Playoff preview -- San Francisco at Tampa Bay, it's all about the Bucs' defense

They looked like the old San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter of the wild-card game against the New York Giants last weekend.

The incredible comeback the gold-and-red team pulled out was worthy of their legendary history.

Their quarterback, Jeff Garcia, is playing up to the high expectations San Francisco ask from their quarterbacks, but that might not be enough when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.

During the season, the 'Niners were a team that was able to run the football, as well as pass it, and a good mix of both will be important to try to keep the powerful Bucs' defensive line from exploding on Garcia.

San Francisco had the sixth best running game in the NFL this year, with 140.2 yards per game, but will now face Tampa's run-stoppers who were fifth in the league, allowing just 97.1 yards against them.

Running the ball will be a hard work, but passing will be just as difficult because the Buccaneers allowed the fewest yards by air to opposing teams, only 155.6. The Bucs also have the best ball-hawk defender in CB Brian Kelly, who intercepted a league-high eight passes this season.

When trying to run, the 49ers will have to trust that center Jeremy Newberry and right guard Ron Stone can win the matchup against Pro-Bowler defensive end Warren Sapp. On passing plays, San Francisco should try and take advantage of their quick wide receivers and the ability Terrell Owens has to get open.

San Francisco head coach Steve Mariucci played a clock-control offense most of the season, even when his own players and the media criticized him for being too conservative. But, I'm not sure if that's the way to go against Tampa Bay, even though their running game works effectively and they were one the best at protecting the football, with a league bets turn-over ratio of +17.

A spread out offense is what Garcia likes, but scoring too fast against the Bucs is not easy and will keep Tampa's defense fresh, something the 49ers need to try and avoid.

The Buccaneers offense, although improved by head coach John Gruden, has never been outstanding, and ranks 27th in the league rushing (97.3 yards) and 15th passing (215.3).

So Tampa Bay will probably pass the ball first, and use running plays just to change the pace a bit. They will use screen plays to keep the defense guessing and take advantage of the slow 49ers defensive line that has trouble getting to the quarterbacks.

But, the Buccaneers offensive line has been their weakness all season and San Francisco should manage to get to QB Brad Johnson and hit him. If that happens they could be in trouble due to his lower-back injury, and the inconsistent play of their back-up QB's the last to weeks of the regular season.

Johnson's accuracy also will be important to Gruden's offensive scheme, which will try to spread San Francisco's defense first and then try to run controlling the clock.

Bottom-line. Tampa's defense will make the difference in a game that might come a little closer than we all think.