Well, it’s time for us to do another simulation of the game. Regardless of team, I’m now waiting for that rare moment this season when Madden encounters a glitch and decides the San Francisco 49ers should win a football game. I’m not holding my breath though. As inconsistent and strange the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been, they at least have wide receivers and a running game that works sometimes—even with backups.

Let’s see if home field advantage makes a play in video game-land.

Quarter Length: 6 minutes

Inactives: Rashard Robinson (49ers), Carlos Hyde (49ers), Doug Martin (Buccaneers), Robert Ayers (Buccaneers), Clinton McDonald (Buccaneers)

1st Quarter:

The 49ers deferred to the second half and booted the ball off to the Buccaneers for a touchback. Out came Jameis Winston and Pat’s own cringing about how this is going to turn out.

A sack for 7 yards loss thanks to DeForest Buckner was nice and created hope, but an 18 yard pass to Mike Evans on 3rd down shattered that pretty quickly. From there, the Bucs deployed Jacquizz Rodgers repeatedly and he gained 3-5 yards a clip. Another DeForest Buckner sack on Winstons 3rd dropback (his second he wound up scrambling) made hope again, but he nailed Cecil Shorts on 3rd down with a 33 yard reception to put the Bucs on the goalline. Oh goody. You can imagine what they did next with Jacquizz Rodgers.

Score: 7-0, Buccaneers

The 49ers received and the curse of Chester Cheetah reared its ugly head as Mike Davis fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage. The Bucs recovered and set up shop on the 49ers own 28 yard line.

The 49er defense managed a 3 and out from the mess, but Roberto Aguayo was still able to kick his second straight field goal.

Score: 10-0, Buccaneers

The 49ers offense showed progress on their second series, not fumbling the ball on the first play from scrimmage, but Colin Kaepernick taking a sack instead. Two plays later, the 49ers were punting and Bradley Pinion shanked the kick to the 50 yard line. A nice return by Adam Humphries put the Bucs back in 49ers territory. Again. We’re not out of the 1st quarter yet either.

The Bucs called on Peyton Barber for their rushing game, who was not near as effective as Rodgers. despite a nice 10 yard pass from Winston, the Bucs were forced to kick again. And Aguayo made it. Very strange.

Score: 13-0, Buccaneers

After the kickoff the 49ers deployed Mike Davis and then ran out the quarter.

2nd Quarter:

The 49ers went run, run, punt and the Bucs took over on their own 45 yard line. Again, progress. Now we just need a 1st down. And then came more 3 and outs. The Buccaneers got one, sent it to the 49ers. The 49ers did the same, and sent it back. It looked like another punt coming thanks to an Arik Armstead sack, but a pair of offsides penalties on Jimmie Ward gifted the Buccaneers a 1st down.

And then the Mike Evans show began with four passes thrown to him and taking them back to the 49ers 10 yard line. Winston mixed it up with a pass to Adam Humphries for the touchdown.

Score: 20-0, Buccaneers

The 49ers traded a 3 and out with the Buccaneers and got their first 1st down of the day with a 22 yard pass to Torrey Smith. They seemed to like this 1st down thing and Colin Kaepernick threw an 18 yard pass to Smith on the next play. Unfortunately, a pair of losses in Mike Davis’s runs forced the 49ers to a field goal to close out the half.

Score: 20-3, Buccneers

3rd Quarter:

The 49ers get the ball back, but a holding penalty on Joe Staley stalled the drive and brought the punting unit out for yet another 3 and out.

A 2nd down facemask call on Jimmie Ward brought the Buccaneers past midfield and a few Jacquizz Rodgers runs got them just in the fight distance for Robert Aguayo to make another field goal.

Score 23-3: Buccaneers

The 49ers got the ball back and again began with a strong rushing attack...that actually worked. Thanks to a couple nice 15+ passes to Torrey Smith, the 49ers managed to get to the Buccaneers 10 yard line pretty quickly. They pounded Mike Davis in 3 times and got the first TD of the day.

Score 23-10: Buccaneers

The 49ers kicked off and the quarter ended.

4th Quarter:

Despite the score, the Bucs did their best San Francisco impression and went 3 and out. The 49ers didn’t do much with the opportunity and sent it back to Tampa Bay. Now Tampa Bay was able to start chipping away at the 49ers with their run game and chew some clock. After crossing midfield, they took to the pass game and landed on the 1 yard line. Rodgers ran it in for another touchdown, obviously. They decided to go for the 2 point conversion too. And of course made it.

Score: 31-10, Buccaneers

After getting the ball back, a dropped pass by Quinton Patton, and two short passes to Torrey Smith didn’t help matters much. Colin Kaepernick took a sack on 4th down and the Bucs took over on downs with 1:15 left and finished the clock off.

Final Score: 31-10, Buccaneers

Final Thoughts:

Wow. Madden really, really, really doesn’t think the 49ers are any good. At all. This is yet another loss that’s depicted in embarrassing fashion. I do think despite the problems the Buccaneers have that they are a better team, but I doubt they win like this. I see this being more of a one touchdown game than a 21 point beatdown.

I think the moment Madden lets us win a game will be more celebratory than when the 49ers actually win a game in real life. At this point, we aren’t sacrificing draft positioning in Madden.

A win in either would actually be nice at this point, however.