Returning by running Following two consecutive losses that dropped the San Francisco 49ers below.500, Christian McCaffrey is refusing to believe the pessimism that surrounds the team.
“I think the vibe is probably a lot lower outside of this locker room than it is inside,” McCaffrey said this week in reference to the 49ers, who are one game behind first-place Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West but tied for last with the Los Angeles Rams.
Adding, “I think our team is hungry,” “We still have everything in front of us and we’re ready to go.”
On Sunday night, the 49ers will go east for the third time in four weeks to play the Buffalo Bills (9-2) in the AFC East, which will decide how hungry and prepared they are.
Key player injuries and a possible lake-effect snowstorm that may throw off any game plan are hurdles for a squad that needs a late-season push to qualify for the playoffs, let alone contemplate a second consecutive Super Bowl participation.
After missing last week’s 38-10 loss to Green Bay due to an injured throwing shoulder, Niners quarterback Brock Purdy is anticipated to play. However, the 49ers have ruled out five players, including left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and top pass rusher Nick Bosa (hip, oblique).
A lake-effect storm advisory is in force for the Buffalo area, and starting Saturday, there is a chance of 20 to 30 inches of snow falling over 12 to 16 hours.
Coach Kyle Shanahan stated, “You have to be prepared for anything, just like you are with injuries.” “But we fully understand what the elements may be.”
Buffalo will face the same conditions, but the Bills are used to playing in the snow after enduring three significant storms in the previous two years. The NFL had to postpone Buffalo’s 31-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the wild-card playoffs by one day in January.
“If there’s anybody that’s done it enough, it’s me,” said Josh Allen, a quarterback from central California who played three seasons at Wyoming for his college education. “I feel like I’m very comfortable with whatever weather elements are thrown our way.”
The Bills are on their way to their best 11-game record since 1992, and very nothing has stood in their way. Buffalo is one victory away from winning the division for the fifth time in a row. The team has won six straight games and scored 30 points or more in each of its last five games.
In Week 13, coach Sean McDermott did not expect to be in a position to win the AFC East. Miami, the Bills’ closest rival, fell to 5-7 at Green Bay on Thursday night.
McDermott remarked, “I don’t think you think that far ahead, really,” “I am very appreciative of it. And I give the guys credit for their performance.”
After their bye week, the Bills are rested. Additionally, they appear to be getting healthier, as starting linebacker Matt Milano is expected to return after missing 14 months due to a torn left bicep and fractured leg.
“Obviously, feeling confident about what we got going on here,” Allen stated. “But the work isn’t done; we haven’t entered the playoffs yet. And our only goal is to go undefeated this week.”
Run CMC
It was anticipated that McCaffrey’s return would significantly improve San Francisco’s offensive output. It has not yet occurred. With 3.5 yards per run, the 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year has 149 yards rushing in three games, which is a considerable decrease from the 5.4 yards per carry average from the previous season. In their first eight games without McCaffrey due to Achilles inflammation, the Niners had ranked fourth in the NFL with 5.13 yards per rush.
“When you lose and maybe you don’t jump out on the stat sheet, your failures are highlighted,” he stated. “I’m happy I’m out here playing football and I just know with time it will come.”
Weather or not
Having grown up in Columbus, Ohio, DeWayne Carter, a rookie defensive tackle for the Bills, said playing in the snow is nothing new to him. That was before he learned that, depending on which way the wind is blowing off Lake Erie, lake-effect storms can easily drop several feet of snow in less than a day.
“Yeah, that’s foreign,” remarked Carter. In regards to snow, Columbus is a little different. There isn’t a large lake or anything, of course. However, snow is snow, you know.
Missed tackles
According to Pro Football Focus, the Niners lost to Green Bay because they missed 19 tackles. Josh Jacobs, a rushing back for the Packers, gained 83 of his 106 yards after contact thanks to it. The defense must resume swarming to the ball, according to linebacker Fred Warner, who disclosed that he has missed the last seven games due to a broken ankle bone.
“When you’re missing tackles, it’s not usually a problem when you got another guy or two right there ready to get them on the ground,” he stated. “It’s a problem when there’s too much space there to let the runner continue to run.”
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