The Bucs kept cutting it close and even had the lead for a portion of the game, but they continued to shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and a lack of execution when the game was on the line. The Bucs fell to the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31-17 in their home opener.
These were the most impressive players from the Bucs loss.
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
Boy did Hargreaves look like someone that missed playing the game of football. In his return back after missing 15 games last year, Hargreaves was fired up showed.
He scored the first touchdown of his NFL career for the Bucs after picking off Jimmy Garropolo in the second quarter and taking it to the house, giving the Bucs their only points in the first half. Even before that, Hargreaves was strong in coverage on San Francisco’s receivers, particularly on the first drive when the 49ers had good field position after a punt block. He broke up a pass in the end zone that helped hold San Francisco to a field goal.
Hargreaves’ pick-6 changed the momentum of the game for the Bucs at the time, who were reeling from a fumble by O.J. Howard in the red zone. It was Hargreaves who provided the spark for Tampa Bay and continued to play well in coverage for the entire game.
The former first-round pick ended Sunday with three tackles, one pass breakup, and the interception.
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