In a dramatic finish on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 23-20 win, thanks to a clutch 44-yard field goal from kicker Jake Moody as time expired. The victory, marked by Moody’s resilience, was even more significant as it came in the season debut of running back Christian McCaffrey.
Moody, who had been nearly perfect on the season with 13 field goals made in 14 attempts prior to this game, faced a rare struggle with three missed attempts during the contest. Early in the game, he pushed a 49-yard attempt wide left, followed by a miss from 50 yards that went wide left again. His final miss, a 44-yard attempt with 3:09 remaining, veered wide right—an attempt that would have given the 49ers a six-point lead and potentially sealed the game early. Despite the pressure mounting, Moody remained poised and delivered the game-winning field goal from 44 yards as time expired, proving his resilience under pressure.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy played a pivotal role in setting up the game-winning kick, throwing for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy was efficient and composed throughout, avoiding any turnovers and leading his team down the field when it mattered most. His highlights included a 46-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for Pearsall’s first career score and an 11-yard strike to tight end George Kittle.
Purdy also demonstrated his ability to stay calm in the clutch, moving the offense down the field with key completions to wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Pearsall. These crucial plays put the 49ers in position for Moody’s game-winning attempt, and they ultimately helped San Francisco secure the narrow victory.
On the other side of the field, Tampa Bay’s offense struggled, particularly in the passing game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown, but he couldn’t provide the offensive spark the Buccaneers needed. The Bucs have now lost four consecutive games, and their offensive woes continue to plague them as they approach their bye week.
Tampa Bay’s lone touchdown came late in the first half when Mayfield connected with wide receiver Chris Godwin for a 12-yard score. However, the Bucs couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities in the second half as their offense sputtered.
San Francisco’s defense did its part to ensure the 49ers would remain in the lead, holding Tampa Bay to just 116 yards passing and limiting their overall offensive production. The 49ers’ defensive line made life difficult for Mayfield, sacking him multiple times and forcing the Bucs to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.
With the win, San Francisco improves to 7-2 on the season and will look to keep the momentum going next week when they host NFC West rival Seattle. As for Tampa Bay, they’ll head into their bye week, needing to regroup and find answers before returning to action in Week 12.
Up Next: 49ers: Host Seattle Seahawks, Buccaneers: Bye Week
