The San Francisco 49ers nearly let victory slip away on Sunday as they squared off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a nail-biting matchup that had fans on edge. The Bucs, led by a relentless Baker Mayfield, kept clawing back to tie the game multiple times, with a jaw-dropping play late in the game setting the stage for another potential comeback. Mayfield miraculously escaped from Nick Bosa’s clutches, pulling off a stunning stiff-arm before completing a critical pass to Rachaad White. That play helped extend a game-tying drive, leaving the 49ers in a precarious position.
Post-game, Bosa shed light on his near-sack of Mayfield, which had him facing a catch-22 scenario. “I was trying to avoid a horse collar penalty on that insane play,” Bosa told reporters, including San Francisco beat writer David Lombardi. “I just found myself between a rock and a hard place.”
The Niners ultimately prevailed, with quarterback Brock Purdy stepping up on the final drive and kicker Jake Moody sealing the 23-20 victory. But with the defense missing chances to put the game away, the win was a little too close for comfort. As they prepare for next Sunday’s clash with the Seattle Seahawks, the question looms: can the 49ers eliminate these costly errors?
Their longtime division rivals, the Seahawks, are no strangers to hard-fought battles with San Francisco. The teams, meeting for the second time this season, bring a fierce rivalry dating back to the NFC West realignment in 2002. The Niners handed Seattle a 36-24 loss at Lumen Field just four weeks ago, but both teams will bring fresh intensity to this pivotal rematch. For Bosa and his squad, any slip-ups could prove fatal as they aim to keep pace in a tight NFC West race.
Currently, the 49ers trail the Arizona Cardinals by a slim half-game margin in the NFC West, with a decisive Week 18 matchup against Arizona potentially on the horizon. Both teams remain in strong form, making the division crown very much up for grabs.
While the 49ers were among the preseason favorites in the NFC alongside the Detroit Lions, they’ve had a bumpier road than expected. The Lions, who face the Houston Texans on Sunday night, have largely met expectations and could become the NFC’s team to beat. If San Francisco wants to contend with Detroit in their late-season showdown in Week 17—or possibly in the playoffs—they’ll need a flawless game plan and a stronger defense.
If the 49ers can rise to the occasion, another trip to the Super Bowl may well be within reach.
