Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers - Final Score Prediction

After a week of well-earned rest, the Buffalo Bills host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Though the 49ers may not be those same fearsome foes that were mere moments from Super Bowl glory in February, they're still no pushover. Alas, they've fallen on hard times, and their third shot at the title in six years has been derailed by endless injuries and a competitive NFC. Buffalo, however, are still surging out to their best start to a season since 1992. Not only that, All-Pro LB Matt Milano may return for the first time since Week 5 of 2023, ready to make an impact. With a win, Buffalo locks up the AFC East and becomes the first division winner of the 2024 season.

Prediction #1 - Josh Allen, The Dual Threat

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the NFL's toughest defenses when they're at their best. Tragically, they're not. Missing star DE Nick Bosa, breakout CB Deommodore Lenoir, LB Dre Greenlaw, and DT Jordan Elliott, the 49ers are beaten up. There's no better time than the present to make use of your dual-threat quarterback.

The Buffalo Bills gameplan on offense will inevitably lean into the newfound weak spots of the 49ers. QB draw plays, rollouts, and keeper options will be abounds. With Buffalo almost completely healthy on offense, missing few playmakers, they'll have the right complement to anything San Francisco can throw at them.

Josh Allen is always most dangerous in the red zone, and the 49ers are already one of the least effective red zone defenses in the NFL. Considering their injuries, that won't improve this weekend. One of his famous rushing and passing touchdown games is in the cards on Sunday Night Football - tune in.

Prediction #2 - San Francisco Runs Rampant

Despite missing star RB Christian McCaffrey for much of 2024, the 49ers still have an efficient running game, averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season. Defensively, Buffalo are third-worst in this, averaging 4.8 yards allowed. As San Francisco lost some of their offensive playmakers, they'll have to continue to lean on their running game to keep them in tough contests. It's not an area of the field that Buffalo can expect to win. A run stop for a loss will do as much for the Bills as a sack would, but it will be easier said than done.

Prediction #3 - Final Score

The Buffalo Bills may not be able to contain the 49ers run game, but they can absolutely stop the pass. On the other end, San Francisco's defense has been streaky, and Buffalo's power run and varied pass game should afford them more than enough opportunities to win. Still, the 49ers are capable of much more than they've done in 2024, and won't hesitate to capitalize on any Buffalo errors. But, when time draws to a close, Buffalo will be the ones running out the clock.

Prediction: The Buffalo Bills win in a 27 - 21 handling of the San Francisco 49ers.

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