The San Francisco 49ers resumed normal service last Sunday with an emphatic victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a comfortable win is what most expect when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11.

San Francisco knows it can’t afford to allow a return to the error-strewn performances that condemned them three straight losses between Weeks 6 and 8 as the 49ers aim to simultaneously keep the Seattle Seahawks at bay in the NFC West race and close the gap on the Philadelphia Eagles in the battle for the number one seed in the conference.

Despite a 4-5 record, the Buccaneers have the means to hurt the 49ers on both sides of the ball, and the Niners will need strong performances from these six players to ensure they vindicate their status as heavy favorites and improve to 7-3.

RB Christian McCaffrey

The Buccaneers have the best run defense in the NFL by Expected Points Added per play and held the Tennessee Titans to just 42 yards on the ground last week.

Tampa Bay’s defensive line, led by the likes of Vita Vea, Logan Hall and impressive rookie Calijah Kancey, will test the run-blocking prowess of an offensive line that helped the 49er ground game get back to its best against the Jaguars.

But there will be significant onus on McCaffrey to make the most of the holes they do create and maximize the impact of the play-action game to keep Devin White and Lavonte David, two frequently aggressive linebackers, on their toes. 

The aggressiveness of the Bucs defense is something Kyle Shanahan will consistently look to use against Tampa Bay, and McCaffrey’s ability to turn checkdowns into explosive plays will serve as a huge factor in the head coach’s success in doing so.

Tampa Bay struggled getting home with just four pass rushers last week, but the Bucs won’t have much choice other than to move away from pressure packages if McCaffrey dices them up when they send extra rushers. In a game in which Brock Purdy will likely come under heavy fire, McCaffrey has a vital role to play in ensuring he has time to throw.

C Jake Brendel

There will be a lot of focus on right tackle Colton McKivitz, who will play despite ankle and knee injuries sustained against the Jaguars. He faces an underrated challenge from Shaquil Barrett and rookie YaYa Diaby, the rookie who shone against Tennessee, but there should be a similarly bright spotlight on center Brendel.

Tampa Bay will send its linebackers, and White in particular, on delayed blitzes they found joy in the win over the Titans. 

Brendel, who sets the protections, will need to be alert to that danger, and just as significant will be him maintaining his strong play in the run game after a standout display getting to the second level and setting up explosives in Week 10.

DT Javon Hargrave

While much of the focus from a pass rush perspective was on Nick Bosa and Chase Young in their first game together since their Ohio State days in Week 10, Hargrave was just as responsible for the 49ers’ pass rush dominance against Jacksonville.

Hargrave continually pushed the pocket from the middle and forced Trevor Lawrence off his spot, and he will have high hopes of doing the same against the Buccaneers and a left guard in Aaron Stinnie who endured significant struggles against Tennessee’s defensive front. 

The Bucs’ passing game is still very dangerous, and Hargrave will be crucial in ensuring the 49ers slow it down.

LB Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw

Jacksonville had precious little success against an overwhelming 49ers defense in Week 10, but the Jags did find brief joy attacking San Francisco with the screen game.

Screen passes have been a consistent thorn in the side of the Niners, and a Buccaneers team that scored a touchdown on a checkdown to Rachaad White last week will likely look to hurt them in that area.

There’s no magic formula to shutting down the screen game, and success in doing so is typically down to effort. In that sense, Warner and Greenlaw will lead the way. 

Both are excellent in pursuit and, if they can help prevent quick, short throws and screens from turning into explosive plays, the path for the Buccaneers to pull off the upset will become much narrower.

CB Deommodore Lenoir

While the change San Francisco made at nickel, kicking Lenoir inside to the slot on passing downs with Ambry Thomas taking his spot on the outside, paid off for San Francisco in Week 10, there was still clear room for improvement.

The 49ers appeared much more in sync with Lenoir in the slot, Oliver having been responsible for some key breakdowns in the Week 8 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Lenoir still gave up five receptions for 59 yards, indicating that he is somebody who could be picked on by the physically imposing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as well as speedy rookie Trey Palmer when he lines up in the slot.

Most of the matchup advantages in this game are stacked in the 49ers’ favor. Lenoir is under pressure to ensure the Buccaneers do not have a significant edge in the slot.

How to watch and stream San Francisco 49ers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11

The Niners are massive favorites.