49ers take down Buccaneers as Christian McCaffrey finds the end zone once more

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Brock Purdy threw a 76-yard strike to Brandon Aiyuk for one of his three touchdown passes, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-14 on Sunday.

Purdy also threw a 4-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey and a three-yarder to George Kittle to help the 49ers (7-3) post a second straight lopsided win following a three-game losing streak.

Baker Mayfield threw a TD pass for Tampa Bay (4-6), but the Bucs had no answers defensively against Purdy and the 49ers and lost for the fifth time in six games.

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Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch as Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 and Zyon McCollum #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers work to make a tackle during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Purdy finished 21 for 25 for 333 yards and became the first Niners quarterback ever to post a perfect passer rating in a game with at least 20 attempts.

For the second straight week, the 49ers broke the game open with a big pass play from Purdy on the opening drive of the second half.

He connected on a 66-yarder to Kittle on the second play of the third quarter last week to help fuel a 34-3 win at Jacksonville and then topped that this week.

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The Niners forced a punt by the Bucs on the opening drive of the third quarter and were backed up to their own 2 following a perfectly placed punt by Jake Camarda.

A short run by McCaffrey and a 21-yard pass to Kittle moved the ball out to the 24 and Purdy struck from there. He lofted a deep throw down the sideline to Aiyuk, who beat Jamel Dean for the catch and ran it in from there for the score that made it 20-6.

Purdy then led another scoring drive on the next possession capped by the pass to Kittle to make it a 21-point lead. The Niners held on from there, thanks in part to rookie Ji’Ayir Brown breaking up a fourth-down pass in the end zone and intercepting another throw to the end zone on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter.

Baker Mayfield throws ball

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during the second half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

BAKER VS. BOSA

The rivalry between Mayfield and Niners edge rusher Nick Bosa that dates back to college when Mayfield planted a flag at midfield at Ohio State following an Oklahoma win had some new developments.

Mayfield raised his arms triumphantly after blocking Bosa on a 6-yard end-around run by Trey Palmer. But Bosa got revenge on the next official play when he combined with Fred Warner on a sack of Mayfield that led to a lost fumble.

INJURIES

Buccaneers: Dean (foot, ankle) left the game in the third quarter after the TD by Aiyuk and didn’t return. … CB Carlton Davis (hip) and LB Lavonte David (groin) also left in the second half and didn’t return.

49ers: S Talanoa Hufanga injured a knee in the second half and didn’t return. He was taken to the locker room on a cart.

Christian McCaffrey runs ball

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the third quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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UP NEXT

Buccaneers: Visit Indianapolis on Sunday.

49ers: Visit Seattle on Thursday night.