This morning, the San Francisco 49ers will travel to Tampa, Florida to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The two teams last met on October 9 of 2011 when the 49ers beat the Buccaneers 48-3 in San Francisco.
Offensively, the 49ers are ranked 28th in the league while the Buccaneers are ranked 31st. Defensively, the 49ers are ranked 4th in the league while the Buccaneers are ranked 12th.
The 49ers, who have now won three straight and eight of their last ten games, are playing for a playoff spot and can secure one with a win over the Buccaneers and an Arizona Cardinals loss and a Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles loss or tie.
The 49ers defense is playing fantastic football right now. The unit has not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season and has allowed an average of just 12 points over their past three games. Last week, the Buccaneers defense allowed just 214 yards and forced five turnovers against the Buffalo Bills. The Buccaneers started the season by losing their first eight games, but have won four of their last five.
49ers cornerback Eric Wright, who sealed his team's win last week against the Seattle Seahawks by intercepting Russell Wilson, will be facing his former team. He had signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Buccaneers prior to last season, but was released after just one year. He then signed with the 49ers.
Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson will also be facing his former team. Goldson spent his first six season with the 49ers before signing a five-year, $41.5 million contract with the Buccaneers. Rookie Eric Reid has done a great job replacing the Pro Bowl safety for he 49ers.
The game kicks off at 10:00 AM PT and, as usual, you can visit 49erswebzone.com for the latest news and updates during and after the game.
The game will be televised on FOX. The 49ers are 5 point favorites.
Within Yahoo! Sports, a popular mobile scores application, 85% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
Within our Pick 'em contest, 99% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
You can follow the game live on NFL.com's Game Center.
You can also discuss the game with fans in the 49erswebzone.com forums. Become a fan of 49erswebzone.com on Facebook and Google+ or follow us on Twitter.
Questionable: CB Tarell Brown (ribs), G Mike Iupati (knee), WR Mario Manningham (knee), TE Vance McDonald (ankle)
Probable: WR Jon Baldwin (shoulder), WR Michael Crabtree (ankle), S Craig Dahl (ankle), RB Frank Gore (ankle), DT Ray McDonald (ankle), LB Dan Skuta (foot), LB Aldon Smith (shoulder), DT Justin Smith (shoulder), G Adam Snyder (not injury related), T Joe Staley (knee)
Buccaneers Injury Report
Out: G Carl Nicks (foot)
Probable: DE Da'Quan Bowers (knee), LB Lavonte David (back), DE William Gholston (head), DT Gary Gibson (calf), WR Vincent Jackson (hamstring), GDavin Joseph (knee/shoulder), DT Akeem Spence (wrist), C Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder)
Article photo by Kim Klement of USA Today Sports
