Two Bills Drive

‘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.’