Temperatures reached the 20s Sunday night as snow fell throughout Buffalo’s Week 13 home game against San Francisco.
For the Bills, the conditions were perfect.
Behind passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns by quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills clinched a playoff spot and their fifth consecutive AFC East division title by easily beating San Francisco, 35-10.
After the game that improved the Bills to 10-2, and 6-0 at home, Buffalo coach Sean McDermott and Allen made snow angels on the field while being interviewed.
The mood was far different for San Francisco (5-7) after star linebacker running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) exited the game with a non-contact injury. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan later told reporters McCaffrey had injured the PCL in his knee and that it could be a season-ending injury.
Christian McCaffrey could be out for season
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said postgame star running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a potentially season-ending PCL injury.
McCaffrey rushed for 53 yards on seven carries before leaving the game in the first half.
FINAL: Bills dominate 49ers 35-10
In snow-covered Buffalo, the Bills won their seventh straight game to improve to 10-2. Josh Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for a touchdown, run for a touchdown and catch a touchdown in the same game. Yes, you read that right. On one of his scores — a throw to Amari Cooper that was lateralled back to Allen, who ran it into the end zone — he was credited with both a passing and receiving score.
Buffalo won 35-10 as San Francisco dropped to 5-7 on the season.
MVP moment?
Like it or not, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award is determined partly by statistics, and partly by storylines. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen entered the MVP discussion in mid-November with his fourth-down scramble to beat previously undefeated Kansas City in a spotlight game that kept the Bills’ hot run going. That streak is now all but certain to reach seven consecutive wins after a four-touchdown game in primetime that was so one-sided the Bills pulled Allen to avoid risking injury with Buffalo leading 35-10 early in the fourth quarter.
This game should undeniably boost Allen’s case. On a day when his toughest competition for the award, Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley (107 rushing yards, one touchdown) played well but unspectacularly and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (237 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, two touchdowns) lost, it created an opening for the Bills quarterback.
Another big moment from Josh Allen
Buffalo’s quarterback rushes in for an eight-yard touchdown and the Bills lead 35-10 with 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Allen has now pulled off the hat trick: Touchdowns passing, receiving and rushing tonight, and four in all. If you want an MVP moment, you’re seeing it right now.
49ers score!
This game isn’t over yet: It’s Buffalo 28, San Francisco 10, with three minutes to play in the third quarter.
San Francisco converts inside the red zone for the first time in this game when the 49ers smartly design a play to get running back Isaac Guerendo running in motion before taking a toss — any momentum is an edge on this slick turf — and running into the end zone from 15 yards out.
In the snow, Bills putting on a show
In the most improbable of plays, the Bills now lead 28-3 with 5:58 to go in the third quarter. Just watch:
Mistakes compounding for 49ers
In position to score a touchdown and draw closer to Buffalo, the 49ers literally fumbled away their best chance to score of the night. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk ran up the middle for three yards, only to fumble just one yard from the end zone and see Buffalo recover and run it back 43 yards.
Technically, that is a 44-yard change. With Buffalo leading 21-3 and having a chance to pad their lead further, the significance of the fumble feels much bigger.
Halftime: Bills 21, 49ers 3
49ers kicker Jake Moody misses his second field goal of the first half, this time from 55 yards as time expires, to send the Bills into the half leading big. Buffalo (12) has only one more first down than San Francisco, but the Bills have a big advantage and 72 more total yards.
Both teams are succeeding with the run, with San Francisco averaging 7.0 yards per run and Buffalo 8.8. The difference is Buffalo (9.7 yards per pass) has also found ways to be effective passing despite the snow.
Touchdown, Buffalo!
Bills quarterback Josh Allen fits a pass into the end zone where only receiver Mack Hollins can catch it, and the Bills now lead 21-3 with just 41 seconds to play before halftime.
Hollins generated retweets and plenty of conversation when he walked into tonight’s game barefoot amid the snow, wearing a mad scientist costume. Thanks to his touchdown, he’ll be remembered for more than just his walk-in.
Another 49ers star sidelined
Along with running back Christian McCaffrey, who has been deemed questionable to return with a knee injury, the 49ers have another hole on the other side the ball, too.
Star linebacker Fred Warner is also questionable to return, with cramps. Warner’s 84 total tackles are a team-high, and 17 more than the next-closest teammate. Losing Warner would be devastating for this defense.
