49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw celebrates his interception of Tom Brady in the third quarter with his teammates at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday DEC 11, 2022. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

SANTA CLARA — It was not the homecoming Tom Brady had envisioned in what may be his last time playing in the Bay Area.

The Tampa Bay quarterback could only watch in exasperation as the San Franciso 49ers crushed his team in a 35-7 victory on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco has won a season best six games in a row and lead the NFC West by two games over the Seattle Seahawks. Tampa Bay has lost two of its past three game yet are in still in first place in the lowly NFC South.

San Francisco suffered another tough injury to one of its star offensive players. Deebo Samuel injured his ankle after he fumbled the ball on a three-yard rushing play at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. The ensuing Buccaneers drive stalled at the 49ers nine-yard as Brady’s passing attempt on 4th and 2 fell incomplete intended for Evans.

“We hate to see guys go down. Especially one of our leaders like Deebo. You’ve just got to go with the punches and just keep fighting and that’s what everybody on this team did and that’s just the type of team that we’ve got. You get hit in the mouth and you’ve got to just keep fighting,” linebacker Dre Greenlaw said.

San Francisco (9-4) drew first blood on the game’s opening drive with a five play 67-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard end around run for a touchdown, his third rushing touchdown of the season. The first play of the series quarterback Brock Purdy was smacked to the turf by Keanu Neal. However, Neal was flagged for roughing the passer when he went helmet to helmet on Purdy.

Tampa Bay (6-7) opened its first drive down going 40 yards down the field but a 55-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Succop was partially blocked at the line of scrimmage resulting in a turnover on downs.

“They kicked our ass,” said Brady who didn’t mix words describing his team’s performance. “It’s the reality of this sport, and every time you take the field you the opportunity to get your ass kicked or to kick ass, and obviously we’re on the wrong end of it today.”

The Buccaneers thought they had a 68-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Mike Evans when Brady launched a pass down the right sideline and connected with a wide-open Evans but left tackle Donovan Smith was called for holding Jordan Willis negating the big play. Instead, Tampa was forced to punt the ball three plays later.

San Francisco doubled its lead on its third offensive possession. Purdy led an eight play 62-yard drive as the 49ers used a balanced attack of run and pass to march down the field. Once again Neal extended the drive when he was called for passing interference on 3rd and 1 from the Buccaneers eight-yard line. Two plays later Purdy scrambled in for a two-yard rushing touchdown.

“It was real impressive with the way he played,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on his rookie quarterback’s play. “I thought it was real similar to how he played the week before. I’m just happy that he was able to go out there and perform at the level a lot of us thought that he was capable of and the players felt that way, the coaches felt that way and guys played really good around him too. I was just happy for him.”

After a three and out by Tampa Bay, Purdy led the Niners on a nine play 71-yard scoring drive. Purdy threw a deep ball down the sideline that running back Christian McCaffery made an acrobatic catch where he magically kept both of his feet inside before going out of bounds for a 27-yard receiving touchdown. After a lengthy review, the touchdown stood as San Francisco had a commanding 21-0 lead halfway through the second quarter.

Ther 49ers took advantage on the ensuing when they scored their fourth touchdown of the first half with 15 seconds left before halftime. Purdy connected with a wide-open Brandon Aiyuk for 32-yard touchdown reception to complete a seven play 91-yard drive in 2:14.

McCaffery turned out the lights on Tampa Bay 59 seconds into the third quarter when he scampered for a 38-yard rushing touchdown after the Niners defense picked off Brady for his first of two interceptions on the day. Tashuan Gipson picked off Brady and returned it 36 yards to the Tampa Bay 38-yard line.

The Bucs spoiled the 49ers shutout bid late in third quarter when Russell Gage was in the right place at the right time when he caught a ball that hit off the chest of Chris Godwin and rolled into the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown reception.

Purdy, who became the first quarterback to beat Brady in his first start, finished 16 for 21 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions and a QB rating of 134.0. McCaffery had a monster day, his best in 49ers uniform, as he led all rushers with 119 yards on 14 carries to go with his one touchdown. Jordan Mason chipped in 56 yards on 11 carries.

“Honestly, for me, I just kept telling myself, ‘This thing ain’t over with that guy on the other side of the field.’ I just wanted to keep putting up points on the board however many times we could knowing this dude made all these crazy comebacks in his career. I didn’t want that to happen in my first game as a starter,” Purdy said.

Brady, who had one of his worst games in his career, went 34 for 55 for 253 yards and one touchdown with a QB rating of 63.7. Godwin led Tampa Bay in receiving with five catches for 54 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-9 on third down conversions. Tampa Bay went 4-for-16.

• San Francisco improved to 19-7 all-time against Tampa Bay, including a 13-3 mark at home. 
• The 49ers have won 8 of their last 9 home games against the Buccaneers. 
• The Niners improved to 2-1 against the Buccaneers and 7-5 against the NFC South under Shanahan. 
• The 49ers have won 6-consecutive games for the first time since 2019 [Weeks 3-9 (Week 4 BYE)]. 
• San Francisco is 6-1 or better through its first 7 home games for the first time since 2011. 

UP NEXT: San Francisco travels up to Seattle to take on the Seahawks for the battle of the NFC West on Thursday Night Football 12/15 at 5:15pm at Lumen Field.