On what couldn’t be a more perfect day for some football in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers were successful in defending their home field in a 27-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Though it wasn’t by their choosing, the Buccaneers did start the game on offense in this one. With Jameis Winston back as the starting quarterback, one hoped that they would get off to a faster start than they had in week’s past. But, that didn’t happen, as the first possession of the game for the Buccaneers was a three-and out.

However, when the 49ers received the ball, outside of a 33-yard carry by running back Matt Breida on his first touch of the game, the Bucs defense clamped up and forced a punt of their own.

Though they didn’t get the successful start right off they bat, on their second series of the game, the Buccaneers marched down the field 73 yards in seven plays for a score. The big play of that drive was a 42-yard bomb of a pass down the sideline to wide receiver Mike Evans. That and a few key runs by Peyton Barber all led up to a short touchdown pass in the back of the end zone from Winston to tight end Cameron Brate.

After that score the game slowed down quite a bit. After the touchdown by the Buccaneers to make the score 7-0, the game would then see four straight punts, two by the Buccaneers and two by the 49ers.

After the Bucs’ second punt, the 49ers took the ball 79 yards in nine plays for a touchdown of their own, which should have tied the score, but a missed PAT still allowed the Bucs to maintain their lead at 7-6.

Following the Niners score, the Bucs went on to kick field goals on their next two drive, extending their lead to 13-6 heading into the half.

The 49ers opened up the second half with a 10-play, 78-yard drive that got all the way to the half-inch yard line away from the end zone, but a strong defensive stand, in which Bucs DT Vita Vea was a catalyst, held the Niners to just three points. In response, the Buccaneers took their first possession of the second half 75 yards in six plays for a touchdown. And after holding the 49ers to a punt after nine plays on the next series, the Bucs went down the field and scored yet again. This made the score 27-9 in favor of the Buccaneers.

On the Niners next possession, they were moving the ball well, until a throw in the end zone was intercepted by cornerback Ryan Smith. That was the Bucs’ first forced turnover since Week 3.

After a few more back-and-forths with each team, the score remained what it was on the last Bucs score, and Tampa Bay emerged victorious for the first time since Week 7.

As for the key takeaways on the day, wide receiver Mike Evans eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fifth straight season, Jason Pierre-Paul broken the double-digit sack drought, as he recorded his 10th sack, Winston did not have a single turnover, the Buccaneers recorded their first interception since Week 3, and rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea had a sack and three tackles for loss.