Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 276

49ers insist they’re not dead yet after getting buried in Buffalo

There’s too much pride on a team used to success to concede a lost season with five games to play.

That’s about the most you can say about the 49ers following a snow-bound 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday night, where a national television audience got to see first-hand what has become of a team that played in four conference championship games and two Super Bowls since 2019 and now sits at 5-7.

Moments after fullback Kyle Jusczcyk lost his first fumble since 2018 at the 1-yard line in the third quarter when the 49ers were threatening to get within 21-10, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth offered what could soon be the epitaph on the 2024 season.

“That is the 49ers’ season right there,” Collinsworth said.

It was another failure in the red zone, an ongoing problem since Week 1 when the 49ers kicked six field goals against the New York Jets.

There were three more turnovers, added to the three in last week’s 38-10 loss in Green Bay. And no takeaways. There were two more missed field goals by Jake Moody, although one was a pipe-dream 55-yard attempt before halftime in horrible conditions.

There were more injuries, of course, which has been a constant throughout the season. Christian McCaffrey, looking like himself for the first time all season, ripped off 53 yards on his first seven carries before straining his posterior cruciate ligament on a 19-yard burst and then shutting it down on the next play.

We’ll find out soon if we’ve seen the last of McCaffrey for 2024 after just four games. The 49ers limp home to face the Chicago Bears (4-8) next week at Levi’s Stadium.

Middle linebacker Fred Warner, who revealed this week he has played with an ankle fracture since Week 4, left briefly when both forearms seized up with cramps. He got an IV and returned, but forearm cramps?

“It was a freak thing,” Warner said.

That doesn’t even include players that were left home, such as edge rusher Nick Bosa, left tackle Trent Williams and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. Or those who have been long gone on injured reserve, such as Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave.

It’s something the 49ers will need to determine going forward. How much of the entire 2024 season was a “freak thing” and bad luck and how much was of their own doing?

“I’m real disappointed. We’ve got a lot more pride than this,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We definitely know we have people out, but we can play a lot better than that. Having three turnovers in each of the last two weeks, being unable to stop the run, you can usually guess the outcome.”

The Bills rushed for a season-high 220 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

What Shanahan isn’t willing to do with even a low-percentage chance of a playoff berth is publicly berate his team, rejecting a query about the 49ers’ willingness to fight.

Coach Kyle Shanahan is searching for answers as the 49ers fell to 5-7 after a 35-10 road loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“I’m not going to say this team is the same as last year’s team and we’re not fighting as hard,” Shanahan said. “We’ve had a bunch of guys out there who have been trying to find their way since the beginning, haven’t quite found it yet. There’s still a lot of season left. We expect to be better. But I’m not going to say our team doesn’t have fight.”

Quarterback Brock Purdy, who was 11-for-18 for 94 yards and wasn’t nearly the operator in the snow as counterpart Josh Allen, conceded the conditions were “difficult.” He lost one attempted pass when it simply flew out of his hand before it was going forward for a lost fumble.

“Late in the game, it felt like the snow started to melt a little bit and the ball became more slick,” Purdy said.

Losing McCaffrey, who appeared to finally gain traction in the most unlikely place, was a blow.

“We all saw what he was doing and he was on fire, man,” Purdy said. “Looked great, hitting the holes hard. Bouncing off guys and making some explosive plays. When you lose a guy like Christian, it sucks. It takes away some things how we do them in the offense.”

Forever upbeat tight end George Kittle conceded that losing McCaffrey and Warner (temporarily) was difficult to accept.

“It’s not a very fun thing, especially since Bosa and Trent are not here either,” Kittle said. “But it’s football. People go down. We’ve had plenty of seasons where people have gone down and you need somebody to step up. That’s what we need . . . we’re in the NFL for a reason and it’s on all of us.”

The onslaught of injuries and mistakes, Kittle believes, are part of the deal.

“Football’s tough. Stuff happens,” Kittle said. “You’re going to let it beat you down into oblivion and you’re just going to give you up or you’re going to go down swinging every single day that you have. What’s crazy is we only have so many opportunities left but we’re not technically out of the playoffs. And while it feels dark and gloomy and depressing, we can still win out and I really think we can do that.”

Warner knows what’s next — and it’s Chicago, with nothing else that matters.

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“We’re as desperate as they come to try and get a win,” Warner said. “I’m down for whatever. I just want to get a win. I could care less about anything else. Whatever they need me to do, whatever they need the team to do, let’s do that and get one win.”

Since Purdy stepped into his job, both he and his teammates have largely met a standard that has been lost in a big way in losing 73-20 over the past two weeks against teams that were as formidable as the 49ers were the past few years.

“The last couple of years our mentality was coming out to games and being the enforcers and the dominators,” Purdy said. “To have two games like this back to back, late in the season, it sucks. We can’t be down in the dumps because we still have an opportunity in front of us.”

What the 49ers said after being blitzed by Bills in Buffalo blizzard

The 49ers were absolutely shellacked Sunday for a second straight week as the Buffalo Bills beat them 35-10 on national television in a snowstorm.

The loss marks just the fourth time in franchise history they have lost consecutive games by 25 points, after the Packers beat them 38-10 last week.

The Niners rushed for 153 yards on 27 carries but lost the turnover battle 3-0 as Kyle Juszczyk, Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel all lost fumbles in the second half.

They allowed 220 rushing yards, including a 65-yard touchdown to James Cook midway through the second quarter.

Purdy finished with just 94 yards on 11-of-18 passing, while Josh Allen was 13-of-17 for 148 yards and two touchdowns in addition to his own rushing and bizarre receiving touchdown (which came on a pitch from Amari Cooper).

To make matters worse, Christian McCaffrey left with a knee injury in the second quarter. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey’s injury appears to be to his PCL and could be season-ending.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Kyle Shanahan

On whether his offense wasn’t physical enough:

I thought we ran the ball real well. I think we had 120 yards at halftime, you know. It’s our passing game didn’t do well, so I didn’t sense a lack of physicality on our offense.

On the conditions:

The tracking is what I think got a lot of guys for both sides. As far as the turnovers, I think it got Brock on that one pass, obviously that slipped out of his hands.

On if Purdy required a pain-killing injection into his shoulder

No, Brock’s shoulder is totally fine.

On injuries and their impact:

Real disappointed. We have a lot more pride in this. We definitely know we have some people out and stuff, but we can play a lot better than that. Having three turnovers both of these weeks and getting down none — that’s 6-0 (turnover differential) in two weeks. When you do that and you don’t stop the run like we haven’t in these last two weeks, you can guess the outcome.

On the outlook ahead:

All must-wins, so not much different. It was a must-win this week, it’s even stronger next week. It’ll be that way from here on out. This is the hole we put ourselves in and made it a lot tougher, and if we want to get out of it, we got to do something special here.

On Josh Allen:

They beat us as a team today, not just with Josh.

On Christian McCaffrey:

He had a great week of practice. I could feel his urgency. He came out great, looking real good. Looked like he got him by the shoestring, was about to break a house call. … I never got to talk to him. I hurt for him, and it’s tough for our team not to have him.

Always when you lose great players like that, it doesn’t help. JP came in and ran well. Isaiah ran well, too. But osing Christian isn’t fun.

On Jake Moody:

I’m not thinking about that right now. I know he missed two in that game. Conditions weren’t good but especially the 55-yard one in those conditions, I think would have been an amazing kick, but thought the one before that was the one he should have made.

On whether this team is fighting as hard as prior 49ers teams:

We’re not as good of a team as those past teams. So that’s kind of how I look at it. We’re not the same team at all. Every team each year is different, but I’m not going to say that this team is the same is last year’s team (and) we’re just not fighting as hard.

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)George Kittle

On injuries:

You need someone to step up and that’s what we need. We continually need guys to step up. Whether it’s starters and players that we have that are already doing that or new guys who are getting into the rotation, we’re in the NFL for a reason. All these guys have belonged in the NFL and they have play-making abilities, and that’s on all of us.

On the gameplan:

I think our goal was to run the heck out of the football, keep Josh Allen off the field and I think we did an early good job of that but you have to score points. I mean, we had three and then we had an opportunity to have six or nine, whatever it is, we got to score touchdowns in the red zone. That’s how you stay in the big games where it’s really good offenses.

On the path ahead:

We only have so many opportunities left, but we’re technically not out of the playoffs. While it feels dark and gloomy and absolutely probably depressing, honestly — I’ll feel that probably in a couple hours — but technically, we can still win out and I do have the faith that we can do that, I really do.

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills breaks a tackle by Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers before running in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Fred Warner

On his cramps:

My forearms just seized up. I don’t know what happened. It was just a freak thing.

On Allen’s receiving TD:

I don’t know if it was a design or if he just threw it out to Cooper then ran over there and they were on the same page, but we just got to find a way to get him down and live another down.

On the conditions:

It was just snow and cold, snow on the ground. Had to make sure your footing was right — that was it.

On drive to win:

I just want to win. I could care less about anything else so whatever they need me to do, whatever we need the team to do, let’s do that and let’s get a win.

On missing five starters to injury, then losing McCaffrey:

Obviously that’s going to always make it harder but at the end of the day, like we have 11 guys going out there who are NFL players. Let’s play together and let’s find a way to win.

Jordan Phillips #97 of the Buffalo Bills sacks Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Brock Purdy

On whether he’s played in conditions like that before:

Not to that extent. Just footing, you know, guys being a little bit slower and then the pass rush, dealing with that while trying to go through reads and stuff was difficult.

On his shoulder:

Arm felt good. Obviously it was cold and stuff. (Like) any other game I’ve played in my career and it’s cold out, I have to do a little more warming up. It was normal.

On not getting the ball to Kittle:

I thought we had some good plays drawn up. It’s just tough with the conditions. We’re running the ball so well and then when we did have the opportunities to throw balls, the reads just didn’t get me to George within the play, that’s just sort of how it went. But obviously we love to get George the ball as many times as we can.

On whether he thought about his shoulder when chasing a fumble recovery:

I was just trying to save a touchdown and get him out of bounds and stuff, but yeah, nothing came out of it.

On the team underperforming:

This just isn’t the standard that we play with. The last couple years and stuff, our mentality of coming out to games and being the enforcers and the dominators. So to have two games like this back-to-back late in the season, it sucks. But for us, it’s got to be next-game-up and we can’t be down in the dumps because we still have an opportunity in front of us.

On McCaffrey

We all saw what he was doing. He was on fire, man. He looked great, hitting the holes hard, bouncing off guys and making some real explosive plays. Obviously when you lose a guy like Christian it sucks. Hopefully we can get him back soon, but J.P. and Isaac came in and did a good job, too. (McCaffrey) is one of the best running backs in the league, so when you lose him like that, it takes away how we do some of the things with the offense.

On their season:

Here we are 5-7, that’s just the reality of it. That’s the NFL. We got to man up and do something about it and we have the right guys in the locker room to do that. I know that, I have faith in that and it starts with myself, too. I gotta do my job better. Everybody just has to be accountable for it and we got to come together at this time of year and make it happen.

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills talks with Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers after the Bills defeated the 49ers, 35-10, at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

DEEBO SAMUEL

On the conditions:

“It was different than I expected, but they were playing on the same field we were playing on. Just a tough loss. Can’t blame it on the conditions at all. We just have to finish.”

On what’s next:

Get in, watch the tape, see what we have to correct, get to practice Wednesday and move forward

On blizzard

“I wouldn’t say it was a surprise. It’s been snowing the past two days. The weather said it was supposed to stop at 3 o’clock but it was going all game. We can’t blame the conditions. They played on the same field. We have to be better as a team.”

On McCaffrey injury

“Honestly I didn’t know he was injured for a while. I looked around and said, ‘Where’s Christian?’ ” … Overall I hope he’s good.

On missing guys

“I wouldn’t say that’s the case. Injuries come with this game. We’ve fought through injuries in previous years. We can’t just sit back and say, ‘We’re missing this person, we’re missing this person.’ At the end of the day, you have to be a man, man up, go out here and make plays.”

 

49ers Studs and Duds: A blizzard of bad play as the Niners drop a third straight game

The 49ers came into Sunday’s game with an all-too-clear insistence:

We can go lower.

Did you think last week’s loss to Green Bay was terrible? Well, check this out.

The Niners found a way to make it even worse, losing 35-10 to Buffalo.

What else could you call a game where Brock Purdy played and the Niners had glimmers of early hope, only for it all to come crashing down in relentless and near-comical fashion (in a blizzard, no less)?

Par for the course, I suppose.

Here are the studs and duds from another dud of a game.

STUDS

Christian McCaffrey • RB

The tragedy of this 49ers’ season epitomized. For the first time since returning to the lineup in Week 10, McCaffrey looked like the should-have-been MVP of the league last season. He was bursting through the line and gliding across the frozen field like an ice skater. He had 72 yards on his first eight touches of the game.

Then came his ninth touch, a pitch to the right.

McCaffrey took four steps and came up limp on a toss play to the right, sliding for a five-yard loss instead of running any further. The Niners categorized it as a right PCL injury. It’s possibly season-ending.

In a way, it already is.

The Niners were done — in the game and for the season — the moment McCaffrey went into the locker room.

Jordan Mason • RB

The Niners committed to using Mason more before he slid back into the No. 1 running back role. As either a change-of-pace option or the No. 1, he showed the same power we saw in the campaign’s first half. The Niners’ run game should still be solid, even without McCaffrey.

49ers’ offensive line

I can’t pin this loss on them. Despite having backups on the left side, the Niners’ front five provided solid pass protection and huge holes in the run game, despite poor footing all night. In fact, this might have been the Niners’ best offensive line game of the season.

Malik Mustapha • S

He was the one defensive player who can claim to have turned in a good shift. Mustapha was everywhere on Sunday. Was it perfect? Hardly. But he made plays, which is something to be excited about, even after a brutal game.

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Ji’Ayir Brown • S

The Bills made him the central character of Sunday’s game, attacking him relentlessly in the run and pass game. He provided little, if any, resistance. This is hardly the first game this season where that has been the case, and it raises serious questions about whether Brown — in his second season — should be a starter for this team next year.

Deebo Samuel • WR

He’s a good kick returner (save for that fourth-quarter fumble) but doesn’t provide much of anything from scrimmage. There’s nothing new there. Kyle Shanahan’s no longer trying to run the ball with him. Next to go? Screens.

Kyle Juszczyk • FB

He fumbled at the goal line, erasing a momentum-shifting opening drive to the second half, which — had it converted into a touchdown — might have given us a chance at an interesting game.

Jake Moody • K

Were the conditions brutal? Absolutely.

Were Moody’s two missed kicks equally brutal? You bet.

Charvarious Ward • CB

I am reluctant to “go in” on Ward, given that this is his first game back from an unimaginable tragedy, but the fact remains that he had one of his worst games in a Niners uniform Sunday. (A mark that has been set a few times this season.) His third-and-long penalty on the Bills’ opening series of their second drive of the game led to a touchdown — which was run right at him.

Before halftime, Buffalo put a third touchdown on the board with Mack Hollins overpowering him for a 7-yard score, capping a 97-yard drive.

Down 21-3, the second half didn’t matter after that.

Photos: San Francisco 49ers blown out by Buffalo Bills in snowy Sunday night football game

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The 49ers’ upset bid had life up until running back Christian McCaffrey left with a yet-to-be-specified knee injury on their second drive.

The 49ers (5-7) are alone in last place in the NFC West for the first time since the 2020 season ended. On the heels of this defeat and last Sunday’s 38-10 rout in Green Bay, the 49ers return to Levi’s Stadium to host NFC North doormat Chicago (4-8) next Sunday at 1:25 p.m. in the Bears’ first game under interim coach Thomas Brown.

Last season, the 49ers overcame a three-game skid last season en route to the Super Bowl. This season’s much-maligned team has much less time with much greater injury issues. Five games remain to reverse course and chase down NFC West foes Seattle (7-5), Arizona (6-6) and Los Angeles (6-6).

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills talks with Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers after the Bills defeated the 49ers, 35-10, at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (24) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)A vies of the field at Highmark Stadium three hours before the San Francisco 49ers NFL game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Dec. 1, 2024. (Cam Inman/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy pitches the ball back during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)A San Francisco 49ers fan stands between snow covered seats before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the 49ers in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Jordan Mason #24 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Taylor Rapp #9 of the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with teammates after a touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, bottom right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Jordan Mason #24 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Football fans cheer during the third quarter of a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Mack Hollins #13 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown against Charvarius Ward #7 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills breaks a tackle by Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers before running in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Isaac Guerendo #31 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Fans watch during the second half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills breaks a tackle by Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers as he runs in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) dives forward during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Fans of the Buffalo Bills cheer during the second quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)Jordan Phillips #97 of the Buffalo Bills sacks Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of a game at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills and head coach Sean McDermott make snow angels while being interviewed after the Bills defeated the the San Francisco 49ers, 35-10, at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

 

 

Instant analysis of 49ers’ snow-covered 35-10 loss to Buffalo Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Picturesque snow fell to the ground, then so did Christian McCaffrey. Inevitably the 49ers dropped as well for a third straight defeat, 35-10, on Sunday night against the AFC East-clinching Buffalo Bills.

The 49ers’ upset bid had life up until their second drive, when McCaffrey left with a posterior cruciate injury to his right knee that could end his already truncated season.

“Out of all people, we know how hard he worked to get back here, and what type of guy he is,” 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom said. “You hate to see that (expletive). But it’s football.”

And it truly snowballed from there.

Home fans celebrated the Bills’ ensuing barrage of touchdowns by flinging snowballs into the air, made possible by this weekend’s lake-effect storm and the 49ers’ overall ineptitude.

The 49ers responded by dropping the ball — the slick football — with lost fumbles charged to Kyle Juszczyk (at the 1-yard line), Brock Purdy (fourth-quarter-opening sack), and Deebo Samuel (fourth-quarter kick return, down 35-10).

The 49ers (5-7) are alone in last place in the NFC West for the first time since the 2020 season ended. On the heels of this defeat and last Sunday’s 38-10 rout in Green Bay, the 49ers return to Levi’s Stadium to host NFC North doormat Chicago (4-8) next Sunday at 1:25 p.m. in the Bears’ first game under interim coach Thomas Brown.

“We definitely know we have some people out and stuff, but we can play a lot better than that,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Having three turnovers both of these weeks and getting down none — that’s 6-0 (turnover differential) in two weeks. When you do that and you don’t stop the run like we haven’t in these last two weeks, you can guess the outcome.”

Last season, the 49ers overcame a three-game skid last season en route to the Super Bowl. This season’s much-maligned team has much less time with much greater injury issues. Five games remain to reverse course and chase down NFC West foes Seattle (7-5), Arizona (6-6) and Los Angeles (6-6).

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball up the field in the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

McCaffrey, who missed the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis, officially was ruled out at halftime Sunday night. The second quarter was just underway, however, when he banged his knee after a shoestring tackle on an 18-yard run to the Bills’ 30-yard line. On his next and final carry, he intentionally slid and surrendered for a 5-yard loss, then exited to the sideline, then the locker room and now perhaps the offseason.

McCaffrey’s departure weakened a Week 12 lineup already lacking left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique), cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (concussion), not to mention this season’s earlier casualties such as wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, safety Talanoa Hufanga and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

The 49ers welcomed Purdy back from a one-game absence, and he said his throwing-shoulder issue did not hinder him, at least no more than the Bills’ defense and the climate (28 degrees). He was 11-of-18 for 94 yards.

“This just isn’t the standard that we play with. The last couple of years and stuff, our mentality of coming out to games and being the enforcers and the dominators,” Purdy said. “So to have two games like this back-to-back late in the season, it sucks. But for us, it’s got to be next-game-up and we can’t be down in the dumps because we still have an opportunity in front of us.”

McCaffrey may not. He was off to his best start of the season, racking up 78 rushing yards on six carries (before his 5-yard loss upon exiting) and adding two catches for 14 yards.

Said Shanahan: “He came out great, looking real good. Looked like he got him by the shoestring, was about to break a house call. … I never got to talk to him. I hurt for him, and it’s tough for our team not to have him.”

McCaffrey exited the locker room in a knee brace without comment.

Added Purdy: “We all saw what he was doing. He was on fire, man. He looked great, hitting the holes hard, bouncing off guys and making some real explosive plays.”

The Bills went on a four-touchdown spree before the 49ers finally found the end zone, on a 15-yard run from Isaac Guerendo in the third quarter for a 28-10 deficit.

Once Josh Allen produced his third touchdown of the night (one pass, one reception, one run), the Bills Mafia broke into an “MVP” chant to serenade the Firebaugh native and childhood 49ers fan. Allen was pulled for Mitchell Trubisky early in the fourth quarter.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, scores past San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

“He’s in the MVP talk, right? He’s playing like it,” said Yiadom, who rotated with Nick McCloud in the nickel defense. “He went out there and put his team on his back.”

While Allen’s touchdown pass went to Mack Hollins for a 21-3 halftime lead, the seventh-year quarterback scored on his own for the Bills’ next two touchdowns — first on a lateral from Amari Cooper at the 9-yard line after a completion from Allen, then the Bills’ lead climbed to 35-10 on Allen’s 8-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

The Bills’ touchdown that truly sprung their rout was James Cook’s 65-yard sprint past a 49ers defense that was temporarily missing Fred Warner (cramps). That score made it 14-3, and it came on their series after McCaffrey’s exit (and after Jake Moody’s first of two missed field-goal attempts).

The 49ers impressively opened their second-half comeback bid until Juszczyk fumbled at the 1-yard line. Samuel set up that potential touchdown drive by returning the second-half kickoff 60 yards, a week after another lengthy kick return was wiped out by a penalty.

McCaffrey’s exit opened the door for early-season sensation Jordan Mason, and he had racked up 78 yards on 13 carries while also being cleared from a potential concussion. Guerendo had 19 yards on four carries.

The 49ers turned their opening possession into a 3-0 lead via Moody’s 33-yard field goal. That was a fair payoff for a drive that opened with an 8-yard completion to George Kittle before an eventual, season-long 19-yard run by McCaffrey to the Bills’ 29-yard line.

Jake Moody #4 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after kicking a field goal in the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

But first, the game opened with the 49ers defense rebounding quickly from last Sunday’s faceplant in Green Bay. They denied the Bills a first down on this game’s opening series, starting with Maliek Collins’ tackle for no gain on the first snap.

Having lost four of six road games with only trips remaining to Miami and Arizona, the 49ers will not have a winning record away from Levi’s Stadium for the first time since they went winless in eight road starts in their 2018 season (4-12 overall).

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NOTES

— Cornerback Charvarius Ward returned from a four-game absence, the last three of which were on bereavement leave after his 23-month-old daughter’s unexpected death.

— Josh Dobbs served as the No. 2 quarterback for a second straight game, with Brandon Allen moving into the No. 3 role after starting last Sunday’s loss at Green Bay.

— Bills rookie running back Frank Gore Jr., the son of the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher, was not elevated from the practice squad. His father, a 49ers personnel advisor, indeed made the trip to Buffalo.

Football fans cheer during the third quarter of a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Bills’ Josh Allen scores receiving touchdown on his own pass vs. 49ers

Josh Allen didn’t catch a pass Sunday night for the Bills against the 49ers, but he will get credit for a receiving touchdown on a play when he threw the ball.

Leading 21-3 from the 49ers’ 9-yard line, Allen threw a quick screen to Amari Cooper, who appeared unready for the pass but juggled and caught it anyway. Cooper was met by a trio of 49ers — Renardo Green, Malik Mustapha and Fred Warner — and appeared stopped. But no official ruled his forward progress stopped, and he kept his eyes up to pitch the ball back to Allen, who was running toward the pile.

Allen took the ball around the corner, beating Dee Winters and Robert Beal Jr. to the left pylon with a dive to score.

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Allen became the fourth player ever to score a receiving touchdown, according to NextGenStats. It’s the second receiving touchdown of his career, after he scored on a trick pass from Isaiah McKenzie in 2020 against Arizona.

The most recent instance of a quarterback scoring on his own pass was when Marcus Mariota had his pass batted up into the air, then caught it and took it into the end zone in the Titans’ upset of the Chiefs in a wild-card game after the 2017 season.

A few minutes later, Allen scored a rushing touchdown for good measure.

49ers: McCaffrey’s knee injury could end his season

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Christian McCaffrey exited Sunday night’s game against the Bills with a knee injury to suddenly halt the best start of his already truncated 49ers season.

It also may have ended his season.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the 35-10 loss that McCaffrey has a posterior cruciate injury that could cut short his third season as the 49ers’ offensive catalyst. He’s set for an MRI on Monday to determine if that right knee will sideline him the remaining five games this regular season.

“Potentially. I’m not exactly sure yet. But PCL is usually a couple of weeks,” Shanahan said.

McCaffrey, on his seventh carry of this snowy night, ran to his right and intentionally slid for a 5-yard loss at the Buffalo 34-yard line. After a 5-minute exam in the 49ers’ sideline medical tent, he jogged into the locker room, with his right sock pulled down to his ankle.

Last season’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey missed the first two months of this season (eight games) because of Achilles tendinitis.

This was his fourth game back, and he racked up 58 yards on his first six carries, including season-long gains of 19 and 18 yards.

He appeared to hurt his knee by landing hard on Highmark Stadium’s synthetic turf, having been tripped up by safety Taylor Rapp to end an 18-yard run 12:15 before halftime.

Said Shanahan: “He had a great week of practice. I could feel his urgency. He came out great, looking real good. Looked like he got him by the shoestring, was about to break a house call. … I never got to talk to him. I hurt for him, and it’s tough for our team not to have him.”

McCaffrey also had two receptions for 14 yards for the upset-seeking 49ers (5-6).

The 49ers initially listed him as questionable to return before downgrading him to out at halftime.

“Always when you lose great players like that, it doesn’t help,” Shanahan said. “JP (Mason) came in and ran well. (Isaiah Guerendo) ran well, too. But losing Christian isn’t fun.”

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The 49ers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on their first possession, which included a third-down conversion and later a 19-yard run by McCaffrey.

McCaffrey’s injury came just after a Bills penalty nullified an interception of a Brock Purdy pass; that 49ers drive ended in a missed field goal by Jake Moody.

The injury-laden 49ers were without linebacker Fred Warner (forearm cramps) when the Bills’ James Cook scored on a 65-yard run to open their drive that followed McCaffrey’s exit.

Horoscopes Dec. 1, 2024: Bette Midler, trust your instincts over what others tell you

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Vance Joy, 37; Sarah Silverman, 54; Nestor Carbonell, 57; Bette Midler, 79.

Happy Birthday: Take your time, do your due diligence and agree only to get involved in projects and with people you have verified as offering something legitimate. Trust your instincts over what others tell you and run your home on a budget you can handle. Declutter your life and restructure your household to highlight what’s important to you. Take control and set high standards instead of letting others choose for you. Your numbers are 7, 18, 23, 29, 32, 38, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Invest in yourself, your health and your emotional well-being. Sign up for something that raises your capabilities and looks good on your resume. Staying current and keeping your eyes open for unique opportunities will help you excel. Look out for your interests and protect your rights. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Propose or implement changes that spotlight your skills and expertise. Mix business with pleasure, broaden your awareness and stimulate your mind. Refuse to let a competitive situation turn ugly and throw you off your game. Positive action will help you exceed your expectations. Romance is favored. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Unusual people, places and pastimes will grab your attention. Be careful who you trust or what you pay for when joint ventures or shared expenses arise. Concentrate on what you want and determine who are the best candidates to work alongside. Choose intellect and intuition over someone’s bravado. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take care of your needs and what you want to achieve. Say no to anyone trying to take advantage of you financially. Set a budget and boundaries and protect against loss. A healthy lifestyle and doing what’s best for you will ease stress and improve your health. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Plan to have fun with friends or family. Social events will lead to introductions that offer new opportunities. Take your time making a commitment regarding investments or other expenditures. Do your homework before you join forces with anyone. Avoid health risks, injury or impulsive moves. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pay attention to details and care for essential matters yourself. Trusting others to do what you would do will lead to disappointment. A personal change that gives you a fresh look and boosts your confidence will encourage you to socialize. Love and romance are in the stars. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Travel, learning and embracing new experiences will take you on a journey filled with lessons and personal growth. A lifestyle change that allows you to lower your overhead and ease financial stress will give you the wiggle room to follow your heart and do what brings you joy. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Temptation will set in, but before you take the bait, revisit the pros and cons. A change can be good, but how you go about it and what you agree to will make a difference. Refrain from jeopardizing what you have for something that offers uncertainty. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Caution will save you from being outmaneuvered. Listen, observe and ask questions before agreeing to something or trusting someone to take over. An offer will be exaggerated, and the cost will escalate. Get what you want in writing and take a hands-on approach every step of the way. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take time to relax and do what brings you joy. Revise your space by making it more convenient and comfortable, and your stress will decline. Updating your appearance and strutting your stuff will help you engage in something new and exciting. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Revisit your actions and how they influence your reputation, lifestyle and domestic wellness. Be open to suggestions, but recognize the validity of the ideas you receive before you agree to something incompatible with your long-term goals. An opportunity is apparent but dependent on choosing what’s best for you. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take a back seat and observe, and you will gain a vantage point that could help you deter someone from scamming or taking advantage of you. Say no to temptation and excessive behavior. Reach out to those who share your concerns and are willing to do something constructive, not destructive. 2 stars

Birthday Baby: You are thoughtful, funny and unique. You are sensitive and protective.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

CCS DII football finals: Big second half carries Wilcox past Palma

SAN JOSE — There is no game plan for a season coming to a sudden and unexpected end. So, when it does, huddling together one last time before walking off the football field left players for Palma emotional.

The growing pains that were encountered throughout a four-plus month journey that put the Chieftains back into the Central Coast Section title game provided a lifetime of memories. It just may take a few days to let it settle in.

“It hurts to hear them celebrating,” Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said. “I wish it was us. But it’s not. These guys battled their butts off against the No. 1 seeded team. We are not walking out of here with our heads down.”

The defending State Division 4A champion Chieftains bit to repeat as section champions were crushed Saturday by top seed Wilcox of Santa Clara, who erased a 13-point halftime deficit with a 28-point second half in securing a 35-26 win in the Division II finals.

“It’s always tough,” Carnazzo said. “We fully came in believing in our hearts of heart we were going to win this game. At halftime, we felt we were going to win this game. We left opportunities out there in the second half.”

For Wilcox, who was making its fourth straight finals appearance, it was their second CCS title in four years, having won the Division II title in 2021.

Seeded No. 7 in Division II, the Chieftains (7-6) came into the title game having won seven straight playoff games, including upsets over higher seeds Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco and Menlo of Atherton in the first two rounds.

Palma was in its comfort zone playing on the road, with five of those seven wins having been road trips. In addition, it was 5-1 in title games played at San Jose City College.

“No one will understand what it takes to play football unless you’ve played the game,” Carnazzo said. “We didn’t get to this point by accident. I told the seniors you’ve left this program in a better spot from the time you arrived.”

For as sharp as Palma looked on both sides of the ball in the first half in building a 20-7 halftime cushion, there were a handful of moments in the second half that changed the complexion of the game.

None bigger than when the Chieftains elected to go for it on fourth and a yard at midfield, believing they had converted, only to see the ball spotted back a foot and a change of possessions.

“I thought it was a first down,” Carnazzo said. “I’ll have to go back and look at the film. Maybe it wasn’t. No doubt, that was a turning point in the game. If we convert and go down and score, being up 27-7 looks pretty good.”

Instead, the 11-2 Chargers needed just two plays behind quarterback Brayden Rosa to go 49 yards and produce a touchdown to get to within six in the third quarter.

What transpired on Palma’s ensuing two series’ was a three-and-out, followed by an interception, with Rosa engineering two more scoring drives, enabling Wilcox to run off 21 unanswered points to build a 28-20 lead.

Rosa, who came into the game with nearly 1,700 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns as a tailback, moved to quarterback in the second half, bolting 41 yards on one run and 45 on another in the second half.

“He was a difference maker,” said Carnazzo, in speaking of Rosa. “He was a beast out there. I’ve seen very few players come down from the safety position and make as many plays as he did. Then he comes in at quarterback and changes the game.”

With the Chargers starting quarterback in street clothes with an injury, the decision to move Rosa behind center in the third quarter meant the best player on the field was touching the ball on every possession in an offense predicated on the running game.

Yet, as Rosa was creating a highlight reel on both sides of the ball, the Chieftains hurt themselves with a pair of interceptions, one coming on a trick play that went foul.

“We’re moving the ball,” said Carnazzo, who used a trick play for a touchdown in the playoff quarterfinals. “We were just trying to make a play. We felt we needed a big play to spark us. Instead, we had the interception.”

The Chieftains, however, caught a break of their own when a muffed punt in the fourth quarter was recovered in the end zone by Eli Mercurio to get them to within two points.

In need of a two-point conversation to tie the game with 7:36 left, Rosa was there again to knock down a pass attempt to keep the Chargers up by a pair.

“If I had to do it again, we would have run the ball instead,” Carnazzo said. “Wilcox was doing a good job with our goal line offense. I thought we could sneak a pass and No. 2 (Rosa) made a great play.”

What the Chieftains needed in the final seven plus minutes was a stop. Instead, the Chargers grinded the ball and clock, chewing up over six minutes before Rosa rushed for his third touchdown with 51 seconds left in the game, putting them up by nine.

“What Wilcox does so well is they eat up the clock,” Carnazzo said.

Showcasing an aggressive approach, Palma’s first offensive series saw Patrick Driscoll connect with Lucas Milburn on a 52-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead.

The Chieftains went back to the ground on their second and third possessions, with Eli Dukes and Isaac Hernandez piling up yards with punishing runs that lead to two touchdown runs by Dukes in the first half.

“A lot of these kids will be back next year,” Carnazzo said. “I told the players that are coming back that you can learn from how these seniors carried themselves, put in the work. Now it’s their turn. The off-season is where it starts.”

Warriors drop fourth straight after Suns bury them with blistering first half

PHOENIX — Putting together full, 48-minute performances is starting to become an issue for the Warriors, and it certainly was in their fourth straight loss.

Against the Suns at the Footprint Center, the Warriors fell behind early because of poor defense and, despite a furious effort, couldn’t dig out of the hole.

Steph Curry returned from a one-game absence to score 23 points, but Devin Booker out-did his Olympics teammate with 27 and nine assists. Phoenix won the first half 66-49, holding off the Warriors from there with steady play from its stars.

The Warriors (12-7) brought more urgency in the second half, but didn’t have enough juice in the fourth quarter as the Suns outlasted them, 113-105. Phoenix shot 18-for-35 from 3 on the night.

“Phoenix was our biggest problem,” Steve Kerr said postgame. “We didn’t play a bad game…We didn’t make shots, we had some good looks and the ball didn’t go in. But they were great.”

After slicing a 17-point halftime deficit to seven with a strong third quarter, the Warriors worked their way into a five point game with 71 seconds left.

But instead of truly flipping the game, the Suns steadied enough to hold off Golden State. Teams with closers like Kevin Durant and Booker have a habit of crushing comeback dreams.

Earlier in the game, the Suns shot the lights out, earning a double-digit lead by starting 9-for-13 from 3.

Brandin Podziemski (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) helped keep the Warriors close, scoring eight first-quarter points — including a pair of much-needed 3s. The second-year guard drew two offensive fouls and got two individual stops in isolation against Kevin Durant as well.

Phoenix constantly put the Warriors’ defense into scramble mode, with Durant drawing double teams or other players driving into the lane and swinging it around the perimeter. They created open 3 after open 3, nailing 14 of 21 in a 66-49 first half.

The Warriors played 13 players, including Pat Spencer, in the first 14 minutes of the game. It continued Golden State’s season-long trend of playing a deep rotation to try to maximize defensive intensity — only in Saturday night’s first half, there wasn’t much of that.

“Just challenge guys to play with force,” Draymond Green said postgame. “We know what it takes to win basketball games at this level. When you’re in a bit of a rut, it’s never going to be easy to win, so you’ve got to come with the necessary force that it takes to win, or stay in a rut.”

Sure enough, Kerr naturally adjusted his rotation down in the second half, and more changes seem afoot. Kevon Looney replaced Trayce Jackson-Davis to start the second half, joining Curry, Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green. The Warriors instantly went on a 7-0 run behind improved defense.

Instead of matching Phoenix’s spread-out lineups with smaller groups, the Warriors more frequently played two bigs together in the second half for defense and rebounding purposes. It worked, with the Warriors winning the third period 29-19.

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Curry, who went 0-for-5 in the first half in his first game back from runner’s knee, dropped 15 points in the third quarter. He said postgame that the knee issue isn’t a long-term concern, rather a symptom of this stage of his career as a 16-year veteran.

“Honestly, I was just happy to get through this one, playing 30 (minutes), and it not going the other way,” Curry said. “Feeling like it got stronger as the game went on, responded well.”

Even with long stoppages — one for a challenge and another to fix an earlier mix up — that gave everyone extra rest, the Warriors didn’t sub Curry back in until his normal shift with 7:36 left.

By then, the Warriors were back down 10. Jonathan Kuminga, who started 0-for-8t, got blocked and Green threw a turnover into the first row. Phoenix went on a 10-0 run, matching their game-high 17-point lead.

In the last three minutes, the Warriors tried a full-court press, which sped Phoenix up. Kuminga ripped Tyus Jones for a steal-and-slam, inching the Warriors within six as the clock ticked under two. Then, after Kuminga’s fourth bucket of the final frame, Golden State forced an eight-second violation.

But the admirable effort wasn’t enough.