3 winners, 3 losers from 49ers' nail-biting win over Buccaneers

The 49ers pulled off a narrow victory over the Buccaneers in Week 10, generating some winners and losers in the process.

The San Francisco 49ers had nearly every opportunity to blow out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.

For starters, the Niners were getting healthy after their bye week, while the Bucs remain banged up. San Francisco had a significant rest advantage, and head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense should have ran circles against head coach Todd Bowles' defense because of the scheme matchup.

Instead, the 49ers nearly let yet another winnable game get away from them, ultimately coming from behind in the fourth quarter to squeak out a 23-20 road victory, thanks to a last-second field goal by embattled kicker Jake Moody.

Moody, an obvious subject for a Week 10 winners/losers piece, was returning from a lengthy injury absence because of a high-ankle sprain.

But, aside from his game-winner, it's safe to assume Moody's final kick was about the only winning thing he did at Raymond James Stadium.

We'll start with him.

Loser: Kicker Jake Moody

Moody did make the game-winner, a clear redemption from an otherwise nightmarish return to action.

Missing three field goals is inexcusable, especially considering the whiffs on a would-be nine points should have negated the need for a game-winning try at the end of regulation anyway. And while Moody had been much more consistent this season than his rookie year, those three misses continue to cloud what's been a tumultuous pro career after the Niners used a third-round pick on him in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Drafting kickers? Moody didn't justify doing so whatsoever in Week 10.

And one has to admit that pissing off teammates for a lack of production signals the special teams frustrations are boiling over elsewhere on the roster.

Loser: 49ers special teams

There seemed to be some modest improvement on the crucial third phase of the game leading up to the bye, but San Francisco's special teams are again back to being a complete disaster.

Moody's three misses highlight the woes, yes. But, a muffed punt by return specialist Jacob Cowing was arguably the worst play of the day for this embattled group, especially when looking at cornerback and gunner Darrell Luter Jr. getting in the way again.

Remember, Luter was involved in a similar muff back in the Super Bowl last February that bounced the Kansas City Chiefs' way.

Special teams have already cost the 49ers games this season, and this group came oh-so close to doing so again in Week 10.

Loser: Defensive end Nick Bosa

True, All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa managed a sack on Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield late in the fourth quarter, and that was a crucial play at a vital part of the game

Up to that point, though, Bosa was more than just a non-factor. He was a liability.

Bosa missed a key tackle on Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving, and that wasn't a good look whatsoever. And the former Defensive Player of the Year mostly failed to take advantage of backup left tackle Justin Skule after the latter entered the game to replace the injured starter, Tristan Wirfs.

Fortunately, Bosa can be granted one bad game. Unlike special teams, fans fully expect him to bounce back without issue.

Winner: Quarterback Brock Purdy

Quarterback Brock Purdy, like most of the offense in the first half, was notably pedestrian and sluggish. But, after halftime, Purdy made some clutch throws and extended plays to great effect.

Including this beautiful touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle:

Purdy also tossed a strategic rainbow of a pass to running back Christian McCaffrey, which earned plenty of praise from Fox Sports' color commentator, Tom Brady, after the play and also after the game.

Overall, Purdy's stat line was a cool 25-of-36 for 353 yards, two touchdowns against zero interceptions, all for a 119.3 passer rating.

Winner: Wide receiver Jauan Jennings

While eyes focused on McCaffrey and Moody returning from injury, an unsung return was that of wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip), who'll see an increased role on offense in light of fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk's season-ending knee injury.

Jennings, who was Purdy's go-to target for much of the first half of the year, led all Niners pass catchers with 93 yards on seven receptions, and one can't argue against his late fourth-quarter catch-and-run grab was vital in getting San Francisco into field-goal range.

“It was his first time ever playing X position, which he'll be doing the rest of the year," Shanahan told reporters of Jennings after the game. "So, he did a hell of a job,”

Two of those seven grabs came on third down, too, reinforcing the nickname, "Third and Jauan."

Winner: Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall

In his first two games after suffering a frightening gunshot wound during an Aug. 31 attempted robbery, rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall looked like a promising first-round prospect.

In Week 10, he looked like a bona fide playmaker.

It'd be one thing if Pearsall's first-ever NFL touchdown was a simple slant route or hook play in the red zone. Instead, Purdy found the first-year pro down the middle of the field, and Pearsall merely needed to use his speed and separation skills to get beyond the Buccaneers defense, making safety Antoine Winfield Jr. look bad in the process:

The 46-yard catch-and-run score was pretty epic, the highlight of a four-catch, 73-yard game that reinforces the notion of Pearsall being a vital part of the 49ers' future.

Especially with Aiyuk out, Pearsall will need to be an impact player.

Judging by his Week 10 efforts, the rookie can be just that.

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