Live updates: Bucs-49ers a homecoming game for Tom Brady

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Brock Purdy has thrown for two touchdowns and run for another as the 49ers lead the Bucs 35-0 in the third quarter of today’s game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Purdy scrambled for a 2-yard score on the first play of the second quarter, then added touchdown passes of 27 yards to Christian McCaffrey and 32 yards to Brandon Aiyuk later in the frame.

Deebo Samuel scored on a 13-yard run on San Francisco’s opening possession but had to be carted off the field after being injured during the second quarter.

McCaffrey scored on a 38-yard run early in the third quarter to extend the Niners’ lead to 35-0.

It is a homecoming game for Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, who grew up about 25 miles away in San Mateo.

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Picked off Bucs quarterbacks Tom Brady, left, and Blaine Gabbert watch from the sideline during the first half. [ JED JACOBSOHN | AP ]

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady was intercepted for the second time in the game when linebacker Dre Greenlaw tipped a pass intended for Mike Evans and caught it at the 49ers 24-yard line early in the third quarter.

The Bucs, trailing by five touchdowns, converted on fourth and 4 just one play earlier, when Brady found running back Leonard Fournette over the middle for a 5-yard gain to the San Fransisco 33.

All for naught Bucs wide receiver/kick returner Deven Thompkins warms up before the game. [ JED JACOBSOHN | AP ]

Deven Thompkins set up the Bucs with a short field to open the third quarter when he returned the second-half kickoff 54 yards to the 49ers 44.

But one play after Tom Brady banged his hand on a helmet while throwing incomplete to Cameron Brate, Brady threw high over the middle for Mike Evans and was intercepted by Tashaun Gipson. The San Francisco safety returned the ball 36 yards to the Tampa Bay 38-yard line.

Two plays later, Christian McCaffrey burst 38 yards over left guard for a touchdown to put the 49ers ahead 35-0 less than a minute into the third quarter.

Hungry for more San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) catches a touchdown over Bucs safety Logan Ryan during the first half. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ] Stay updated on the Buccaneers

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When the 49ers took possession at their 9-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, it looked like they might be content to run down the clock and take a three-touchdown lead to the locker room.

But after Christian McCaffrey picked up a first down with a 6-yard run to the San Francisco 20, the Niners’ objective seemed to change.

Brock Purdy completions of 25 yards to Brandon Aiyuk and 11 to Ray-Ray McCloud quickly moved the ball into Bucs territory.

Rather than play things safe and position themselves for a possible field goal, the 49ers kept throwing.

They got a break when an Anthony Nelson interception was nullified by a defensive holding penalty against Tampa Bay cornerback Carlton Davis, giving the Niners a first down at the 32.

One play later, Purdy threw deep down the left sideline to Aiyuk (who beat cornerback Jamel Dean on a double-move) for a touchdown that extended San Francisco’s lead to 28-0 with 15 seconds left in the half.

Bad news … and worse San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs in front of Bucs linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the first half. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ]

The 49ers lost the ball and their most dangerous player on a single play late in the first half.

Deebo Samuel fumbled the ball after being hit by Bucs outside linebacker Anthony Nelson at the end of a 3-yard run, and the ball was recovered by inside linebacker Lavonte David at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line.

Worse for San Francisco, Samuel was injured on the play and had to be carted off the field.

The Bucs quickly took advantage, as Tom Brady connected with Chris Godwin on a 32-yard completion to the 49ers 17-yard line.

But after three more plays gained only 8 yards, Brady threw behind Mike Evans in the end zone on fourth and 2 from the 9, and Tampa Bay turned the ball over on downs.

Finding a connection San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is congratulated by wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) after a first-quarter touchdown. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ]

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy hooked up twice with receiver Deebo Samuel for 28 yards at the start of an early second-quarter drive as San Francisco advanced to the Bucs 42.

After a 3-yard Christian McCaffrey run, Purdy completed a 7-yard pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to the 36, about 1/2 yard short of a first down. Purdy picked up the remaining yards on a quarterback sneak.

Three plays later, the Niners faced third and 5 from the 27. Purdy lofted a pass deep down the left sideline over safety Logan Ryan to McCaffrey for an apparent touchdown. The play briefly was overturned following an expedited replay review before a booth review upheld the original call of a touchdown.

New life San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes over Bucs linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the first quarter. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ]

Seemingly energized after the Bucs had a touchdown taken off the board, the 49ers added to their lead early in the second quarter.

After Brock Purdy found tight end George Kittle over the middle for 15 yards to the Tampa Bay 47, two Christian McCaffrey runs of 13 yards and a 9-yard Deebo Samuel reception quickly moved the ball to the 8.

McCaffrey was stopped for no gain on a second-down run, bringing up third and 1. Purdy’s pass into the end zone for tight end Tyler Kroft was incomplete, but safety Keanu Neal was penalized for interference, giving San Francisco a first down at the 1.

As the first quarter came to a close, McCaffrey lost a yard over left guard, pushing the Niners back to the 2.

But on the opening play of the second quarter, Purdy dropped back to pass before scrambling 2 yards up the middle for the score, extending San Fransisco’s lead to 14-0.

Hit and miss Bucs quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ]

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Mike Evans have struggled to connect deep all season long.

They finally did so late in the first quarter, seemingly combining for a 68-yard scoring pass after a missed assignment in the 49ers secondary left Evans wide open deep down the right sideline.

But tackle Donovan Smith (yet again) was penalized for holding, negating the touchdown and putting Tampa Bay into a second-and-18 situation.

After Brady threw incomplete for Leonard Fournette, the running back carried for 8 yards, forcing a Bucs punt.

Reduced ranks Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea warms up before the game. [ JED JACOBSOHN | AP ]

Each team lost the services of a key defensive lineman — at least temporarily — after just one series.

Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea sustained a calf injury and is doubtful to return.

Niners defensive lineman Kevin Givens left on a cart and is questionable with a knee injury.

Unfulfilled promise Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, left, watches as quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before the game. [ TONY AVELAR | AP ]

The Bucs wasted no time responding to the 49ers touchdown by quickly driving into San Francisco territory on their first possession.

The drive created a scoring opportunity but failed to generate points on the scoreboard.

Rachaad White got the drive started with a 9-yard run to the Tampa Bay 32 on the Buccaneers’ first play from scrimmage. Fellow running back Leonard Fournette then took a Tom Brady pass 9 yards to the 41.

Tampa Bay picked up two more first downs on completions of 4 yards to wide receiver Russell Gage and 11 to tight end Ko Kieft, moving the ball to the San Francisco 38.

But ater a 1-yard Fournette run, two Brady incompletions brought up fourth and 9 from the 37.

Ryan Succop attempted a career-long 55-yard field goal, but his kick missed wide right, leaving the Bucs down a score with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Easy come, easy go San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs toward the end zone to score in the first quarter. [ JED JACOBSOHN | AP ]

The Bucs defense started the game with a splash, as unblocked Keanu Neal sacked quarterback Brock Purdy on a safety blitz for what would have been an 8-yard loss.

But Neal was penalized for roughing the passer for a helmet-to-helmet hit, giving the 49ers a first down instead.

Five plays later, the Niners were in the end zone.

Purdy kept the drive alive by finding tight end George Kittle over the middle for 15 yards and a first down on third and 7 from the Tampa Bay 49-yard line.

One play later, Christian McCaffrey gained 21 yards over left guard to the Bucs 13. Deebo Samuel then took a pitch to the right and scampered 13 yards down the sideline for a touchdown and 7-0 San Francisco lead.

Stating their case Bucs quarterback Tom Brady grew up a 49ers fan and dreamed of one day becoming the next Joe Montana or Steve Young. [ JED JACOBSOHN | AP ]

Tom Brady or Brock Purdy?

One wants to make a point to the franchise that twice passed on him.

The other simply wants to make a case to play.

The two quarterbacks, separated by 23 years and 22 NFL seasons, will share the spotlight when the Bucs play the 49ers today at Levi’s Stadium.

For Brady, in his 23rd NFL season, it’s a rare opportunity to play near his hometown in front of family and friends. He was injured when the Patriots played the 49ers in San Francisco in 2008. Eight years later, he passed for four touchdowns in a 30-17 New England win in Santa Clara.

Brady, 45, grew up a Niners fan and dreamed of becoming the next Joe Montana or Steve Young. But San Francisco passed on him in the 2000 draft and opted to stick with Jimmy Garoppolo when Brady became a free agent after the 2019 season.

While the 49ers continue to seek their first championship since 1995, Brady went on to win six Super Bowls with the Patriots and a seventh in 2020 with the Bucs.

If Brady felt slighted by lasting until the sixth round of the draft, imagine how Purdy must feel. The former Iowa State signalcaller had to wait until the seventh before hearing his name called as the 262nd and final pick (”Mr. Irrelevant”) of the 2022 draft.

Pressed into service last week following injuries to Garoppolo and Trey Lance, Purdy, 22, came off the bench to throw for two touchdowns as the 49ers beat the Dolphins.

Today, he has a chance to win his first career start — something even Montana couldn’t do.

With both teams currently leading their division, the game could help determine seeding for the playoffs. It could mean the difference between opening the postseason against a team like the Giants or Seahawks (as the No. 3 seed), or versus the Eagles or Cowboys (as the No. 4 seed).

Brady and the Bucs, who ranked 27th in the NFL in scoring offense (18.1 points per game), will have their hands full against a 49ers defense that leads the league in scoring defense (15.8 ppg) and total defense.

Purdy and San Francisco won’t have it much easier, as Tampa Bay ranks fifth in scoring defense (18.3 ppg) and eighth in total defense (though the Bucs secondary will be without cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and safeties Antonine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards).

Each quarterback has a statement to make.

Throw out their draft positions. There is nothing irrelevant about this matchup.

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A little light reading

Here’s some of our content leading up to today’s game:

Bucs’ Tom Brady returns to play 49ers team he grew up rooting for

The offensive line is hurting, and so are the Bucs

Bucs elevate Deven Thompkins, Nolan Turner from practice squad

After Monday’s frenetic finish, should the Bucs keep their foot on the gas?

Beleaguered Bucs tackle Donovan Smith says, ‘I’m dealing with some things’

Bucs could be limited at safety again Sunday against 49ers

For 4th-quarter comeback king Tom Brady, the surreal never gets stale

Critical late-game hit caps one of most fulfilling weeks of Keanu Neal’s life

49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy is pretty relevant these days

Zyon McCollum was maligned for his play Monday night, and molded by it

Bucs wanted more from Jaelon Darden than just returning punts

Are the Bucs a throwback? Or will they be thrown back?

Keanu Neal’s big hit on Saints’ Taysom Hill made Bucs’ comeback possible

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