The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have tilted with the likes of the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles this year, but they face one of their biggest challenges yet this Sunday.

The Bucs are set to go up against the indomitable San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California for Week 11, travelling across the country to play one of the NFC’s most vaunted foes. It didn’t go well for Tampa Bay last year, losing 35-7 in Levi’s Stadium in Brock Purdy’s first NFL start.

We sat down with 49ers Wire’s Kyle Madson to talk about San Francisco’s recent three-game losing streak, last year’s matchup and more.

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Madson: Their issues were a domino effect that started in their secondary. They struggled in coverage which made their pass rush less effective and forced them to play from behind. When they play from behind they can’t be as patient in the run game which puts a lot on quarterback Brock Purdy. In a couple big spots while trying to come back he tossed interceptions. Ultimately, they weren’t awful offensively. They were well over 6.0 yards per play in Weeks 7 and 8, and in Week 6 they lost to Cleveland because kicker Jake Moody missed a game-winner from 41 yards out. Short answer: coverage problems and turnovers were the two biggest culprits for their three consecutive losses.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Madson: Not much, which was the goal. They have a new right tackle, Colton McKivitz, who’s dealing with ankle and knee issues. They also added defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and defensive end Chase Young. Their defensive line is better and their offensive line is probably a little worse. Purdy is also far more experienced now with 17 starts under his belt (including the playoffs), which may or may not help. More tape might make things easier on head coach Todd Bowles in scouting the 49ers’ QB. Otherwise, it’s largely the same team, although this year, as we addressed in the first question, they’re not rolling the way they were when they faced Tampa Bay a season ago.

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Madson: The consensus is that he’s good enough to move forward with for now, but there’s still a lot to prove about whether he can get the 49ers over the hump they failed to scale with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. It’s undeniable that Purdy raises San Francisco’s offensive floor, and there’s a debate about whether he’s the best QB they’ve had since Steve Young. The playoffs are where this team measures success, though, and Purdy will be ultimately judged based on his ability to perform in those games.

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Madson: Good question. It’s probably cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. He’s in the slot for now, but he’s also capable of bumping outside. Lenoir has improved dramatically since the beginning of last season and is a bona fide starting-caliber CB as he enters the second half of his third year as a pro. His matchup with WR Chris Godwin could determine whether the Bucs can find enough success offensively to swing an upset in Santa Clara.

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Madson: Tampa Bay absolutely has the weapons on both sides of the ball to make Sunday’s game interesting. Vita Vea, Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Rachaad White are all legitimately excellent players. That said, I think the 49ers lost focus during their losing streak and they regained it after the bye with a 34-3 thumping of the Jaguars. It appears that focus is back and if they play Tampa the way they played Jacksonville, things could get ugly at Levi’s Stadium. I’ll go 49ers 31, Buccaneers 13.