SANTA CLARA – The 49ers have mastered the art of making 14-point leads disappear at Levi’s Stadium.
Just three weeks after blowing a two-touchdown lead against the Dallas Cowboys, the thoroughly incapable 49ers did it again on Sunday. This time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled back from an early deficit to post a come-from-behind victory over the 49ers.
It was more of the same for the 49ers -- a comedy of errors that included turnovers, missed tackles, blown coverages, teammates bumping into each other and plenty junior-high level miscues – in the Buccaneers’ 34-17 victory over the 49ers.
The 49ers’ losing streak reaches six games after the team’s opening-week victory over the Los Angeles Rams. It’s the 49ers longest skid since a six-game losing streak in 2008. In the middle of that drought, the 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan and replaced him with interim coach Mike Singletary.
The 49ers opened strong on Sunday, scoring touchdowns on two of their first four possessions.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick provided the 49ers with their biggest threat in the run game with Carlos Hyde out of action. He rushed for 84 yards on nine attempts. But the team’s 32nd-ranked passing game continued its struggles.
Kaepernick completed 16 of 34 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His receivers and pass protection did him few favors, either. Kaepernick was under siege throughout the game. He was sacked four times, one of which resulted in a fumble that the Bucs quickly turned into points.
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Defensively, the 49ers had its struggles against an offense that ranks in the lower-third of the league.
The 49ers surrendered a 100-yard rusher for the sixth consecutive game – and the second time in a row before halftime. Tampa Bay was playing without their top running back, Doug Martin, but it did not matter.
Jacquizz Rodgers gained 110 yards in the first half to set his career-high for a single game after just 30 minutes. He finished with 154 yards on 26 rushing attempts. And Peyton Barber, a rookie from Auburn, got into the act with a 44-yard touchdown run late in the game.
Tampa Bay rushed for 249 yards against the pathetic 49ers defense. Last week, the 49ers allowed 312 yards rushing to the Buffalo Bills. The 561 yards allowed in back-to-back games is the worst in franchise history.
Fozzy Whittaker (Carolina), Christine Michael (Seattle), Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas), David Johnson (Arizona), LeSean McCoy (Buffalo) rushed for more than 100 yards against the 49ers in successive weeks before Rodgers.
The Buccaneers entered the game with the league’s 27th-ranked running offense, averaging 88.6 yards on the ground per game.
Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston completed 21 of 30 passes for 269 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Receiver Mike Evans had his way with rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson en route to eight catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
