49ers crush Buccaneers, avenge 2010 shutout

Associated Press

san francisco

For anybody who questioned whether new coach Jim Harbaugh could turn around the downtrodden San Francisco franchise in a hurry, his 49ers are giving every indication this year might be different.

Two weeks, two impressive wins against expected contenders.

Alex Smith threw two of his three touchdown passes to Vernon Davis, Frank Gore ran for a touchdown in his second straight 100-yard rushing game and San Francisco whipped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-3 on Sunday for its best start in nine years.

“We’re not putting any limitations on ourselves,” Harbaugh said.

Carlos Rogers returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and tight ends Davis and Delanie Walker each caught TD passes of 20-plus yards in San Francisco’s third straight win since blowing a late lead in a Sept. 18 overtime loss to the Cowboys.

This marked the Niners’ largest margin of victory since they beat the Los Angeles Rams 48-0 on Dec. 27, 1987 — and it matched the Bucs’ worst loss ever.

“It’s been a long time,” Davis said of being on the better end of a rout. “To be ahead like we were today, I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen anything like that.”

But a late right leg injury to wide receiver Joshua Morgan put a damper on what had been a near-perfect day.

While the Niners (4-1) beat Seattle and Cincinnati, the past two weeks are more telling: a 24-23 come-from-behind win at Philadelphia last Sunday followed by this lopsided affair against the former NFC South leader.

“He told us to stay humble and keep working,” Gore said of Harbaugh’s postgame message.

Josh Freeman never found the flow that made him so effective in the rout here last November and the Bucs (3-2) were a step behind in a short week after beating the Colts on Monday night.

“Flat start. Flat finish. Flat middle. Everything,” coach Raheem Morris said. “We didn’t even get off the plane this time.”

Smith never got a chance to help during an embarrassing 21-0 shutout home loss to Tampa Bay last year. He watched from the sideline as former coach Mike Singletary chose Troy Smith to start instead.

He made his mark this time, going 11 for 19 for 170 yards and no sacks or interceptions before giving way to rookie backup Colin Kaepernick midway through the fourth.

The 49ers are 4-1 for the first time since 2002, the last time the franchise had a winning record and reached the playoffs — four head coaches ago.