SF 49ers: 3 ways Niners beat Bills in crucial Week 13 bout
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers must double Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs
Bills quarterback Josh Allen has a favorite target, veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who easily leads Buffalo’s offense with 80 receptions for 945 yards and four touchdowns this season. No one else on the Bills roster comes close.
Fortunately, despite the lack of a pass rush, the Niners defense still ranks No. 4 overall against the pass this season. And with cornerback Richard Sherman back on the field after an elongated calf injury, San Francisco’s secondary is nearly at full strength.
Sherman will occupy the left side of the defense, likely forcing Diggs to line up on the opposite side against fellow cornerback Jason Verrett.
That’s fine, except the SF 49ers would be wise to slide defensive back Tarvarius Moore over to Diggs’ side as over-the-top help. In this configuration, Diggs never has a one-on-one matchup in his favor.
True, this would open up slot receiver Cole Beasley for plenty of one-on-one matchups. But that’s where putting defensive back Jimmie Ward down in a nickel deployment would help, ensuring Beasley isn’t given a free release.
Doing this can help cut down on Buffalo’s best weapon’s potency.