McCaffrey has TD streak against TB
>> Christian McCaffrey's 17-game touchdown streak may be over, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming to town and he's scored more against them than any opponent in his career.
He's not taking them for granted, however.
“I played against these guys a lot in Carolina. They're well coached, and they play fast and physical,” McCaffrey said ahead of Sunday's game between the 49ers (6-3) and Bucs (4-5).
McCaffrey has scored two touchdowns in each of his past three games against Tampa Bay. In last season's 35-7 rout at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 11, he had rushing and receiving touchdowns while amassing 153 yards from scrimmage.
What makes McCaffrey so menacing his ability to keep chugging along through defenders, according to Bucs coach Todd
Bowles, who served as their defensive coordinator for three seasons before his 2022 promotion.
“He and Deebo break so many tackles it's unbelievable,” Bowles told Tampaarea reporters Wednesday. “You have to gang tackle him, get him down, limit yards after catch, limit him in the run game.”
One way opponents have tried doing so is by grabbing McCaffrey's facemask, to say nothing of unnecessary roughness penalties like one by the Cowboys. Five facemask penalties have been called against defenders this season for that tactic, and the 49ers have scored on all those series (four touchdowns, one field goal).
McCaffrey has led the NFL in rushing since the season began (747 yards, nine touchdowns). He was targeted a season-high 10 times in Sunday's 34-3 win at Jacksonville, where he had six catches for 47 yards along with 16 carries for 95 yards.