Bills plow San Francisco 49ers in snowy Buffalo
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Adrian Kraus/Associated Press
2024.12.01 – Josh Allen the Buffalo Bills quarterback celebrated his three-TD outing in an AFC East-clinching 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
Allen performance had a most braving bone-chilling temperatures and a persistent snowfall in becoming the NFL’s first quarterback and seventh player in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown passing, rushing and receiving. Sandwiched between his 7-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins and an 8-yard scoring run, Allen scored a receiving touchdown on a pass he threw in his latest do-everything performance.
With Amari Cooper corralling a short pass with a one-handed catch, the receiver was in the midst of being wrapped up by two Niners defenders when he pitched the ball back to Allen. The QB sprinted to the left corner of the end zone and dived past for the pylon for the score.
Cooper said he acted on instinct in a play that could well have been drawn up in the snow on the sideline.
“I was wondering what he was doing over there,” Cooper said. “I figured he was over there because he wanted the ball, so I gave it to him.”
Snow flew like confetti in celebration from the packed stands as the Bills (10-2) scored on four of five possessions spanning halftime to build a 28-3 lead, starting with Ray Davis’ 5-yard run. James Cook scored on a career-high 65-yard run and finished with 107 yards rushing.
2024.12.01 (49ers vs. Bills) Game Highlights
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, score past San Francisco 49ers Fred Warner (54) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Adrian Kraus/Associated Press
2024.12.01 (49ers vs. Bills) Game Highlights – (CD-Highlights)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (NBC Sports Post Game)
The defending NFC champion 49ers (5-7) unraveled as they dropped their third straight and lost running back Christian McCaffrey to what coach Kyle Shanahan said was a potential season-ending injury.
Shanahan said McCaffrey is believed to have injured his posterior cruciate ligament, which connects the thigh bone to the shin. He said he had no timetable for McCaffrey’s return but acknowledged the All-Pro’s season could be over.
“I think PCL is usually a couple weeks, but I’m not exactly sure yet,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan believes McCaffrey was hurt on an 18-yard run up the middle. The All-Pro running back stayed in the game and on the next play appeared to step awkwardly with his left foot on the snow-slicked field and went down immediately. After being examined on the sideline, he limped to the locker room and was ruled out at the start of the second half.
“It looked like he just got shoe-stringed there, he was about to break a house call,” Shanahan said. “It was frustrating. He had a great week of practice. I could feel his urgency and stuff. Thought he came out great, looking real good.”
McCaffrey had 53 yards on seven carries when he exited the game, his fourth after missing the first eight of the season with Achilles tendinitis.
“It feels dark and gloomy and absolutely depressing, honestly I’ll feel that probably in a couple hours,” tight end George Kittle said. “The only way to make this feel better is to go take advantage of next week and try to get a win.”
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (NBC Sports Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Taylor Rapp, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (NBC Sports Post Game)
With McCaffrey injured again, It becomes the latest setback in a frustrating season for the 2023 offensive player of the year, who missed the Niners’ first eight games with Achilles tendinitis and has not been his usual explosive self since returning. And it’s another blow for a team that has battled injuries all season, was missing five starters against Buffalo and dropped its third straight.
“He’s one of the best running backs in the league,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “When you lose him like that, I think it takes away just sort of how we do some things in the offense.”
Jake Moody missed two of three field-goal attempts. San Francisco lost three fumbles, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk getting the ball punched out of his arms at the Buffalo 1 to end San Francisco’s first drive of the second half.
Star linebacker Fred Warner, who continues playing with a broken bone in his ankle, also left the game with cramps, and was receiving intravenous fluids when James Cook scored on a 65-yard run to put the Bills up 14-3.
“Demoralizing,” said Warner, who returned to finish the game. “I felt like I let my team down by going in the locker room and then that happens.”
San Francisco (5-7) sits alone in last in the NFC West standings, two wins behind division-leading Seattle.
San Francisco was also missing five starters due to injury and is now in jeopardy of missing the playoffs a season after losing the Super Bowl to Kansas City.
Moody opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal. Purdy, coming back after missing one game with a sore throwing shoulder, finished 11 of 18 for 94 yards.
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Snow falls as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) holds the ball after the Buffalo Bills beat the 49ers of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2024.12.01 – 49ers vs. Bills (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
The 49ers had success rushing for 153 yards in snowy conditions. J.P. Mason had 73 yards on 13 carries, and Issac Guerendo ran for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“Our goals was to run the heck out of the football, keep Josh Allen off the field,” tight end Kittle said. “And I think we did a really good job of that. But we have to score points.”
Kittle had a 7-yard reception on the 49ers’ first play, but did not catch another pass in the game.
“It feels dark and gloomy and absolutely depressing,” Kittle said. “Football is tough man. Stuff happens and you’re either going to let it beat you down into oblivion and just give up, or you are going to continue to go out there and swing and fight every day that you have left.”
QB1 Allen finished 13 of 17 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns, three rushes for 18 yards and a score, and zero catches for 7 yards and a TD. He was serenaded by fans with chants of “MVP!” and sat out most of the fourth quarter.
BILLS CLINCH DIVISION TITLE
Allen now has scored 247 career TDs (186 passing, 59 rushing and two receiving) to break Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s franchise record of 244.
Buffalo has won seven straight since back-to-back losses to Baltimore and Houston, and is 10-2 or better for the fifth time in team history and first since 1991. The Bills became the NFL’s eighth team, and first since Indianapolis in 2009, to clinch a division title with five games remaining.
Buffalo extended its run of scoring 30 or more points to six straight games, while the Niners dropped to 0-5 when scoring 20 or fewer.
“It’s a good feeling. This one feels a little bit different this early in the season,” Allen said of clinching the division while also staying in the hunt to catch Kansas City (11-1) for the AFC’s top seed. “It’s going to be fun, I mean, to go out there and play free and play relaxed and play loose. I think that could be a dangerous team.”
UP NEXT
49ers: Host Chicago next Sunday.
Bills: At the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
Related: Packers thump 49ers leaving playoffs in doubt
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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