Bills vs. SF 49ers: 5 matchups that determine Week 13 outcome
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers pass defense vs. Bills WR Stefon Diggs
Buffalo’s offense finally came into shape when the team traded for former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the offseason.
And to few’s surprise, Diggs has made a massive impact with his new team.
Diggs’ 945 receiving yards this season rank sixth best among all pass-catchers entering Week 13, and he’s proven to be Josh Allen’s favorite target this season, hauling in a whopping 80 receptions and averaging 11.8 yards per catch.
Make no mistake, covering Diggs won’t be easy.
Fortunately, the SF 49ers have managed to hold their own against opponents’ passing offenses this season, allowing just 2,271 pass yards this season, good for fourth best. This is pretty incredible considering the Niners’ once-formidable pass rush has been decimated by injury.
Instead, San Francisco has been a coverage team, utilizing excellent play from defensive backs like Jason Verrett, Jimmie Ward and, most recently, a healthy Richard Sherman to stymie opponents’ aerial attacks.
If the SF 49ers keep Diggs from being the primary X-factor in the game, they stand a good chance of winning.