Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs San Francisco 49ers NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

Two of the NFC's top dogs square off this Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) welcome the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) to Raymond James Stadium for what promises to be a heavyweight clash of first-place contenders. 

The Bucs are riding high after another nail-biting finish, a 38-35 shootout victory in Seattle, proving once again they know how to close out tight games when it matters most. But the challenges keep stacking up, and this one might be their stiffest yet.

The 49ers roll into Tampa fresh off a statement win of their own, a 26-23 overtime triumph over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. That result not only solidified their perch atop the brutal NFC West but also reminded the league that even when banged up, Kyle Shanahan's group knows how to win tough road battles.

Both squads have been dealing with injury headaches, but San Francisco's misfortune has been particularly brutal. Their quarterback, top three wideouts, and several defensive starters were all sidelined in Week 5, and it’s still unclear how many will be back in the fold for Sunday's marquee matchup.

For Baker Mayfield and company, this game is more than just another Sunday showdown, it's a measuring stick. The Bucs have been one of the NFC's biggest early-season surprises, but this is their chance to prove they belong in the same conversation as the conference's powerhouses.

The recent history between these teams, however, doesn't favor Tampa Bay. The 49ers have taken the last three meetings, though the margin has shrunk each time. Last year’s 23-20 heartbreaker came down to a last-second field goal, and Mayfield was forced to battle without star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. in the lineup.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs San Francisco 49ers kick-off time

NFL

Raymond James Stadium

The Buccaneers and the 49ers will meet in Week 6 of the NFL season at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on Sunday, October 12, starting at 4:25 pm ET.

Team news & squads

Tampa Bay Buccaneers team news

The Buccaneers path to victory starts with rhythm and balance on offense. Rachaad White struggled to get much traction on the ground in Seattle, but Tampa Bay can’t afford to be one-dimensional against this San Francisco defense. The Bucs need to pound the rock and keep the 49ers honest, 100-plus rushing yards should be the goal. In the air, Emeka Egbuka continues to flash big-play potential, and Chris Godwin Jr. must keep trending upward as he regains form from last season’s ankle injury.

The offensive line deserves plenty of credit for its stellar protection in the win over the Seahawks, but that level of play has to continue. The Niners' pass rush has been surprisingly quiet this year, just six sacks, two of which came from the now-injured Bosa, and Mayfield must exploit that. Attacking the rookie corners Stout and Sigle should be priority number one, all while keeping his own stat sheet clean and denying San Francisco its first interception of the season.

Defensively, Tampa Bay faces a chess match. Whether it's Brock Purdy or Mac Jones under center, the mission remains clear, stop McCaffrey at all costs. Expect Todd Bowles to dial up exotic fronts and spy packages to contain the all-purpose back, especially in the passing game where he’s most lethal.

Receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall might not bring the same flash as Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, but they’re more than capable of doing damage if left unchecked — as Tampa Bay learned the hard way last year. After failing to record a sack in Seattle, the Bucs’ pass rush needs to come alive and wreak havoc, creating turnovers and setting the tone early.

Buccaneers Injury Report: CB Benjamin Morrison , S Christian Izien , RB Bucky Irving , CB Jamel Dean are all Questionable , while WR Mike Evans is out.

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San Francisco 49ers team news

The 49ers have leaned heavily on their running backs and tight ends to carry the scoring load early this season, and it shows. Christian McCaffrey continues to be the heartbeat of the offense, hauling in three receiving touchdowns to tie tight end Jake Tonges for the team lead. Outside of that duo, it’s been slim pickings. Jauan Jennings remains the lone wideout to find the end zone, a stat that underscores just how one-dimensional the passing game has been. Whoever lines up under center this week must do a better job distributing the ball and getting the receivers involved.

Once again, it's McCaffrey doing the heavy lifting, leading the team with 39 receptions, nearly double that of top wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the former Florida Gator. Pearsall has the talent to stretch the field, but it’s time he starts making more explosive plays and providing the vertical spark this offense desperately needs.

Kyle Shanahan's scheme has long thrived on balance and versatility, but the absence of stars George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk has stripped away some of that bite. With those playmakers sidelined, the 49ers' attack has sputtered, averaging just 21.2 points per game — 22nd in the league. Shanahan's offense has always been at its best when it’s a symphony of weapons, not a solo act starring McCaffrey.

On the flip side, Robert Saleh's defense has done just enough to keep the Niners afloat, ranking sixth in scoring defense at 19.6 points allowed per game. But the injuries have hit that side of the ball, too. The season-ending loss of Nick Bosa has stripped San Francisco of its most fearsome pass rusher, leaving Fred Warner as the lone superstar holding down the fort. 

It's a young group now, rookies Upton Stout and Marques Sigle are learning on the fly in the secondary, and they'll need to mature quickly. Through five games, the Niners have managed just six sacks and zero interceptions. That simply won’t cut it. If San Francisco wants to leave Tampa with a win, they’ll have to find a way to make Baker Mayfield uncomfortable and force him into mistakes.

49ers Injury Report : WR Jordan Watkins , QB Brock Purdy, WR Ricky Pearsall , WR Juan Jennings , DE Robert Beal Jr. are all Questionable . S Malik Mustapha and WR Brandon Aiyuk are definitely out , while TE George Kittle and DE Nick Bosa are on IR.

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Watch and live stream Buccaneers vs 49ers in the USA

The Buccaneers vs 49ers game in Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on CBS. If you've cut the cord, fans can also catch the coverage onParamount+ and Fubo (Try for free today!).

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More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Buccaneers vs 49ers worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

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How to buy Buccaneers vs 49ers tickets

The showdown between the Buccaneers and the 49ers is set for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, a venue that packs in up to 75,000 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

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Buccaneers vs 49ers Fantasy Football

Baker Mayfield (20.2 projected Week 6 fantasy points) has rocketed into the thick of the MVP race through the first five weeks of the season. According to oddsmakers, he’s now sitting just behind Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes — elite company for the Buccaneers’ fiery signal-caller. Despite Tampa Bay being decimated by injuries, Mayfield has been the glue holding the team together and the driving force behind their 4-1 start. The swagger is back, the leadership is evident, and the production speaks for itself. Keep rolling him out as a firm QB1 — he’s earned every bit of that trust.

Rachaad White (10.2 projected W6 fpts) continues to hold the keys to the Buccaneers’ backfield and is shaping up as a solid fantasy starter again this week. With Bucky Irving sidelined, White has full control of the run game — and he’s making it count. In Tampa Bay’s thrilling 38-35 win over Seattle, he logged 14 carries for 41 yards and punched in two touchdowns, while also snagging four receptions for 30 yards. The efficiency isn’t eye-popping, but the volume and red-zone usage make him a reliable option with a safe floor.

Emeka Egbuka (11.2 projected W6 fpts) continues to shine like a seasoned veteran, not a rookie. His remarkable production, sharp football IQ, and budding chemistry with Baker Mayfield have made him a fantasy darling through five weeks. Egbuka’s versatility and knack for finding soft spots in coverage have elevated Tampa Bay’s passing attack, and he’s locked in as a near-automatic fantasy starter heading into Week 6.

On the other side, it appears Mac Jones (16.5 projected W6 fpts) is in line to start again for San Francisco in Week 6, though he remains limited in practice with a nagging knee injury. The ailment shouldn’t keep him off the field, but it might limit his mobility, not ideal against a Tampa Bay defense that loves to bring heat. Expect Todd Bowles to dial up plenty of pressure packages to test him early.

Meanwhile, Brock Purdy hasn't been officially ruled out yet as he nurses a turf toe aggravation. Should he be cleared later in the week, the 49ers might pivot back to him, but that remains a game-time call. If Jones gets the nod, consider him a high-end QB2 with some fringe QB1 upside in deeper leagues — provided San Francisco’s offensive line can keep him upright.

As for Christian McCaffrey (17.3 projected W6 fpts), even in what’s been a slightly uneven stretch for San Francisco’s ground game, he remains fantasy gold. His rushing output may have dipped, but his heavy involvement as a receiver and unmatched workload make him nearly matchup-proof. McCaffrey continues to be the engine of Kyle Shanahan’s offense — a dual-threat weapon who can swing fantasy matchups in one afternoon.

Buccaneers vs 49ers Game Predictions

Two battered NFC heavyweights square off this Sunday, and while the metrics may not love them, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just keep finding ways to win. At some point, the "smoke and mirrors" narrative starts to sound hollow when the wins keep stacking up. Still, the numbers tell a less flattering story. Tampa Bay sits a modest 18th in overall DVOA — solid but far from elite — with a top-10 offense being dragged down by a 20th-ranked defense and a dismal 31st-ranked special teams unit.

What’' really flying under the radar, though, is how porous this Buccaneers secondary has been. They rank 27th in opponent dropback EPA, 31st in dropback success rate, and 21st in yards allowed per pass attempt, giving up a generous 6.8 yards every time an opposing quarterback takes to the air. That's a recipe for disaster against a Kyle Shanahan offense that thrives on dissecting weak coverage and exploiting mismatches through motion and precision.

The 49ers, fresh off their extra rest and an emotional road upset over the Rams, now walk into this matchup with momentum, and a chip on their shoulder. Injuries have piled up, but this is a team that refuses to fold, no matter how bleak the injury report looks. Shanahan’s group has had ample time to prep, tweak the game plan, and, if the health news breaks their way, they could be primed for another statement win.

Getting points with a Shanahan-led team that just embarrassed the Rams? That's value one can't ignore. Tampa Bay's magic ride might just hit a speed bump here, and if Baker Mayfield doesn't stay red-hot, San Francisco's precision and preparation could turn the tide in their favour in this closely-fought contest.

Packers vs Bengals Betting Odds

Spread

49ers +3 (-115)

Buccaneers -3 (-105)

Moneyline

49ers +130

Buccaneers -154

Total

OVER 47.5 (-108)

UNDER 47.5 (-112)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

TB

Last 5 matches

SF

1

Win

0

Draws

4

Wins

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  20

  -

  23

  San Francisco 49ers

• San Francisco 49ers

  27

  -

  14

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• San Francisco 49ers

  35

  -

  7

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  17

  -

  31

  San Francisco 49ers

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  27

  -

  9

  San Francisco 49ers

Useful links

• Buccaneers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• 49ers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)