The 49ers (2-4) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the rematch of the 2002 NFC Wild Card game.
Brad Johnson starts at quarterback for Tampa Bay. Michael Pittman runs the ball. Keyshawn Johnson and Keenan McCardell lead the receivers. Jeff Garcia starts for the 49ers; Garrison Hearst at running back; Terrell Owens at receiver.
Brad Johnson and the 3-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Candlestick Sunday afternoon, the kind of rematch home game where the team that the 49ers lost the January 2003 NFC Wild Card to, the kind of playoff loss that ended Steve Mariucci's tenure, gets one more visit.
Jeff Garcia stays the starter. Garrison Hearst the lead back. Terrell Owens the WR1. The Bucs come in with Brad Johnson at quarterback and Michael Pittman as the lead back. The kind of home rematch where, with the Bucs coming off their Super Bowl win, the new Erickson era gets a real test.
Favored by Tampa Bay by 4 on the road. The kind of home game where 3-4 would put the year on the right side of the standings.
Week 7 across the NFC sees the contenders pulling away. The Buccaneers (3-3), Eagles, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, and Cowboys compete for division titles and wild-card spots. The 49ers (2-4) trail in the NFC West. Around the AFC the Patriots, Colts, Chiefs, and Steelers dominate. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the 49ers, against the defending Super Bowl champions, have one more chance at the kind of competitive home win the year's identity tape needs.
Through six games the 49ers are 2-4 with a +16 point differential. Jeff Garcia averages 6.6 yards per attempt with six TDs and seven INTs. Garrison Hearst averages 64 rushing yards a game with one TD. Terrell Owens averages 81 receiving yards a game. The defense allows 18.5 points per game. The Buccaneers are 3-3 with Brad Johnson averaging 240 passing yards a game and 8 TDs/3 INTs. Michael Pittman averages 70 rushing yards a game. Keyshawn Johnson leads the team in receiving. Vegas opens Tampa Bay as 4-point road favorites; total 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 4-1 | W4 |
| New England Patriots | 4-2 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3-3 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 1-4 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 3-2 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-3 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-4 | L3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 5-1 | L1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 4-2 | W1 |
| Houston Texans | 2-3 | L1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1-5 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6-0 | W6 |
| Denver Broncos | 5-1 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 2-4 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-1 | W1 |
| St. Louis Rams | 3-2 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-4 | L1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-5 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 4-1 | W4 |
| Washington Redskins | 3-3 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 2-3 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | W5 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-3 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-4 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 5-0 | W5 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-2 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-4 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-5 | L5 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 7 yard rush ( Owen Pochman kick) | 0-7 |
| Buccaneers | Keenan McCardell 75 yard pass from Brad Johnson ( Martin Gramatica kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tai Streets 14 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Owen Pochman kick) | 7-14 |
| 49ers | Terrell Owens 75 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Owen Pochman kick) | 7-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Owen Pochman 27 yard field goal | 7-24 |
Jeff Garcia threw two touchdown passes and Garrison Hearst ran for 117 yards and a touchdown and the 49ers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-7 at Candlestick Park. Garcia finished 15-of-29 for 253. Terrell Owens caught six for 152 with a touchdown. The defense intercepted Brad Johnson three times. The 49ers improved to 3-4 in the kind of home upset of the defending Super Bowl champions.[1][2][3]
Jeff Garcia threw two touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. Garrison Hearst ran for 117 yards. Terrell Owens caught six for 152. The 49ers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-7 in the kind of home upset where, with the rematch against the team that ended Steve Mariucci's tenure, the new Erickson era produced the kind of statement win.
Garcia was 15-of-29 for 253. Owens's 152 receiving yards were the year's high. Hearst's rushing touchdown gave the offense the kind of grind-it-out work the year had been searching for. The defense intercepted Brad Johnson three times.
3-4. The kind of home upset where, against the defending Super Bowl champions and the team that ended Mariucci's tenure, the year's identity tape produced the kind of statement win the offseason needed. The Arizona Cardinals on the road next Sunday in another NFC West matchup. The kind of October where the new Erickson era, with three wins in seven games, has the kind of competitive arc the staff has been promising.
49ers 24, Buccaneers 7. Margin: +17. Seven-game record: 3-4, +33 differential.
* Jeff Garcia: 15-of-29 for 253, 2 TDs (Owens + 1), 1 INT.
* Garrison Hearst: 20 carries for 117, 1 TD.
* Terrell Owens: 6 catches for 152, 1 TD.
* Brad Johnson: 21-of-34 for 241, 1 TD, 3 INTs.
* Michael Pittman: 6 carries for 29.
* Keyshawn Johnson: receiving production.
* 49ers D: 3 INTs of Johnson.
* 49ers 3-4; Buccaneers 3-4.
A 24-7 home upset of the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 3-4 in the year's signature home win.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Hearst touchdown to make it 7-0. The Bucs answered with a Brad Johnson touchdown to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Joe Nedney field goal to make it 10-7. The second quarter was a Garcia touchdown to Terrell Owens to make it 17-7. The third quarter was a 49ers field goal that made it 20-7. The fourth quarter was a 49ers touchdown to close it 24-7. The defense produced three interceptions of Brad Johnson throughout.
The turning point
Jeff Garcia's second-quarter touchdown to Terrell Owens. With the score 10-7 and the Bucs' offense looking like it would match the 49ers' first-half production, Owens's deep ball gave the team the kind of two-score lead the defense closed out.
By the numbers
Garcia 253 passing on 29 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Hearst 117 rushing on 20 carries with a TD. Owens 152 receiving on 6 catches with a TD. Brad Johnson 241 on 34 attempts with a TD and three INTs. Michael Pittman 29 rushing.
Personnel watch
Terrell Owens's 152-yard receiving day (his year's high). Garrison Hearst's first 100-yard rushing game of the year with a TD. Jeff Garcia's two-touchdown game. The defense's three interceptions of Brad Johnson. The kind of home upset where everything the new staff has been building toward landed at once.
What it means
3-4 with the Cardinals on the road next Sunday. The kind of home upset where, against the defending Super Bowl champions and the team that ended Mariucci's tenure, the year's identity tape produced the kind of statement win the new Erickson era was hired to deliver.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Garcia | 15/29 | 253 | 2 | 1 | |
| TAM | |||||
| Brad Johnson | 21/34 | 241 | 1 | 3 | |
| Shaun King | 4/7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Garrison Hearst | 20 | 117 | 1 | 18 |
| Kevan Barlow | 15 | 75 | 0 | 20 |
| Jeff Garcia | 5 | 17 | 0 | 7 |
| Fred Beasley | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| TAM | ||||
| Michael Pittman | 6 | 29 | 0 | 12 |
| Shaun King | 2 | 18 | 0 | 12 |
| Aaron Stecker | 2 | 14 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Jones | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Brad Johnson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jameel Cook | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Terrell Owens | 6 | 152 | 1 | 75 |
| Garrison Hearst | 3 | 38 | 0 | 26 |
| Tai Streets | 3 | 34 | 1 | 15 |
| Jed Weaver | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
| TAM | ||||
| Keenan McCardell | 3 | 119 | 1 | 75 |
| Michael Pittman | 10 | 60 | 0 | 14 |
| Karl Williams | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Jameel Cook | 3 | 19 | 0 | 10 |
| Todd Yoder | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Jones | 2 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Will Heller | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Aaron Stecker | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Ken Dilger | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Keyshawn Johnson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2003 W7 - 49ers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Game Thread
