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Bucs-49ers: A (History) Lesson In Futility

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 20, 2007

(From time to time, Tribune staff ''columnist'' Martin Fennelly (left) talks with friend and Tribune staff ''writer'' Joey Johnston. Today's conversation is ''Bucs at 49ers,'' and it's as one-sided as, well, Bucs at 49ers. The Bucs left their heart - and their entrails - in San Francisco, with just one win in 10 games. Martin taps Joey's encyclopedic knowledge of all things Bucs on the shoulder.)

Martin: Joey, about the Bucs at 49ers ...

Joey: Be quiet, and just listen.

1977 - 49ers 20, Bucs 10. This made the Bucs 0-21 in their history. Bucs score touchdown in fourth quarter, which was big news because it occurred during an inexplicable spell when Tampa Bay managed just two TDs in 29 quarters of play.

Think about that.

1978 - 49ers 6, Bucs 3. Games like this make life worth living. This is one of the greatest bad games I've ever seen. It's a 3-3 scrum at halftime. Mike Rae is the Bucs QB (rookie Doug Williams had a broken jaw). Steve DeBerg and the immortal Scott Bull share QB duties for the Niners (who are a few months away from drafting Joe Montana).

The 49ers get the ball with under two minutes to play. After having done nothing all day, they catch fire behind a running back named Paul Hofer, knifing down the field in just five plays. Ray Wersching kicks a 30-yard field goal at the gun.

Embattled 49ers coach Fred O'Connor gets carried off the field. San Francisco improved to 2-13. The Bucs lose for the sixth time in seven weeks. The CBS-TV telecast was shown in Half Moon Bay and Palatka.

1979 – 49ers 23, Bucs 7. Bucs go into Thanksgiving at 9-3, best record in NFC. One win clinches the NFC Central. They lose at home to Vikings 23-22, getting five kicks blocked, including last-second tying PAT. They lose at home to Bears 14-0 in grisly display. Off to San Francisco. The 49ers are 1-13.

Of course, the 49ers, with O.J. Simpson on the roster, dominate. Doug Williams completes just 10 of 24 passes and throws five interceptions before getting benched. It's the second career victory for rookie head coach Bill Walsh.

Tribune columnist Tom McEwen famously dubs the Bucs as ''Chokeneers.''

This from Bucs coach John McKay: ''We have now proven we can't win at home or on the road. What we would like is a neutral site.''

Bucs beat K.C. the next week, 3-0, in monsoon to win division.

1980 – Bucs 24, 49ers 23. Garo Yepremian hits 30-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining (Bucs converted fourth-and-nine on their last drive). A high point in brutal 5-10-1 season. Also the last season that 49ers were a bad team.

1983 – 49ers 35, Bucs 21. Ho-hum. Montana stakes 49ers to 35-14 lead early in fourth quarter. Bucs LB Hugh Green played with one eye swollen shut due to an allergic reaction. He still had 10 tackles.

1984 – 49ers 24, Bucs 17. Bucs keep it close behind DeBerg (316 yards passing). Bucs get ball back with just over two minutes to play with a chance to tie.

First play: Fumble.

Quirk Alert: Even in this primitive era of NFL schedule-making, Bucs play 49ers six times in eight years – all in San Francisco.

There was a 1982 Monday night SF at Tampa Bay game scheduled. It was cancelled by the players strike and never played.

1990 - 49ers 31, Bucs 7. Two-time SB defending champ 49ers toy with Bucs, who gain 180 yards and get only score on Wayne Haddix's 65-yard interception return.

1994 – 49ers 41, Bucs 16. 49ers roll to 34-0 lead. First NFL start for Trent Farris Dilfer (7 of 23, 45 yards).

2003 – 49ers 24, Bucs 7. The mighty 49ers of Coach Dennis Erickson roll up 458 yards. Keyshawn Johnson opts to connect through L.A. before flying home to Tampa, smartly grabbing an extra segment. Bucs coach Gruden later awards Key inactive medallion status.

2005 – 49ers 15, Bucs 10. First NFL start for QB Chris Simms. Simeon Rice has his little incident (can't even remember what happened) and gets sent home.

Postscript: Bucs are 1-9 at Candlestick/3Com/Monster Park.

Here's a stat: In those nine losses at San Fran, Bucs NEVER even had a lead. Not even for a moment. To repeat: In those nine losses, no leads, ever.

So the Bucs are 1-9 in San Francisco, 0-4 in Oakland, 0-1 at L.A. Raiders, 0-4 at L.A. Rams, 1-4 at San Diego. That's 2-22 in regular-season games played in California, the other win coming in 1996 at San Diego, when things started turning around).

Oh, they won the Super Bowl in San Diego, too. There was that.

(That's this week's coversation. Next week, Martin and Joey discuss the Battle of Vicksburg, and how a single instant replay official might have changed the very course of the United States of America. Until then ...)

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