TAMPA, Fla. – The Bucs could not take advantage of 49ers kicker Jake Moody missing three straight field goals and ended up losing 23-20 to drop to 4-6 heading into their bye. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that injuries are hurting the Bucs, but whoever is in the game has to come through.
“We have to finish ballgames,” Bowles said. “When guys get a chance to play, they have to come in, play and execute.”
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Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, playing without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and lost left tackle Tristan Wirfs in the game to a knee injury, still led the Bucs on a game-tying drive with a field goal to give them a chance. But 49ers kicker Jake Moody nailed a 44-yarder to send the 49ers into the locker room victorious.
“I think that’s a credit to having great teammates, trusting in me and picking me up,” Moody said. “The coaches, they weren’t worried at all. They all had faith in the world and sent me back out there for six tries.”
Tampa Bay has lost four in a row and will have some time to get healthy. Mayfield went 18 of 29 for 116 yards in the air and one touchdown, but it’s obvious losing some of his star players is having an effect.
“We’ve got to get healthy,” Mayfield said. “Take the week to get healthy and get your mind ready to make this stretch run. We’ve just got to put it together.”
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49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 353 yards without an interception. Running back Christian McCaffery made his season debut but was held in check with 13 carries for 39 yards.
It was the second straight week the Bucs lost on the last play of the game. Last week, Chiefs Patrick Mahomes led KC to a TD on their first possession in overtime. Sunday, it was Moody with the game-winning field goal.
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