The 49ers had arguably their worst game of the 2018 season in Tampa Bay last year. They lost 27-9 to a scuffling Buccaneers club in Week 12. Tampa Bay outgained the 49ers by 70 yards, forced two turnovers, and held San Francisco to just three field goals.
However, the 49ers will have a new look come Sunday with new players on defense and a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo on offense. Here are the three key matchups for their Week 1 game:
Ndamukong Suh vs. Interior offensive line
The 49ers offensive line allowed the ninth-most sacks in 2018, but are facing a banged up Bucs defensive line in the 2019 opener. The Buccaneers added former All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in the off-season to try to help improve the line after the loss of Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy.
Laken Tomlinson, Mike Person, and whoever starts at center between Ben Garland and Weston Richburg will have their hands full with Suh who can still get to the quarterback. Suh only had 4.5 sacks last season, tied for his lowest total since 2011, but hit the quarterback 19 times, his highest mark since 2015.
The interior OL struggled against dominant defensive tackles last year. They need to quickly improve that trend if the offense is going to get rolling Sunday.
Jameis Winston vs. 49ers secondary
Winston had one of his better performances of the season against the 49ers when he completed 29 of 38 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. The Week 12 game was one of three on the season where Wintson didn’t throw an interception. The 49ers secondary struggled specifically with Mike Evans who hauled in six receptions for 112 yards.
San Francisco’s defensive backfield will have a slightly different look with the addition of cornerback Jason Verrett, who’s questionable going into Sunday, and Tarvarius Moore moving to the free safety spot. The 49ers had an NFL record low two interceptions last year, and taking advantage of a sometimes erratic Winston will be a key factor in earning a win.
49ers defensive line vs. Buccaneers offensive line
General manager John Lynch hopes an improved pass rush can help relieve some of the pressure on the secondary, and Sunday will be the first look at that theory. Lynch added Dee Ford and Nick Bosa in hopes the 49ers can create more pressure on the quarterback to help create turnovers.
The 49ers didn’t generate much pressure on Winston en route to his big game last year, sacking him once and hitting him just six times. DeForest Buckner had the lone sack, but with the additions of Ford and Bosa, the defensive line should be able to get to Winston more.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line wasn’t not good last year, and Winston was sacked five times in 19 dropbacks in Week 3 of the preseason against the Browns. That unit might be among the weakest in the NFL this year, while the 49ers’ defensive line might be one of the best. This is a matchup San Francisco has to dominate.
