San Francisco’s defense bent but didn’t break in Week 13

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Tuesday, December 02, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

San Francisco 49ers
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When a football team is in the midst of a lost season, one of two things can happen: The club can dig deep and play for pride or it can fold like a cheap tent and continue losing.

The San Francisco 49ers are a team in the middle of a fruitless season. Entering Sunday’s game at Buffalo, the 49ers were 3-8 and had virtually no chance of making the playoffs this season. Meanwhile, the Bills were 6-5, in the thick of a playoff race. They had everything to play for.

As expected with two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions, the Bills won almost every important category in the game. Here is an on-paper sampling of how the Bills dominated the 49ers:
· The Bills had 18 first downs compared to 12 for the 49ers.
· The Bills had 350 total yards compared to 195 for the 49ers.
· The Bills had two fumbles compared to four for the 49ers.
· The Bills held the ball longer than the 49ers.
· The Bills’ leading rusher averaged 8.4 yards per carry, while San Francisco’s went for 2.8.

With all of this Buffalo domination, how in the world did the 49ers manage to come away with a 10-3 victory? Timely defense, that’s how. San Francisco definitely didn’t shut down the Bills, as evidenced by the fact that Marshawn Lynch ran for 134 yards on just 16 carries in the game.

What the 49ers did, however, was come up with big defensive plays when the game mattered the most. With the 49ers leading 7-0 early in the second quarter, Buffalo put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive that gave it a first-and-goal from the San Francisco 7. The 49ers' defense rose to the occasion and held the Bills to a field goal attempt, one which Rian Lindell missed.

Later, with the 49ers clinging to a 10-0 lead early in the third quarter, the Bills were back in scoring business. After a 50-yard run by Lynch, Buffalo had a first down at the San Francisco 9. On third-and-goal from the 4, the Niner defense once again held and forced Buffalo to settle for a Lindell field goal and a 10-3 lead.

After Frank Gore fumbled late in the third quarter, quarterback J.P. Losman -- in for the injured Trent Edwards -- led the Bills 67 yards in 11 plays. Buffalo had a first down at the San Francisco 15. The defense held firm, and the Bills were turned away when Losman failed to complete a fourth-down pass from the 49er 7.

All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis led San Francisco’s defensive effort. Willis had a game-high 10 tackles, forced a fumble and deflected a pass. Former Buffalo linebacker Takeo Spikes also put forth a solid effort, tallying 9 tackles and forcing a fumble.

San Francisco’s playoff chances aren’t totally dead, but the team is still playing primarily for pride and some positive momentum for interim coach Mike Singletary. If the 49ers win all of their remaining games and finish with an 8-8 record, they could still catch NFC West leader Arizona. The Cardinals are 7-5 and would have to go 1-3 over the final quarter of the season for the 49ers to have any playoff hopes.
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
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