If the 49ers want to avoid their first six-game losing streak since 2008, they’ll need to take a huge step forward Sunday.
Not so much because the 2-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are formidable – they aren’t – but because the Niners have been so bad in so many areas.
The 49ers offense ranks last in the NFL and the team’s run defense is the worst in the league.
Head coach Chip Kelly believes the offense can be better Sunday because quarterback Colin Kaepernick has had a chance to shake the rust off. Kaepernick is coming off his first start of 2016 after being slowed in training camp following offseason surgery.
Now that he goes into his second start, Kelly believes he’s looked better in practice and has a chance to build on what he did last week in a loss to the Bills, when he was 13-of-29 for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also ran eight times for 66 yards.
“You can see that,” Kelly said this week, when asked if Kaepernick was sharper in practices this week. “You can see that and … again with Colin, his last extensive playing time was in the San Diego game … which was over six weeks ago. Really, what you’re trying to do is get him into a rhythm.”
Kelly said he’s looking for better consistency from Kaepernick against the Bucs. He thinks that will come because “he is getting more snaps” in practices now, after getting fewer reps than previous starter Blaine Gabbert.
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A better performance from Kaepernick will certainly help on Sunday, but the 49ers will need more if they want to break their losing streak.
In particular, a defense that has given up 100 or more yards to opposing running backs in five straight games will need to shut down Jacquizz Rodgers, who had 101 yards rushing last week vs. the Panthers, and contain quarterback Jameis Winston, who already has had a couple of big games this season. He threw for four TDs in the season opener vs. Atlanta and had a 405-yard, three-TD day vs. the Rams. Winston’s most dangerous target is wide receiver Mike Evans who has 449 yards and four TDs.
Oddsmakers have made the Bucs 1-point favorites. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.
