciting results, while the Bucs will hope to get an increase in rushing production from Rashad White, who scored twice in the absence of Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) in Seattle but is averaging just 2.9 yards per rush.

Both the Buccaneers and 49ers have found it difficult to find rushing efficiency this season, with San Francisco uncharacteristically tied for the worst yards per carry average in the NFL (3.1).

The 49ers have failed to score a rushing touchdown so far this season, but running back Christian McCaffrey is on pace to make history as a pass rusher. McCaffrey is on track for more than 1,300 yards through the air, and if he gets 50 yards in this game, he will become the first running back in NFL history to do so in each of the first six games of a season.

While Ricky Pearsall (knee) and star tight end George Kittle (hamstring) remain on the sideline, the 49ers will return Juwan Jennings (knee/rib) to attack a depleted Tampa Bay secondary that is minus cornerback Zion McCollum (thumb) and backup Benjamin Morrison (hamstring).

Facing a Tampa Bay defensive front that includes the likes of Vita Via, Haason Redick and Yaya Diaby, the focus will be on Jones to get the ball out quickly and keep the 49ers on schedule as they look to keep up with the high-powered Buccaneers.