Buffalo News

‘Run defense: C-: It remains a real concern. The 49ers were able to bully their way to 119 yards on 17 carries, an average of 7.0 yards per attempt in the first half.’

‘The Bills led the NFL in third-down conversion rate in 2022 (50.3%) and 2023 (49.8%). But through seven games this year, they ranked 25th (33.7%), including a woeful 6 of 18 (33.3%) when needing 1-3 yards; they had more conversions (nine) when needing eight or more yards.’

‘A running back hasn’t won MVP since Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson in 2012. A Detroit player hasn’t won since running back Barry Sanders shared the award with Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre in 1997.’

‘Due to the possible weather and just general ball security, the Bills will want to have as clean a game as possible. With an ever-changing forecast, the game may not see a ton of snow, but it still could be windy and cold. Bills head coach Sean McDermott knows to be ready for anything. “We’ve been through it before, so we have some experience with it,” McDermott said Wednesday. “We can’t control the weather.” With an added emphasis on a clean game, look for Josh Allen to end his interception streak. The 49ers, meanwhile, have as many takeaways as they have turnovers this season, with 16 apiece. Their 16 giveaways (nine picks and seven lost fumbles) are among the worst in the league.’

’95 – That’s the number of tackles for Bills linebacker Dorian Williams, which ranks 12th in the NFL among all linebackers on a per-game basis. Williams is on pace for 146 tackles, which would be the most by a Bills player in the eight-year Sean McDermott era.’

‘There is cause for concern with this game. Namely, the 49ers, who entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations, are a desperate team in need of a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs by way of winning the NFC West alive. The Bills remain squarely in the running for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, so there is plenty to play for, even with a fifth straight AFC East title a foregone conclusion. Buffalo is unbeaten under Sean McDermott following the bye week. The 49ers are too banged up and are going to be too travel fatigued to leave Orchard Park with a victory. Bills, 30-20.’

‘Pleasantly surprising. I had the Bills pegged as a 10- or 11-win team coming into the year. They have completely exceeded my expectations to this point. The credit for that is wide spread. Josh Allen has been phenomenal, both on the field and as the unquestioned leader of the franchise. This might be Sean McDermott’s best coaching job, which is saying a lot given the run of success he’s had. The defense hasn’t missed a beat, despite injuries and significant roster turnover. The Bills are squarely in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Coming into the season, anyone would have signed up for that coming out of the bye week.’

‘“They were flowing fast (to the football),” Morris said. “My job is to make a decision and let the back try and make the other one miss. It happened pretty often in that game, and it was the first time I’ve had to deal with it (this season). The best thing you can do (as a blocker) is to be decisive and take one.”’

‘Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Friday before practice that three players will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game: wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist), linebacker Matt Milano (biceps) and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist). Milano and Carter are still on injured reserve with their respective 21-day practice windows open.’

‘Allen said Wednesday that his bye week was “fantastic. It was great. Got some sun. Hung out with family. It was fantastic.”’

‘In advance of this Sunday night’s game, which is predicted to be impacted by snowy weather, and future ones like it this winter, the team is asking people with interest in helping with snow removal to sign up through an online document.’

‘“Control what you can control. Obviously, he wants to be out there. I want to be out there,” Williams said Wednesday after practice. “Both of us can’t. I’m going to cheer for him. That’s my guy. Obviously, you want to be out there. Everybody wants to be out there, but (expletive) it. I mean, I’m here to win games. It’s going to be all right.”’

‘San Francisco’s Kyle Juszczyk has made the Pro Bowl eight straight seasons and has been on the field more than any fullback in the NFL the past decade. In other words, Juszczyk is the NFL’s top dinosaur.’

‘On the Monday of the Bills’ bye week, Coleman, the rookie wide receiver, hosted an event at Highmark Stadium for more than 80 kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo. The kids came in buses to the Bills’ facility, where they first got tours of the locker rooms, had some time to play on the field, and then the main event: Each kid got their own Nike jacket. But, of course, there was the added bonus of getting quality time with Coleman himself.’

‘“Like anything else, I think you get better with experience,” McDermott said. “To be a play caller is the toughest job, to me, on the football side of the building. No offense to anybody else’s job, my job included. Not only do you have to shape a game plan, but you have to call a game, and you’ve got 65-70 plays roughly on average to get exactly right, to get the players in exactly the right position, and that is really hard to do against good football teams, in particular.”’