Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2005 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-30, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 15–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Simms (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with -9.01 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed the game: (1:49) 2-C.Simms sacked at TB 21 for -6 yards (97-B.Young). FUMBLES (97-B.Young), touched at TB 26, RECOVERED by SF-98-J.Peterson at TB 26. 98-J.Peterson to TB 26 for no gain (19-I.Hilliard). C.Simms

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Galloway · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +11.80 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Smith · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Clayton · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.55 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Simms · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Rushing · +2.22 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Lloyd · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Alstott · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.35 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Pickett · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +1.13 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Pickett · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.91 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — J. Galloway (C. Simms pass) (Q4 10:45)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q2 36:04)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Bryant (Q2 30:24)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q2 30:02)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q3 21:21)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q3 17:50)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 6–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the TB 27 (Q2 36:04) — (6:04) 6-J.Nedney 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the SF 29 (Q2 30:24) — (:24) 3-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the TB 29 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 6-J.Nedney 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. Penalty on TB-20-R.Barber, Defensive Offside, declined..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 6–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the TB 23 (Q3 21:21) — (6:21) 6-J.Nedney 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the TB 28 (Q3 17:50) — (2:50) 6-J.Nedney 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the SF 78 (Q4 10:45) — (10:45) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at TB 25.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 10:33) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the TB 10 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 6-J.Nedney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 1:49) — (1:49) 2-C.Simms sacked at TB 21 for -6 yards (97-B.Young). FUMBLES (97-B.Young), touched at TB 26, RECOVERED by SF-98-J.Peterson at TB 26. 98-J.Peterson to TB 26 for no gain (19-I.Hilliard). C.Simms [WPA -19.1% · EPA -3.67]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 10:45) — (10:45) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at TB 25. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +6.46]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:43) — (:43) 6-J.Nedney 39 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -13.1% · EPA -2.46]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 6-J.Nedney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -12.3% · EPA +0.28]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 0:21) — (:21) 2-C.Simms sacked at TB 32 for -2 yards (97-B.Young). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -0.16]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 10:45) — (10:45) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at TB 25. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +6.46]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 19:23) — (4:23) 2-C.Simms pass INTERCEPTED by 56-B.Moore (33-T.Parrish) at TB 47. 56-B.Moore to TB 35 for 12 yards (79-S.Mahan; 32-M.Pittman). Pass deflected off the line judge's head. [WPA -10.6% · EPA -4.72]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 23:03) — (8:03) 2-C.Simms pass intended for 80-M.Clayton INTERCEPTED by 36-S.Spencer at SF 49. 36-S.Spencer to TB 27 for 24 yards (69-A.Davis). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.35]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 1:49) — (1:49) 2-C.Simms sacked at TB 21 for -6 yards (97-B.Young). FUMBLES (97-B.Young), touched at TB 26, RECOVERED by SF-98-J.Peterson at TB 26. 98-J.Peterson to TB 26 for no gain (19-I.Hilliard). C.Simms [WPA -19.1% · EPA -3.67]

Quarterback report card

C.Simms led all passers in efficiency for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Simms (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · -0.22 EPA/play · -9.01 total EPA
• K.Dorsey (San Francisco 49ers) · 19 dropbacks · 36.8% completion · -0.66 EPA/play · -12.61 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Tampa Bay Buccaneers -0.24, San Francisco 49ers -0.20) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• San Francisco 49ers: 15 drives, -15.38 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 15 drives, -19.50 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Galloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 36:04 · TB 27 · Score 0-3
   (6:04) 6-J.Nedney 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 30:24 · SF 29 · Score 3-3
   (:24) 3-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · TB 29 · Score 3-6
   (:02) 6-J.Nedney 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. Penalty on TB-20-R.Barber, Defensive Offside, declined.
4. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 21:21 · TB 23 · Score 3-9
   (6:21) 6-J.Nedney 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 17:50 · TB 28 · Score 3-12
   (2:50) 6-J.Nedney 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 10:45 · SF 78 · Score 9-12
   (10:45) 2-C.Simms pass to 84-J.Galloway for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at TB 25.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 10:33 · SF 2 · Score 10-12
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
8. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · TB 10 · Score 10-15
   (2:00) 6-J.Nedney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.