The San Francisco 49ers started 0-5. No worries, thanks to the NFC’s mild, mild West Division.
The 49ers have won three of their last four and suddenly find themselves in the division title hunt when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Seattle (5-4) leads the West followed by St. Louis (4-5), San Francisco and Arizona (3-6). The Seahawks and Cardinals have difficult games Sunday at New Orleans and Kansas City, respectively. The Rams do too - at home against Atlanta.
The 49ers have a tough game of their own, though, as the Buccaneers (6-3) have been the surprise of the tough NFC South. They have also won three of their last four.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said Troy Smith will start at quarterback Sunday. Troy Smith replaced the injured Alex Smith prior to San Francisco’s 24-16 victory over the Denver Broncos in London on Oct. 31.
After their bye, Troy Smith led the 49ers to a 23-20 victory over the Rams in overtime last week. He was 29 of 47 for 552 yards and two touchdowns in the two games, so although Alex Smith’s injured shoulder is healed, Singletary will continue to play his hot arm.
Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore scored touchdowns in both games while wide receiver Delanie Walker had nine catches for 165 yards.
The Buccaneers’ defense has 14 interceptions, second in the league, and has a plus-5 turnover ratio, but is last with eight sacks.
Gore is fifth in the NFL with 778 yards and could have a big day against a Buccaneers’ defense ranked next to last in rushing defense (143.8 yards per game).
The 49ers are ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing defense (100.7) and will have to stop the Buccaneers’ LeGarrette Blount and Cadillac Williams.
Blount has 359 yards and four touchdowns in six games, including 91 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 31-16 victory over Carolina last week. Williams had a 45-yard TD run.
The Buccaneers’ Josh Freeman, in his second year out of Kansas State, has completed 60.7 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions as he continues to develop into a top NFL quarterback. He has also rushed for 221 yards.
Six of Freeman’s nine career victories have come on fourth-quarter comebacks.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams leads NFL rookies with 627 yards and is tied for the rookie lead with five touchdowns. He has a team-leading 40 catches while tight end Kellen Winslow has 39 receptions.
Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris said Mike Williams will play Sunday despite his arrest early Friday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence. His blood-alcohol level was .065, which is below the legal limit of .08 in Florida. Williams, who missed practice Friday, traveled with the team to San Francisco.
The Buccaneers are 2-0 against the NFC West this season with victories over St. Louis (18-17) at home and at Arizona (38-35).
The 49ers are 0-3 against the NFC South, with a home loss to the New Orleans Saints 25-22 and road losses to the Atlanta Falcons 16-14 and the Carolina Panthers 23-20.
San Francisco won the last meeting 21-19 in 2007.
There is a 60 percent chance of showers at game time.