According to Donte Whitner – NBC Sports Bay Area and California – Deebo Samuel’s Taybor Pepper scuffle benefits the 49ers

Sunday’s incident between wide receiver Deebo Samuel, long snapper Taybor Pepper and kicker Jake Moody marred the 49ers’ hard-fought 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Samuel put his hands on Pepper and Moody raised his eyebrows at the temperature in the San Francisco locker room and frustration with the special forces team – especially after Moody missed three of his five field goal attempts before sinking the 44-yard game . winning buzzer beater.

However, on the latest episode of “Hitner’s Hot Take,” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Donte Whitner explained why the drama should make the 49ers better from here on out.

“This was the first time we’ve seen an outbreak like this during the Kyle Shanahan era,” Whitner said. “But I think this will bring the 49ers closer together. Remember, this is a championship team with championship aspirations. And Deebo Samuel and the 49ers’ star players expect everyone to hold up their end of the bargain.”

Whitner believes San Francisco, 5-4 after the emotional win, will have a tight locker room in the final eight weeks of the 2024 NFL season, and it’s hard to argue with him.

The 49ers likely would have escaped without incident and eked out an easier win if Moody had made his first five kicks – but they didn’t. Moody, whom San Francisco selected 99th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, has just returned from the right ankle sprain he suffered in the 49ers’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 6. The rookie was rusty and it showed.

But victory heals everything. After Moody’s departure, Samuel, Pepper and Moody all seemed to turn things around, although the perceived tension still exists. And with San Francisco now on a two-game winning streak, Whitner is confident the 49ers – especially Moody – will be around until the end of the season.

“I have no problem with a player showing emotion on the sideline,” Whitner said. “If you have championship ambitions [and] When you’re expected to win these games, emotions can sometimes arise on the sidelines.

“If anything, this got Jake Moody shooting the game-winning field goal with laser-like focus, and it will get him ready for the second half of the season – especially a long playoff run.”

Samuel and the 49ers’ special forces unit will likely be under scrutiny in the next few weeks. San Francisco should be fine if Moody makes his kicks and Samuel, who admitted he acted out of character, keeps his emotions between the sidelines.

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