SF 49ers: 3 ways Niners beat Bills in crucial Week 13 bout

The SF 49ers face an uphill struggle in Week 13 against the 8-3 Bills, but these three strategies could help in the Niners’ favor.

There’s little room for error if the 5-6 SF 49ers want to get back into the playoff picture. Earlier losses this season have made head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad desperate to cling to any victory it can to preserve what remaining hopes there are to play January football.

Standing in the Niners’ way now is the 8-3 AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills, who now appear to be their division’s favorites after years of dominance by the now-floundering New England Patriots.

Buffalo will travel to State Farm Stadium, the SF 49ers’ new home after being ousted from Levi’s Stadium, for a crucial Week 13 Monday Night Football bout. Earlier, the Bills did the Niners a favor by beating both the LA Rams and Seattle Seahawks in statement victories.

Wrapping up their NFC West season series, the Bills will look to go 3-1 against San Francisco’s division in 2020.

Considering all the setbacks the SF 49ers are dealing with this season, namely all their injuries, it makes sense why a victory against a high-seeded Buffalo squad would be out of reach. But the Niners have been getting reinforcements back slowly, including wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Raheem Mostert in Week 12, and they were critical in the team’s win over the Rams.

Despite their record, the Bills do have weaknesses Shanahan and Co. can exploit. More importantly, one might argue San Francisco is actually equipped to match up well against Buffalo right now.

If that’s the case, the SF 49ers need to go about executing these three strategies to come away with a win during prime-time football.