Mac Jones was a perfect 3-0 as Brock Purdy's injury replacement coming into a Week 6 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the fill-in quarterback finally looked human for the San Francisco 49ers while on the road Sunday, tossing two interceptions while trying to carry an injury-riddled lineup. Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, was all but superhuman for the other side, showcasing otherworldly grit on some second-half highlights to overcome his own club's bumps and bruises en route to a 30-19 victory.
Mayfield was without all four of his top wide receivers by the end of Sunday's contest, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and star rookie Emeka Egbuka all sidelined with injuries. That didn't stop him from tossing two critical scores, including a 45-yard bomb to rookie Tez Johnson, and evading San Francisco's pass rush to outduel Jones at Raymond James Stadium.
He got timely support from coach Todd Bowles' defense, too, with the Buccaneers racking up six sacks and two picks, including a fourth-quarter interception by Jamel Dean that damaged the 49ers' hopes of a late comeback.
Here are some big-picture takeaways from Sunday's matchup:
How can it be anything other than Mayfield's improbable escape from a would-be sack for a monster first-down scramble?
Making highlight-reel plays as a dual-threat quarterback is one thing. Doing it against another scrappy playoff contender without a good half-dozen key starters is another. Mayfield has drawn plenty of praise this year for his late-game bravado, and this was more of the same, except without Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and two top blockers in the lineup by the time the clock struck zero. Once regarded as more reckless than heroic, Mayfield is doing it all. He's a rugged scrambler when he's needed. He launches it deep with touch. And he's thrown just one interception through six games. He is the Bucs' offense. And he is award-worthy.
San Francisco didn't just lose Sunday. They also lost arguably their best remaining defender in Fred Warner, the All-Pro linebacker at the heart of Robert Saleh's unit. Warner had his right leg trapped in pursuit of Rachaad White during the Week 6 matchup, and it wasn't long before trainers had the leg in an air cast as Warner was carted off the field. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed later that the perennial Pro Bowler will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken and dislocated ankle. At a certain point, you just can't weather this many major injuries; remember San Francisco was already missing edge rusher Nick Bosa to his second career ACL tear.
Every year, national pundits like yours truly question whether Tampa Bay has what it takes to retain an NFC South crown. Bowles, after all, is still coasting off goodwill from the Bruce Arians era. Or is he? The Bucs are now 5-1 under his watch despite missing a slew of big names on both sides of the ball, well on pace to secure their fourth straight division title with Bowles atop the staff. Mayfield may be MVP material as the gunslinger running the offense, but Bowles is also finding ways to squeeze timely production from defenders both aging (Lavonte David), overlooked (Jamel Dean) and developing (YaYa Diaby).
Consider this one all but wrapped up, with Tampa Bay going up 30-19 and then swarming Mac Jones with a sack and forced intentional grounding. Big credit to Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield surviving a barrage of internal injuries.
Not long after nearly losing a fumble on a sack, Mac Jones finally unravels for the 49ers, tossing a deep pick to Jamel Dean that just might seal a home victory for Tampa Bay, which is getting heroic stuff from its own gunslinger in Baker Mayfield:
Wow. Just wow. Mayfield powers Tampa Bay with both his arm, his legs and his moxie, and all three were on clear display as the gutsy quarterback eluded a double team of pass rushers for a first-down scramble, then launched a 45-yard score to Tez Johnson:
Tampa Bay's star rookie is likely done for the day. That's a big blow to Baker Mayfield's squad, considering how much Mayfield has leaned upon the first-year pass catcher this season. Egbuka had been relatively quiet (2 catches, 24 yards) prior to injuring himself.
Another series, another three points courtesy of Eddy Pineiro, but also Mac Jones, who's been playing point guard about as well as you could expect. Aside from the opening-drive pick, he's been very poised and polished, averaging more than 8 yards per throw halfway through the third quarter. Christian McCaffrey has a score but has yet to break loose on the ground, meaning the offensive catalyst has been Jones and the 49ers' makeshift wideout group, led by Kendrick Bourne yet again.
Safe to say Kyle Shanahan is probably pretty pleased with his emergency quarterback once again: Mac Jones sets up a third Eddy Pineiro field goal just before the break to pull within one score of the Buccaneers, and he's been unafraid to feed San Francisco's makeshift receiving corps all over the field, with Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling all hauling in downfield shots. Christian McCaffrey is averaging just 3 yards per carry, so it's not been a perfect day for Shanahan's offense, but Jones is keeping them competitive. Both clubs are pushing the ball quite well through the air. The difference is really just turnovers, with the Bucs swiping a pass from Jones on San Francisco's first series to lead the takeaway battle.
Here's some explosiveness for Tampa Bay's passing game: Baker Mayfield hangs in the pocket and takes a big hit from Upton Stout (flagged as roughing the passer) to find a wide-open Kameron Johnson for six. Johnson, who went undrafted in 2024, couldn't have enjoyed a cleaner path to the end zone, capitalizing on blown coverage. That's the splash play Mayfield had been waiting for.
One thing's for certain: Jones isn't afraid to let the ball fly as the fill-in quarterback for San Francisco. He's now repeatedly aired it out toward Kendrick Bourne, his new clear favorite out wide, while also connecting with journeyman speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a big gain. The 49ers are perhaps most thankful for Eddy Pineiro's big leg, though, as he drills his second 50+ yard field goal of the day to pull San Francisco within one point ahead of the break. Kyle Shanahan's group is staying competitive by keeping the ball flowing through the air, with Jones averaging 7.5 yards per throw compared to the Bucs' 6.1.
No Bucky Irving? No big problem for the Buccaneers so far. Rachaad White is leading the charge on the ground for Tampa Bay, but Sean Tucker seals the deal on the club's latest drive, cruising untouched for a 9-yard score. This hasn't been a particularly explosive first half for the home team, at least in contrast to Mac Jones' couple of big throws to Kendrick Bourne for San Francisco, but the Bucs are back on top thanks to their grit and balance with the ball in their hands. They're averaging 5 yards per rush so far.
Todd Bowles' defense came to fight today, even without key starters like Calijah Kancey (IR) and Zyon McCollum. Almost 15 minutes after Mac Jones is picked by Kindle Vildor on an apparent miscommunication with Kendrick Bourne, the quarterback loses the ball on a sack by blitzing corner Jamel Dean. Fortunately for San Francisco, Luke Farrell gets on top of the fumble to preserve the lead, then Jones responds with a much better Bourne connection, feeding the wideout for a 56-yard gain. Soon after, it's Christian McCaffrey pounding the rock for the go-ahead score in the second quarter.
More bad news for a battered San Francisco lineup: Warner, the All-Pro linebacker, is carted off in the first quarter after his right leg gets trapped beneath a handful of players while in pursuit of Rachaad White. Trainers quickly put an air cast on Warner's leg, signaling a serious injury. The star defender is almost assuredly out for the rest of the day.
It's clear this might be a tougher day for Jones, not only because he didn't practice in the lead-up to this emergency start while battling multiple injuries. After an opening-series pick, the former first-round quarterback also takes a hard hit in the pocket on a sack by Elijah Roberts. Still, Eddy Pineiro hits a 52-yard field goal to get San Francisco on the board. Kyle Shanahan always prioritizes quick-strike throws, but quick releases will be Jones' best friend for the remainder of this matchup.
Jones came into Sunday's matchup with plenty of goodwill, going 3-0 in place of the injured Brock Purdy. But Week 6 is off to a rough start for the 49ers' fill-in, as he tosses an easy pick to Kindle Vildor while targeting Kendrick Bourne. Just a totally ill-advised decision on a pass that was overly scripted from the get-go. Or a major miscommunication on Bourne's part, considering he ran the opposite direction of the throw. The quick pick sets up Tampa's first score, a short Rachaad White scoring rush.
The 49ers excel at establishing early leads, and the Bucs are clutch under Baker Mayfield's direction:
Big development for Mac Jones, who's making his fourth start in place of the injured Brock Purdy for San Francisco: Jennings is a go against the Buccaneers despite entering Sunday as a game-time decision due to an ankle issue. He'll be the 49ers' top wideout alongside Kendrick Bourne, who starred as the club's makeshift No. 1 the last time out.
A reminder this Buccaneers-49ers showdown will be without a slew of big names on both sides. The following players will not suit up due to injuries in Week 6, leaving both NFC contenders shorthanded:
