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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at PHI | ATL at SD | BAL at CIN | CAR at GB | CHI at MIN | DEN at NYJ | IND at CLE | JAX at HOU |
| KC at OAK | MIA at STL | NO at TB | NYG at WAS | PIT at NE | SEA at DAL | SF at BUF | TEN at DET |
Week 13 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 10, Buffalo Bills 3
What you need to know
| San Francisco 49ers |
San Francisco opened the game with a 14 play, 72 yard drive that ate up over eight minutes and resulted in the only touchdown they would need. Frank Gore carried nine times on that drive.
Shaun Hill continued his consistent play and did not throw an interception, although he had a down game statistically hitting 14 of 23 for 161 yards and just one touchdown. Ageless Isaac Bruce caught five passes for 67 yards and scored the only touchdown in the game. Jason Hill also caught five passes for 55 yards.
San Francisco only scored ten points and gained 195 yards of offense. Despite allowing 350 yards of offense, the Niners won this game with their defense. The Bills never crossed their goal line and only scored one field goal in four trips to the red zone. San Francisco has now improved to 2-3 under interim head coach Mike Singletary.
| Buffalo Bills |
The loss may have extinguished Buffalo's flickering hope for a playoff spot, although the freezing rain and gusty winds did not overtly affect the Bills' offense. They were able to generate 350 yards, but four trips inside the red zone only netted three points. Trent Edwards was a little shaky completing ten of 21 for 112 yards in the first half. He sat out the rest of the game with a reported groin injury.
J.P. Losman replaced Edwards in the second half and solidified his role as backup quarterback. While he managed to complete 11 of 17 for 93 yards he also held the ball too long and took three critical sacks when Buffalo was trying to tie the score. If Losman has to replace Edwards for any length of time his performance could improve with additional work with the starters.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for over 100 yards in his second straight game while Lee Evans led all receivers with seven catches for 80 yards. TE Derek Schouman replaced the injured Robert Royal and caught four balls for 44 yards.
Two Rian Lindell field goal attempts clunked off the left upright, one from just 20 yards away.
What you ought to know
| QB Shaun Hill, Pass: 14 - 23 - 161 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 0 - 0 |
Shaun Hill continued his consistent play, as he completed 14 of 23 for 161 yards and one touchdown and zero interceptions. A second TD pass was called back on a penalty and he posted a QB rating of 96.5. In his previous three games Hill had thrown a total of six touchdowns with an average QB rating of 94.3.
| RB Frank Gore, Rush: 24 - 66 - 0, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (4 targets) |
Even though Gore had 24 carries there were times when he was all but forgotten. On San Francisco's 14 play opening drive of the game, their only drive that resulted in a touchdown, Gore carried nine times. While his longest run of the day was just 12 yards, he was effective running inside and picking up key first downs. More importantly, he prevented the Bills from pinning their ears back and blitzing Shaun Hill.
| WR Jason Hill, Rush: 1 - -4 - 0, Rec: 5 - 55 - 0 (5 targets) |
Hill had a nice game, catching five passes for 55 yards, with his longest going for 20 yards. The young receiver is worth tracking as he will enter his third NFL season next year and veterans that are currently ahead of him on the depth chart may not be back.
| WR Isaac Bruce, Rec: 5 - 67 - 1 (6 targets) |
Bruce led the 49ers with five receptions for 67 yards. His 12 yard TD catch in the first quarter was the 90th touchdown of his 15 year NFL career. Rookie Leodis McKelvin had coverage but Bruce faked running a slant and broke it out to the corner.
| WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (3 targets) |
Johnson was targeted early and seldom, with two targets in the first quarter and just one in the third. He caught one pass for 16 yards.
| WR Dominique Zeigler (3 targets) |
With both Arnaz Battle and Josh Morgan inactive, Zeigler saw limited playing time. He flat out dropped one pass in the second quarter but later broke up a possible interception.
| TE Billy Bajema (1 targets) |
Bajema saw limited duty and was not a factor in this game.
| TE Vernon Davis (2 targets) |
While Davis did not make the stat sheet, in the third quarter he caught a 37 yard touchdown pass but was flagged for offensive pass interference.
| PK Joe Nedney 1 - 1 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points |
Nedney hit a clutch 50 yard field goal at the end of the first half and also converted his sole PAT.
| SF Rush Defense |
Marshawn Lynch had the best day of this season although he was held out of the end zone. His running mate, Fred Jackson, was limited to just eight carries on five attempts. Patrick Willis was credited with 14 tackles and forced a fumble that led to their field goal.
| SF Pass Defense |
Edwards and Losman combined for about 200 passing yards. Neither threw TD passes but neither were intercepted.
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 10 - 21 - 112 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - 5 - 0 |
Edwards had a mediocre first half, hitting ten for 21 for 112 yards. Worse, he started bouncing passes to receivers again. When it was announced that Losman was replacing him in the second half it was thought to be a change based on performance. Then it was announced that Edwards had suffered a groin injury at some point during the first half.
| QB J.P. Losman, Pass: 11 - 17 - 93 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Losman was understandably rusty. His last start was one year ago and had only seen mop up duty since. Still, a backup should be ready to play, despite the lack of first team reps, and a case could be made that Losman wasn't terrible. He did not throw an interception, although he didn't pull out the victory in a 'must win" game, either. He appeared cautious, and he held the ball too long which led to three sacks. He also missed Lee Evans late in the game on a play that could have tied the score.
| RB Marshawn Lynch, Rush: 16 - 134 - 0, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (5 targets) |
Lynch had his best rushing performance of the season and his 50 yard burst in the third quarter helped set up the Bills' only field goal. His fumble late in the second quarter also led to San Francisco's' field goal just before half time.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 5 - 8 - 0, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jackson only gained eight yards on five carries although a 28 yard run in the first quarter was called back when rookie James Hardy's downfield block away from the play was ruled holding.
| RB Corey McIntyre (1 targets) |
The big blocking back helped Lynch gain over 100 yards but dropped an easy pass in the fourth quarter.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 7 - 80 - 0 (9 targets) |
Evans was the leading receiver in the game with 80 yards on seven receptions and was targeted throughout the game by both quarterbacks. Late in the game, with the Bills down by a touchdown, on fourth down deep in 49er territory he broke open across the middle on a short crossing route. Losman did not get him the ball on time, however, so instead of a sure first down or possibly tying the game the Bills turned the ball over on downs.
| WR Josh Reed, Rec: 5 - 58 - 0 (9 targets) |
Reed was targeted seven times by Edwards in the first half but only twice by Losman. He knows how to get open and Edwards looks for him on hot reads. His presence in the lineup takes pressure off the other receivers, especially Lee Evans.
| WR Roscoe Parrish, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (3 targets) |
His targets continue to come on short passes into an attempt to get him in space. Parrish also gained nine yards for a first down on a reverse with Lynch lined up shotgun formation.
| WR James Hardy |
With the return of Josh Reed, Hardy's role has been reduced to spot duty. He was called for holding on a Fred Jackson run in the first quarter.
| TE Derek Schouman, Rec: 4 - 44 - 0 (6 targets) |
Schouman filled in nicely for Robert Royal and caught four passes for 44 yards with the longest going for 17 yards. The Bills also threw a screen pass to the second year man from Boise State.
| TE Derek Fine (1 targets) |
Fine's one target was in the end zone but Edwards' pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage.
| TE Robert Royal |
Inactive with hamstring injury.
| PK Rian Lindell 1 - 3 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points |
Lindell had a miserable day. He bounced two field goal attempts off the left upright, one just a little closer than a PAT, the other from 40 yards. He made his third try from 22 yards out.
| BUF Rush Defense |
The Bills managed to hold Frank Gore to just 66 yards and 2.8 yards per carry. Defensive ends Chris Kelsey registered seven tackles while Ryan Denney, continuing to fill in for Aaron Schobel, was credited with six tackles.
| BUF Pass Defense |
Chris Kelsey was credited with one sack, while Ryan Denney had two sacks and a forced fumble.