Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ 5 easiest games of the 2018 regular season

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals is hit by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals is hit by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Week 12 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Usually it wouldn’t be a good idea to put a 49ers road contest on the East Coast on the list of most-easy games for any season.

This year, though, San Francisco’s lone trip to the eastern time zone makes the cut. And for two specific reasons.

First off, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t particularly good. This was the same team that finished 5-11 a year ago and ranked dead last in sack totals (22). Sure, the Bucs will go about trying to fix that via the NFL Draft, but we’re not there yet.

Tampa Bay was plagued by injuries and inconsistency all season long last year. Quarterback Jameis Winston is yet to take things to the next level despite having a slew of offensive weapons around him.

And that’s an opportunity for the 49ers.

The other reason this game falls on the most-easy list is because it takes place after San Francisco’s bye in Week 11. That should allocate plenty of rest and preparation time in advance of the Niners’ trip back east.

Those two factors make this a very winnable game.