In the second game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader, the Buffalo Bills traveled to State Farm Stadium in Arizona for the second time this season, this time to battle the 49ers. Trying to win on Monday Night Football for the first time since 1999, the Bills (9-3) high-powered offense made a statement on national television, putting up 34 points on 449 yards of total offense.
Standing strong on defense in crunch time, Leslie Frazier‘s group forced San Francisco (5-7) quarterback Nick Mullens into multiple turnovers to secure Buffalo’s victory. The Bills maintain their lead over the Miami Dolphins (8-4) as they try and capture their first AFC East crown in 20 years.
First Quarter
Receiving the ball first in this one, Josh Allen and the Bills offense moved down the field efficiently as they looked to open the scoring. Finding wide receiver Cole Beasley on back-to-back passes to cross midfield, the team would then be set up with first and goal following receptions by Stefon Diggs and rookie running back Zack Moss. However, Buffalo would ultimately turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass to tight end Lee Smith on fourth and goal.
The 49ers looked to cash in after the impressive goal-line stand by their defense, beginning with back-to-back rushes of 16 yards and eight yards by Raheem Mostert to kickstart the 49ers drive. Following a 17-yard completion to tight end Jordan Reed and a juggling catch by Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco would have first and goal on the Bills ten-yard line. Standing tall on defense, Frazier’s group stuffed three straight running attempts to hold the score at 0-0. Moss turned the ball over on the following posession after he could not handle an Allen handoff and the 49ers recovered the loose football at the Bills’ three-yard line. Making quick work off the turnover, a three-yard strike by Mullens to Aiyuk gave his team an early 7-0 lead.
Second QuarterÂ
Looking to tie the game up as the second quarter opened, Allen and the Bills offense would be on the move once again. Needing just six plays to find the end zone, back to back long receptions by Diggs and Beasley set the team up deep inside San Francisco territory. After a 22-yard reception by rookie Gabriel Davis to set up first and goal, an easy five-yard touchdown strike to Beasley knotted the game at seven a piece. Forcing a quick three and out on the 49ers’ next drive, Buffalo would look to take their first lead off the half. Beginning the drive on their 31-yard line, the team would pick up an easy first down on an eight-yard reception by Diggs, followed by a four-yard scamper by Devin Singletary.
Nearly turning the ball over once again, a dart over the middle by Allen would be intercepted by standout linebacker Fred Warner but was negated by an illegal contact penalty on cornerback Richard Sherman. Able to move the ball into the red zone on receptions by Beasley and swiss army knife Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo’s offense stalled out in the red zone again after Allen was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-1. After converting on fourth down, an off-tackle run by Singletary set up a five-yard touchdown reception by tight end Dawson Knox to give the Bills the lead at 14-7. The 49ers were unable to muster anything on their next possession as the opening half winded down. They picked up back-to-back first downs before being forced to punt just inside their opponent’s territory.
Two Minute Magic
Looking to add to their point total before the end of the half, the Bills passing attack set them up to score. Completing passes to Diggs and Beasley for 18 yards and 20 yards, Allen would then find Davis on a deep crossing route to set up a field goal attempt. Cashing in on the impressive end of half drive, a 37-yard field goal by rookie kicker Tyler Bass gave the Bills a 17-7 advantage at the break.
Third Quarter
Following halftime, the 49ers would use long completions to Aiyuk and tight end, Ross Dwelley to move the ball deep into Bills territory. Stalling out once again, a 45-yard field goal by kicker Robbie Gould cut the Buffalo lead to seven. Answering the score by San Francisco, Allen and the team’s passing attack went to work once again on their first drive of the half. The quarterback completed six-of-seven passes on the drive, and a 23-yard strike to a wide-open McKenize extended the Buffalo lead to two scores at 24-10. Looking to put the game away, Buffalo would force a turnover on the game’s ensuing possession. Dropping back on his second attempt of the drive, Mullens’ pass to Aiyuk would be intercepted by Bills safety Micah Hyde, who returned it 33 yards to the 49er five-yard line.
After holding strong following the interception, back-to-back penalties on offense cost the Bills as they settled for Bass’s 28-yard field goal. Responding swiftly, Mullens heaved a deep ball to Aiyuk for 49 yards to the Bills six-yard line. Needing just one play to cash in after they were set up with goal-to-go, a six-yard reception by fullback Kyle Juszczyk cut the Buffalo lead to ten at 27-17.
Fourth Quarter
Nearly giving the ball right back as the final quarter began, former first-round pick Dion Jordan sacked Allen on the second play of the drive; however, the Bills would recover the loose ball. Responding smoothly after the sack, Allen found Diggs with two completions to get inside 49ers territory. Faced with another fourth down decision after Moss was stopped on third and two from the San Francisco 28, Buffalo would elect to go for it once again. A seven-yard reception by Diggs kept the drive alive. A 28-yard strike from Allen to Davis extended the Bill’s lead to 34-17, capping another scoring drive.
Down to their last breath as the final quarter wound down, the 49ers would look to make it a ballgame late. Driving the ball down to the Bills’ one-yard line after long completions to Deebo Samuel and tight end Charlie Woerner, the team would look to cash in. The Bills defense held strong yet again when Vernon Butler stacked up a two-yard rush by Tevin Coleman on first down. Holding receiver Kendrick Bourne out of the end zone on a one-yard reception on the next play, a false start penalty moved the team back to their opponent’s six-yard line. Making a play to close out the ball game, cornerback Tre’Davious White ripped a pass away from running back Jeff Wilson on third and goal to seal Buffalo’s victory.
Highlights
Aiyuuuuk #FTTB
📺: #BUFvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Cn2mSOuS9h pic.twitter.com/WBVhOUCzhx— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2020
Dawson Knox leaps for the TD! #BillsMafia@BuffaloBills lead 14-7.
📺: #BUFvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Cn2mSOuS9h pic.twitter.com/sUfqRORB14— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2020
.@JoshAllenQB can’t be stopped. His fourth TD of the night! #BillsMafia
📺: #BUFvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Cn2mSOuS9h pic.twitter.com/9kzD2Aig2T— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2020
That’s why they call him @TakeAwayTre_. #BillsMafia
📺: #BUFvsSF on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Cn2mSOuS9h pic.twitter.com/SFcTJVE3uy— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2020
Looking to stay atop their division, Buffalo will return home to battle the AFC-leading Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Losers on Monday for the first time this season, the Steelers remain one of the most dangerous defenses in the league, making it a game of the year candidate in Orchard Park to close out next Sunday.
Quickly down to their final breath as they remain outside the NFC playoff race, the 49ers play host to the Washington Football Team in one of the late afternoon slots. Winners of their last three games, Washington is one of the hottest teams in football and will give Kyle Shanahan and company all they can handle.
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