49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jake Moody hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the 49ers a 23-20 win at Raymond James Stadium, 41 seconds after Chase McLaughlin had tied the game at 20 with a 26-yard field goal. Brock Purdy completed 25 of 36 for 353 yards and two touchdowns. The Buccaneers had first-and-goal at the 8 with under a minute left but Rachaad White was stuffed in the backfield and Mayfield's third-down pass was incomplete. Mayfield went 18-of-29 for 116 yards and one TD. The 49ers moved to 5-4.[1][2][3]

Jake Moody hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired and the 49ers walked out of Tampa with a 23-20 win that should not have come down to a kick on the last play.

Brock Purdy threw for 353 yards. The 49ers' offense, with McCaffrey back to a partial workload, produced its best yardage day of the year. The Buccaneers, without left tackle Tristan Wirfs, generated only one sack of Purdy all afternoon.

The Bucs ended up first-and-goal at the 8 with under a minute to play. Rachaad White was stuffed in the backfield, Mayfield's third-down pass was incomplete, and instead of a touchdown that would have ended the game, the Bucs settled for a tie and the chance to play overtime. Then Purdy hit Pearsall for 14 and Jennings for 13 and Moody had a chance to win it. He took it. 5-4. The schedule from here is going to decide if the season has a postseason in it.

49ers 23, Buccaneers 20. Margin: +3. Ten-game record: 5-4, +31 differential.

• Moody game-winner: 44 yards, time expired.
• Purdy: 25-of-36 for 353, 2 TD, 0 INT (season high passing).
• TB first-and-goal at the 8 with <1:00; failed to score TD.
• Mayfield: 18-of-29 for 116, 1 TD.
• Tristan Wirfs (TB): knee injury Q2, did not return.
• 49ers 5-4; Buccaneers 4-6 (4 straight losses).

A 23-20 win at Raymond James Stadium on Moody's walkoff field goal. The 49ers improve to 5-4.

How it unfolded

The Buccaneers opened on a long Mayfield touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead. The 49ers answered with a Purdy touchdown to Jennings to tie. The teams traded field goals and a McCaffrey rushing touchdown gave the 49ers a 17-10 lead at the half. The Bucs cut it on a McLaughlin field goal in the third and tied it at 20 on McLaughlin's 26-yarder with 41 seconds left. The Bucs had a first-and-goal at the 8 set up by their kickoff coverage. They settled for the field goal. Purdy then drove the 49ers into Moody's range and Moody won it.

The turning point

The goal-line stand by the 49ers' defense. With the Bucs about to take the lead with under a minute left, the defense produced the third-down stop and forced the field goal. The kick tied the game and gave Purdy the ball back with 41 seconds, enough time to win it.

By the numbers

Purdy 353 yards, season-best. McCaffrey 7 carries for 22 yards in his 2024 debut (partial workload). Jennings 6 catches for 66 and a TD. Kittle 4 for 65. Mayfield held to 116 yards on the day, the 49ers' pass rush generating four sacks despite Tristan Wirfs not playing.

Personnel watch

Christian McCaffrey active for the first time since Week 1. Limited snaps. Wirfs left in the second quarter with a knee injury that would later be diagnosed as serious. The 49ers' pass rush, without Hargrave and with Bosa back to full health, generated the four sacks.

What it means

5-4 with a road win against a 4-4 team and a goal-line stop that saved the season. The 49ers visit Seattle next week, the rematch from the Thursday-night win in October.