Initially, the San Francisco 49ers found themselves overwhelmed by a snowstorm in western New York.
Subsequently, they faced a formidable challenge from the Buffalo Bills.
With quarterback Josh Allen contributing four total touchdowns, the Bills decisively defeated the 49ers 35-10 during NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” securing a playoff berth and marking Buffalo’s fifth consecutive AFC East title.
The Bills’ commanding performance was largely attributed to Allen’s exceptional skills. Seizing a prime-time opportunity to enhance his candidacy for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, Allen passed for 148 yards and two touchdowns amidst the snowfall, rushed for an 8-yard touchdown, and even caught a touchdown pass.
In the third quarter, Allen connected with Amari Cooper, who, quickly surrounded by 49ers defenders, lateraled the ball back to Allen, who dashed past and leaped into the end zone for a touchdown. This achievement made Allen the first quarterback in NFL history to score touchdowns in three different ways—running, passing, and receiving—in a single game.
After trailing 3-0, the Bills rallied to score the subsequent 28 points, asserting their dominance and improving their record to 10-2, with a perfect 6-0 at home.
For the 49ers (5-7), a dismal season persisted as running back Christian McCaffrey limped to the sideline in the first half and subsequently to the locker room due to what the team reported as a knee injury. This non-contact injury occurred less than a month after McCaffrey returned to play following a two-month absence due to Achilles tendinitis in both legs. To compound the team’s woes, star linebacker Fred Warner also exited the game and did not return.
Around the league, twelve games were decided by a margin of seven points or fewer, marking the highest number in a single week in NFL history. In three of these contests—featuring the Indianapolis Colts, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the decisive plays occurred in the final minute of the fourth quarter or during overtime. The Pittsburgh Steelers triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals with a score of 44-38 in an away game. Quarterback Russell Wilson delivered a standout performance, amassing 414 passing yards and three touchdowns, leading his team to a 9-3 record. Meanwhile, the Bengals, who were playoff hopefuls at the season’s outset, now find themselves at 4-8.
In a separate incident, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was carted off the field late in the first half during his team’s 23-20 defeat to the Houston Texans due to a head injury. The injury occurred as he attempted to slide for a first down and collided with Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who was subsequently ejected for the illegal hit. Lawrence later reassured fans via social media that he was “home and feeling better.”
