Special teams need prayer meeting after nearly costing 49ers a win vs. Buccaneers

As Emerson, Lake and Palmer once said, "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends."

It's somewhat typical of the San Francisco 49ers season that a game in which they had six more first downs, almost 200 more yards, and won the time-of-possession battle, came down to a late field goal by kicker Jake Moody to squeak by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20.

The reason why is something you've all heard before: special teams.

Yes, another week produced another "uneven" Niners special teams performance, and on another less-cheerful day, one that could've cost them the game entirely.

First, Moody missed three field goals. Those nine points would've probably been helpful on a number of levels. They would've made the scoreline look a lot more comfortable than it looked in the end, and probably given a fairer picture of the offense's efforts, particularly given big games by the likes of quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings.

Perhaps more damagingly, though, special teams produced yet another key turnover, as return specialist Jacob Cowing's early third-quarter fumble led to a Tampa Bay score that tied the game, and was quite possibly a 14-point swing play.

The play also evoked horrific memories of the Super Bowl versus the Kansas City Chiefs, as cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. was once again blocked into the returner, just as on that fateful play back in February. That definitely didn't help the healing process.

In some ways, by the fourth quarter, we were all a little bit of wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

It's always the constant frustration with the 49ers' special teams play, even playing at an average level would likely elevate the team beyond the skin-of-their-teeth victories that we've all endured this season, especially when the offense and defense are performing at their usual high levels.

Unfortunately, not only are special teams playing poorly, it often verges on historically bad. Despite that, coordinator Brian Schneider seems to avoid much scrutiny, and head coach Kyle Shanahan's approach to special teams could be described as disaffected at best.

It's hard to know what the solution is.

Now, it's true to say that special teams actually played a part in the 49ers regaining their feet after that surprise knockdown and coming through for the win. Cowing found his feet and playmaking ability long enough to come up with a 30-yard return that ultimately sparked off a touchdown drive that woke up a slumbering offense.

And, of course, while most of us were watching through our fingers, the box score will show with finality that Moody landed the kick that won the game, edging the team past Tampa Bay in what might have been a season-defining moment. Judging by the sideline and locker room reactions, it could be much bigger to the organisation than just a narrow road win in November.

We might even be looking back on it on America's Game this time next year. In some ways, it felt that consequential for this football team.

But then, as my fellow contributor Akshaj Dwivedula said in a conversation with the Niner Noise team (in something that's rang around my head since), "Do you get credit for a comeback that you caused by your own mistakes?"

Add that to the questions the 49ers' special teams unit needs to answer in the second half of the season.

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