The Bucs face dual challenges, coming off a short week following a Monday night game and traveling across the country. To further complicate matters, the 49ers are playing well, coming off a win at Philadelphia in which they rallied from a 23-3 second-half deficit. The Bucs will try to make quarterback Alex Smith uncomfortable with their pass rush. And Josh Freeman must be sharp and attack the 49ers' weakness — their secondary.
Probable starters
Bucs offense
WR: Mike Williams 19
LT: Donald Penn 70
LG: Jeremy Zuttah 76
C: Jeff Faine 52
RG: Davin Joseph 75
RT: Jeremy Trueblood 65
TE: Kellen Winslow 82
WR: Arrelious Benn 17
QB: Josh Freeman 5
RB: LeGarrette Blount 27
FB: Earnest Graham 34
Bucs defense
LDE: Michael Bennett 71
DT: Gerald McCoy 93
DT: Brian Price 92
RDE: Adrian Clayborn 94
SLB: Dekoda Watson 56
MLB: Mason Foster 59
WLB: Geno Hayes 54
LCB: Aqib Talib 25
RCB: Ronde Barber 20
SS: Sean Jones 26
FS: Corey Lynch 41
Special teams
P: Michael Koenen 9
PK: Connor Barth 10
KO: Michael Koenen 9
PR/KR: Preston Parker 87
49ers offense
WR: Michael Crabtree 15
LT: Joe Staley 74
LG: Mike Iupati 77
C: Jonathan Goodwin 59
RG: Chilo Rachal 62
RT: Anthony Davis 76
TE: Vernon Davis 85
WR: Josh Morgan 84
QB: Alex Smith 11
RB: Frank Gore 21
FB: Bruce Miller 49
49ers defense
LDE: Ray McDonald 91
NT: Ricky Jean Francois 95
RDE: Justin Smith 94
LB: Ahmad Brooks 55
LB: NaVorro Bowman 53
LB: Patrick Willis 52
LB: Parys Haralson 98
LCB: Carlos Rogers 22
RCB: Tarell Brown 25
SS: Donte Whitner 31
FS: Dashon Goldson 38
Special teams
P: Andy Lee 4
PK: David Akers 2
KO: David Akers 2
PR/KR: Ted Ginn 19
Stat pack
4 p.m., Candlestick Park, San Francisco | TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5-FM | Line, O/U: 49ers by 3; 41½
49ers' best offensive player
Frank Gore, right, in just his seventh season, is third in franchise history with 6,689 rushing yards, 655 shy of No. 1 Joe Perry (7,344). He's a powerful runner capable of breaking tackles, but he combines that with elusiveness that makes him a particularly difficult player to take down.
49ers' best defensive player
All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, left, was the 2007 defensive rookie of the year, and he has done nothing but dominate since. A tackling machine and constant presence around the ball, Willis leads the NFL in tackles since his rookie season (623).
Prediction
Bucs 23, 49ers 21
What the 49ers do best
Play the run. The 49ers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 26 consecutive games, meaning the Bucs will have to find creative ways to use LeGarrette Blount.
You can beat the 49ers if …
You exploit their pass defense in hopes it will open things up for the running game. The 49ers have allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or longer, second most in the NFL.
The Bucs must avoid …
Another mistake-filled performance. Against a defense as fierce as the 49ers', a game full of penalties — such as Monday night's against the Colts — will create long down-and-distance situations that Tampa Bay likely won't overcome.
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Bucs
49ers
74 (4th)
101 (11th)
93.2 (22nd)
117 (11th)
177.5 (29th)
235.8 (17th)
284 (27th)
267 (21st)
270.7 (28th)
352.8 (17th)
358 (17th)
368 (20th)
Injury report
BUCS — Out: S Devin Holland (back), T James Lee (knee), TE Luke Stocker (knee), WR Sammie Stroughter (foot). Doubtful: LB Zac Diles (hamstring). Questionable: LB Quincy Black (ankle). Probable: DE Michael Bennett (groin), DE Tim Crowder (knee), RB Earnest Graham (hamstring), TE Zack Pianalto (calf), CB Aqib Talib (knee).
49ers — Out: CB Tramaine Brock (hand), WR Braylon Edwards (knee), RB Moran Norris (fibula). Doubtful: DT Isaac Sopoaga (infection). Questionable: CB Shawntae Spencer (toe). Probable: WR Michael Crabtree (foot), RB Frank Gore (ankle), G Mike Iupati (neck), C Adam Snyder (hamstring).
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