Grades for 49ers' offense, defense in ‘home' loss to Bills
The 49ers’ season has featured highs and lows – mostly lows – and a bewildering lack of consistency.Actually, it’s not bewildering at all. With as many injuries and moving parts, including the entire organization moving out of Santa Clara, there have been a lot of factors working against the 49ers this season.The 49ers got right back into the NFC playoff picture with an upset victory, and season sweep, over the Los Angeles Rams one week.But, on Monday night, the Buffalo Bills put a hurtin’ on them, as the 49ers fell to 5-7 on the season with a 34-24 loss in Glendale, Arizona.The Arizona Cardinals’ home stadium is where the 49ers will play at least one more home game. And the 49ers will definitely be looking to find themselves after they had no answers against the AFC East-leading Bills.Here’s the 49ers’ report card from their Week 13 game against Buffalo:
The 49ers had to believe they could have success running the ball against the Bills’ defense. But even with Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson and Tevin Coleman healthy, the 49ers could not find any consistency on the ground.
Wilson led the 49ers with 47 yards on seven attempts, while Mostert had 42 yards rushing on nine carries.
Grade: C-minus
Nick Mullens had 57 yards passing in the first half. He threw two interceptions in the second half, one of which was a pass that rookie Brandon Aiyuk should have caught. The 49ers could not keep up with the Bills in what looked as if it might be a shoot-out.
Mullens finished with 316 yards passing with touchdown passes to Aiyuk, Jordan Reed and Kyle Juszczyk. Things were not clicking until the 49ers fell hopelessly behind. Aiyuk had five catches for 95 yards to lead the team.
Grade: D-plus
The Bills were not able to run the ball successfully against the 49ers. Devin Singletary gained just 61 yards on 18 rushing attempts. The 49ers’ defense produced a takeaway in the first quarter that led to an easy touchdown when Fred Warner recovered a Zack Moss fumble.
Grade: A-minus.
The 49ers’ pass defense, which entered the game as one of the best in the league, offered zero resistance against Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The 49ers’ pass rush – four-man or blitz packages – yielded no consistent pressure on Allen. Dion Jordan had a sack, and Kentavius Street was called for another crucial (and controversial) roughing-the-passer penalty.
You name a player in the 49ers’ secondary, and that player at times struggled – Tarvarius Moore, Jason Verrett, Dontae Johnson, Richard Sherman and Jimmie Ward. Allen completed 80 percent of his pass attempts for 375 yards and four touchdowns.
Grade: F
Robbie Gould made one field goal and three extra points. Punter Mitch Wishowsky averaged 45.0 yards, but the coverage unit surrendered a 22-yard return to Andre Roberts. The 49ers put Aiyuk back to return a punt – the only punt the 49ers forced – and he returned it 16 yards.
Grade: C
In the head-to-head matchup of 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh vs. Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, this one produced a decisive winner. The 49ers’ defense had absolutely no answers for anything Buffalo did with its passing attack.
The Bills rolled up 31 first downs. Linebacker Fred Warner said it felt like the Bills dialed up the perfect calls for what the 49ers were doing defensively.
On offense, the 49ers felt like there were opportunities, but they could not sustain any consistency. The 49ers did not get it done on the field or with the execution of their game plans on either side of the ball.
Grade: D
The 49ers stopped the Bills on downs with a goal-line stand to end the first drive of the game. They recovered a fumble on Buffalo’s second possession.
Then, it was touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown. The Bills got on a roll, and the 49ers had no answers to slow them down.
Grade: D
