Subpar Mac Jones doomed 49ers to a Buccaneers win
QB2 Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2nd quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
10.12.25 – 49ers QB2 Mac Jones playing through knee and oblique injuries, threw for 347 yards, two picks and no touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat San Francisco 30-19 on Sunday.
The 49ers had their chances late. With the score 27-19, quarterback Jones fumbled while being sacked a fourth time but caught a break after the review showed his shin touched the grass first. Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt on the ensuing drive to give the 49ers the ball back with a little less than nine minutes to go; Niners did not reach midfield.
A fifth sack on Jones set them back. A running-into-the-kicker penalty against Bucs star defensive tackle Vita Vea handed the 49ers another lifeline. And five plays later, Jones threw an interception once more. He entered Sunday with just one across his three previous starts filling in for Brock Purdy (toe), but finished with two picks Sunday.
McLaughlin subsequently redeemed himself with a 45-yard field goal after the two-minute warning that put the Buccaneers (5-1) up by two possessions, all but sealing the outcome.
“I was disappointed that I didn’t play better for (Warner) today,” said Jones, dealing with a knee and an oblique injury.
2025.10.12 (SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers) Game Highlights
Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles after being hit by Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
2025.10.12 (SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers) Game Highlights
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (DF HIGHLIGHT)
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (DF HIGHLIGHT)
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (NBC Sports Post Game)
Niners linebacker Fred Warner is carted off the field during the first half Sunday against the Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla. An examination found he suffered a dislocated ankle that will require season-ending surgery. Jason Behnken/Associated Press
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (NBC Sports Post Game)
With 7:38 left in the first quarter, the game had just begun. Fred Warner’s right foot turned sideways. 49ers and Buccaneers players alike could not bear the sight. Niners teammate CJ West shakily raised both hands to either side of his helmet. Bucs wide receiver Tez Johnson covered his entire face-mask as he turned away and signaled to the visitors sideline for help.
Both sides needed to carry on after Warner suffered his season-ending ankle injury. The 49ers tried, but the Buccaneers were better equipped to do so as quarterback Baker Mayfield and company dealt the 49ers (4-2) a loss, triggering a three-way tie atop the NFC West.
“Of course, everyone knows it’s difficult when you lose your better players and your leaders,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s tough. … Glad that we’ve played some decent football to put us in this position, at least with our record. And we got to find a way to get better everywhere else.”
The 49ers managed just one touchdown on the day, as running back Christian McCaffrey punched in their first rushing score of the season, again eclipsing the century mark with 111 total scrimmage yards. He became the first player in the NFL to have at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each contest through six games since Saquon Barkley and Adam Thielen did it in in 2018.
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Chat Sports Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. He gained 54 yards on the ground and added seven receptions for 57 yards. Jason Behnken/AP
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Chat Sports Post Game)
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Chat Sports Post Game)
The thing is, without Purdy, All-Pro tight end George Kittle (hamstring), standout wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), and again with a half-healthy Jauan Jennings (ankle, rib) at wideout, the offense was playing shorthanded.
The Niners had to settle for four field goals. Eddy Piñeiro made all of them to stay perfect (15-for-15) early in his 49ers tenure.
Warner-less and without star defensive end Nick Bosa (ACL, out for season), the Niners held the Buccaneers to back-to-back punts immediately after Warner exited. Soon enough, the Bucs wore down a young unit led by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Tampa Bay’s QB1 Baker Mayfield shrugged off the “MVP!” chants the way he shook away from tacklers. Mayfield’s heroics came early in the fourth quarter instead of the final minutes as the Buccaneers held off the 49ers.
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Guy Haberman Post Game)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (#8) runs past San Francisco 49ers DL Mykel Williams (#98) during the second half of Sunday’s game in Tampa, Fla. Jason Behnken/AP
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Guy Haberman Post Game)
2025.10.12 – SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers (Guy Haberman Post Game)
Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and had a spectacular scramble to set up the score that sealed the win. Fans serenaded him with “MVP!” chants and many were still hailing Mayfield as they left the stadium.
“It’s Week 6, (we) have a big one next week,” Mayfield said. “It’s awesome to have support. Don’t get me wrong but we’re just getting started.”
After winning four games with scores in the last minute, the four-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers didn’t need a late comeback.
Up 20-19 early in the fourth, the Buccaneers faced a third-and-14 at their 41. Mayfield ducked away from a sack in the pocket, escaped another defender, scrambled out of trouble, eluded more tackles and dove headfirst, stretching the ball to get a first down on third-and-14.
A few plays later, Mayfield connected with Tez Johnson on a 45-yard TD pass down the middle to give the 49ers a 27-19 lead. Johnson made an outstretched leaping catch and the rookie celebrated his first career TD with an acrobatic flip.
The 49ers were driving for a potential tying score when Jones threw an interception to Jamel Dean on fourth-and-5 from the Buccaneers 33 with just under six minutes left.
The turnover led to Chase McLaughlin’s 45-yard field goal that extended the lead to 30-19.
Injuries
49ers: Purdy (toe) missed his fourth game and Pearsall (knee) sat out his second in a row.
Buccaneers: Evans (hamstring), Godwin (fibula), RBs Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and Josh Williams (concussion), CBs Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and Zyon McCollum (thumb) were inactive. … Egbuka had two catches for 24 yards before going down. … RG Luke Haggard (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter.
Up next (49ers Roster)
49ers: Host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday night.
Buccaneers: Visit the Detroit Lions next Monday night.
Related: Mac Jones leads Epic 49ers game to OT upset over Rams
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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