We’re back for another week of San Francisco 49ers football. Try not to get too excited! The team is back home facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. This is the 49ers final game before their Week 8 bye. The game kicks off at 1:05 pm PT on FOX with Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, and Jennifer Hale. on the call. It’s a primarily regional broadcast, which I broke down here.
The 49ers continue their tumble, sitting at 1-5 amidst a five-game losing streak. The team switched over to Colin Kaepernick in Week 6. He had some moments, while also having some struggles. Any chance of an upset of the Bills was shot thanks to the 49ers atrocious run defense. They gave up 312 rushing yards, which was the highest total they had given up in nearly 60 years. Michael Wilhoite and Nick Bellore have been pretty bad since NaVorro Bowman went down. Head coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil have made it clear Gerald Hodges will get more opportunities this week. Shayne Skov could also get in the mix to try and do something against Bucs running back Jacquizz Rodgers.
The 49ers will be without running back Carlos Hyde due to a shoulder injury. Mike Davis will likely start in his place, with Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris getting complementary work. Cornerback Rashard Robinson is listed as questionable due to his concussion. He sat out Wednesday’s practice, but was limited on Thursday and Friday. If he heads into Sunday still asymptomatic, he could be active. Since the Friday practice was a walkthrough, it’s also possible the team will decide he did not get enough work in this week. We’ll find out at 11:35 a.m. PT when inactives are announced.
The Bucs head into this game coming off a Week 6 bye. They won a road game over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, but that’s suddenly looking a lot less impressive as the Panthers struggle. I’m still not sure how the Bucs went into Atlanta and beat the Falcons. They will be without their right DT and DE, with Clinton McDonald and Robert Ayers out for Week 7. LDT Gerald McCoy is questionable, and it sounds like he will probably play. That would be a big infusion of talent along the Bucs defensive line. Doug Martin is out with a hamstring injury, and Jacquizz Rodgers will start in his palce.
The 49ers opened as a 2.5-point underdog, but sizable money has pushed them to even in some sports books, and even as much as a 1.5-point favorite in others. The majority of bets are still on the Bucs, but the serious money has been on the 49ers. It’s an interesting dichotomy considering how the 49ers have played in recent weeks.
Nuts and bolts
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Game time: Sunday, October 23, 1:05 p.m. PT
TV channel: FOX
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass
Radio: 810-AM, 107.7 (Ted Robinson, Tim Ryan) | Full listings
Spanish Radio: KTRB 860-AM (Jesus Zarate, Luis Landero/Gabriel Sotelo)
Matchup history: 17-5
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale (sideline reporter)
Enemy blog: Bucs Nation
Twitter: @ninersnation
Facebook: Go ahead and give us a like!
49ers regular season schedule
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams - 28-0 WIN
Week 2: @ Carolina Panthers - 46-27 LOSS
Week 3: @ Seattle Seahawks - 37-18 LOSS
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys - 24-17 LOSS
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals - 33-21 LOSS
Week 6: @ Buffalo Bills - 45-16 LOSS
Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, October 23
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, November 6
Week 10: @ Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, November 13
Week 11: vs. New England Patriots, 1:25 p.m., CBS Sunday, November 20
Week 12: @ Miami Dolphins, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, November 27
Week 13: @ Chicago Bears, 10:00 a.m., FOX Sunday, December 4
Week 14: vs. New York Jets, 1:05 p.m., CBS Sunday, December 11
Week 15: @ Atlanta Falcons, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, December 18
Week 16: @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., FOX Saturday, December 24
Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, January 1