The Buffalo Bills will look to move to 9-3 with a win over the San Francisco 49ers tonight.
According to the injury report for both teams, no one game-changing is coming into this Week 13 matchup with a questionable designation. Everyone that is expected to miss this game is already on injured reserve and not eligible to return for this game against the Buffalo Bills. When comparing the injured reserve lists for both teams, it is obvious and evident that this plays to the advantage of Buffalo.
The Bills will be heading into this game without receiver John Brown for sure and are likely to be without linebacker Matt Milano. Milano was designated to return to practice earlier this week, which means he is eligible to play in this game if the Bills decide to activate him. Both Brown and Milano are starters and meaningful contributors to the team when healthy.
However, in their absences, the Bills have found viable replacement contributors in receiver Gabriel Davis and linebacker A.J. Klein. With the recent play of Klein, the Bills may decide to play it safe and ease Milano back onto the field with a low snap count this week or wait another week altogether.
As for the 49ers, they will be without many meaningful players who are still on their injured reserve list heading into Week 13. These names include edge rushers Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and tight end George Kittle.
Coming into the season many Bills fans chalked up this Week 13 matchup as a loss. With the 49ers being without their starting quarterback, three key starting defensive linemen, and arguably the best tight end in the league, the scale shifts back in the favor of the Bills on paper.
However, football is much more than how teams match up to one another on paper, there will be different dynamics throughout the game that will dictate the winner of this game. I believe that the Bills will find their easiest path to victory with these Week 13 keys to victory.
My final score prediction for this week is for the Bills to beat the 49ers 27-23. The 49ers’ defense is still very good despite all of the injuries they have suffered this year, but Josh Allen in warm weather or controlled climates has been on another level.
Additionally, I think the Bills defense will be able to consistently exploit the weaknesses of backup 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills win 27-23