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Buccaneers host 49ers in playoff tuneup

Dec 23, 2007 - 11:23 AM Tampa Bay (9-5) at San Francisco (4-10) 4:05 pm EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - With their sixth division title in franchise history locked away, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in a playoff tuneup.

Last week, the Buccaneers captured their second NFC South title in three seasons with a 37-3 drubbing of the Atlanta Falcons. Tampa Bay also became the fifth straight team to go from from first to worst in the unpredictable division.

The Buccaneers are assured of hosting a first-round playoff game as the NFC's third or fourth seed.

Tampa Bay is tied with Seattle (9-5) but the Seahawks own the tiebreaker advantage, based on a 20-6 season-opening win over the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay hosts Carolina in another tuneup next week before beginning playoff preparations.

"It (winning the division) makes you feel good," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "You don't like the lows, but if you stay in this business long enough, you're going to have some peaks and valleys."

The Buccaneers have been one of the league's hottest teams, winning five of its last six games to take control of the division.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia returned last week after missing a pair of games with a lower back bruise, but the story of the game was Micheal Spurlock, who returned the first kickoff for a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 32-year history.

Earnest Graham, who became Tampa Bay's feature back following the season-ending injuries to Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Michael Bennett, rushed for a touchdown in a team-record sixth straight game. He needs 123 yards in Tampa Bay's last two games to reach 1,000 yards for the season.

The 49ers are coming off a 20-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Third-straing quarterback Shaun Hill passed for 197 and a touchdown in his first career start.