Week 13: Bills vs 49ers Preview
The Bills are fresh off the bye week and welcome the reigning NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers to Highmark Stadium for Sunday Night Football. Buffalo is 7-0 off the bye since Sean McDermott became the head coach and is facing a desperate 49ers team that has lost its last two games. Injuries will play a factor in the game, as Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy, and Trent Williams all missed their week 12 loss in Green Bay, with Bosa and Williams being ruled out for Sunday as well. The Bills bye week came at the best time for them, but they still have some players they’re not rushing back. Dalton Kincaid will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. DeWayne Carter and Matt Milano have been full participants in practice this week, with Milano being activated to the 53-man roster on Saturday. If active, this will be his first action since week five last season against Jacksonville.
Injury Reports
3 Bills Players to Watch
Terrel Bernard - Bernard has a tall task against the 49ers with their ball carriers and tight ends. He has been playing at an All-Pro level this season, and with the return of Milano, I only expect that to get better. The top priority is slowing down McCaffrey and Jordan Mason out of the backfield.
James Cook - Cook’s ability as a pass catcher, along with his speed and shiftiness as a ball carrier, make him a prime candidate for a big game Sunday night. If Cook is able to get some momentum early, I can see this becoming a ground-and-pound game similar to the game versus Dallas last year. The weather and injuries on the 49ers defense are playing into a heavy workload for Cook and Ray Davis.
Curtis Samuel - I want to see if Samuel can build off of the best game he’s had in a Bills uniform against the Chiefs. Was that a one-week blip on the radar, or has he finally found his spot in the offense and the trust of Josh Allen? The quick passes and jet sweep plays need to be utilized vs a depleted San Francisco defense. Samuel is a player to watch because of his development in the offense. If he can build off of his week 11 performance, watch out.
3 49ers Players to Watch
George Kittle - Kittle has 18 catches for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns over his last three games. He is currently playing his best football, and the weather and matchup favor him to continue this trend. The Bills have been burned by opposing tight ends this season, particularly on short passes. It will be interesting to see how Bobby Babich and the defense plan to slow him down.
Christian McCaffrey - McCaffrey is averaging 18 touches and 94 yards from scrimmage over the three games since returning from injury. These are not the numbers you expect from CMC, but he’s still a dangerous weapon for the 49ers offense. The Bills are willing to concede yards on the ground versus the air but are the worst defense in the league regarding receiving yards and receptions made by running backs. I expect Purdy and the offense will lean on him heavily.
Fred Warner - Warner is one of the best linebackers in the NFL. He excels in coverage and is strong in the run game. His versatility will come into play against the Bills’ rushing attack and the success of the Bills’ passing game in the middle of the field, two areas that I expect them to attack. If the 49ers are successful at slowing down the Bills offense, it will be because of Warner.
Matchup of the Game
The Trenches. The Bills defense needs to take advantage of a backup LT and the recent below-average quarterback play of San Francisco. The offensive line needs to continue its strong blocking and communication in pass protection, even in the absence of Bosa. The running game will be vital to the success of the winning team. I expect Buffalo to get the running backs involved early to establish the ground game and set up the passing game. Winning the battle in the trenches will be the key to this.
Prediction: Bills 34 49ers 24
In 2020, the 8-3 Bills traveled to Arizona to face the 5-6 49ers for a Week 13 Monday Night Football matchup. The Bills won 34-24, facing a backup quarterback for an injury-ridden San Francisco team. Dawson Knox is the only player on the Bills' offense who caught a pass from Josh Allen in that game, so the offense is quite different now. It doesn’t look like the Bills will face a backup quarterback this time, but it will be a high-scoring game, closer than it should be. I don’t anticipate the weather being a factor during the game, but I expect both teams to use the ground game early and a lot of short passes. Win the game, and you clinch your fifth straight AFC East championship. Go Bills!
