49ers post lopsided win

SAN FRANCISCO — The 49ers converted only 2 of 7 third-down plays Sunday.

Now that we have fully explored the negatives of the Niners' 48-3 annihilation of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park, we can move on to some of the positives: smothering pass coverage ... crisp execution by quarterback Alex Smith ... zero sacks allowed by the offensive line ... innovative play calls ... a punishing run game ... only two penalties.

There was more, of course, but all you need to know is that you'd have to go back to Super Bowl XXIV, a classic 55-10 victory over Denver in January 1990, to find a game the 49ers won by 45 or more points.

"It has been the first time since I've been here that we are looking this good," running back Frank Gore said, punctuating his declaration with a low whistle.

Gore was quick to point out that this was just one game, that the Niners need to keep working and still have room for improvement in some areas. But the wide smile pasted to his face presented a counterpoint. This win, on the heels of a dramatic comeback at Philadelphia, formally served notice that the 49ers are a team to reckon with.

Less than a year ago, the Buccaneers came to this stadium and dumped the 49ers 21-0, in a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate. This year, coming off a Monday-night game that gave them one less day of preparation, the Bucs didn't stand a chance. San Francisco scored on three of its first four possessions — and on one of Tampa Bay's — to build a 24-3 second-quarter lead that would only spiral further in the second half.

The pivotal play, if there can be any such thing in a game this skewed, came on the first snap of the second quarter. Frank Gore had fumbled away the ball on the Buccaneers' 11-yard line, putting his team's 7-3 lead in jeopardy. But cornerback Carlos Rogers confused Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, showing man coverage before dropping into a zone. He picked off Freeman's pass to tight end Kellen Winslow at the Tampa Bay 31-yard line, weaved left-to-right across the field and plowed into the end zone for a 14-3 lead.

"I thought that was huge, because we had just turned the ball over on the fumble when we had knocked it down in there on a long drive and came away with no points," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "But then Carlos gets that interception, that puts us right back in business."

One more interception (by rookie Chris Culliver) and one efficient drive later, Gore scored from 2 yards out to push the score to 21-3.

The rout was on.

The one-sidedness of the game came as a major surprise. Both teams were 3-1 entering the weekend, though neither was being talked about as an elite team. Before the game, they looked very evenly matched. They weren't, at least not Sunday.

Smith completed 11 of 19 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns, for a passer rating of 127.2. Freeman completed 17 of 33 for 187 yards and the two interceptions, for a rating of 43.4.

Frank Gore posted his second straight 100-yard game, with 125 of the 49ers' 213 rushing yards. San Francisco held the Buccaneers to 86 yards on the ground. The Niners maintained composure, while the Bucs wound up with nearly 100 yards in penalties. Even head coach Raheem Morris was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

By the end of the game, Colin Kaepernick was taking the snaps for the 49ers, and guys like Larry Grant and Demarcus Dobbs were making tackles.

Though every facet of play seemed to be in the 49ers' favor Sunday, it was the secondary that might have been most impressive.

Third cornerback Shawntae Spencer was nursing a case of turf toe and didn't play, but his mates hardly missed him. They kept Freeman rattled and indecisive, and they got their hands on several of his passes.

"I thought that our players, especially in the secondary, were just breaking on balls and fast," Harbaugh said. "Fastest I've seen our guys break and cover and read. I think they were getting the jump."

And it was a defensive back who delivered the biggest hit of the game.

The Buccaneers were down 34-3, and perhaps clinging to dreams of a fourth-quarter miracle, as the end of the third quarter approached when safety Dashon Goldson came forward and drove his shoulder into Mike Williams' sternum after a short reception. Williams fumbled, and linebacker Patrick Willis recovered at the Tampa Bay 36-yard line.

The Niners settled for David Akers' field goal — but even that wasn't good enough. The Bucs' Dekoda Watson was called for using a teammate as leverage in attempting to block the kick, so Harbaugh took the points off the board and, on the next play, Smith and tight end Vernon Davis teamed up for their second scoring connection of the day.

It was typical of the 49ers' nearly flawless performance. They don't have long to celebrate, though. Next Sunday they play at Detroit, a game that used to mean a breather for NFL teams but now represents a battle.

"I think definitely it was one of the best games we've put together," Willis said. "But we can't let this be our best game."

That's a scary thought for the opponents of this suddenly resurgent team.

You can reach Staff Writer

Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.