Buffalo Bills Defeat 49ers, Lock Up New AFC East Win

Summary:

• The Buffalo Bills defeated the San Francisco 49ers 35-10, clinching their seventh straight win.
• Josh Allen’s performance stood out, as the quarterback celebrated his three-TD outing.
• He became the first QB in NFL history with a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game.

Josh Allen capped off a remarkable week in style, leading the Buffalo Bills to a dominant 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers to clinch the AFC East title on Sunday night.

The celebration included snow angels with coach Sean McDermott, emphasizing a memorable performance where Allen became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to score a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game.

“He’s the one that got me to do it” Allen said of McDermott encouraging him to join the snowy celebration. “I’m not the biggest snow angel fan … but it was fun.”

This came after Allen proposed to actress Hailey Steinfeld during the Bills’ bye week, an event he described as feeling “good” and “free”.

His Sunday night do-it-all performance included a highlight-reel touchdown, where Amari Cooper pitched the ball back to him.

Allen then dove into the end zone. “It was dope”, he commented on the play, crediting Cooper’s instincts.

The Bills dominated the game, scoring on four of five drives around halftime to build a commanding 28-3 lead.

James Cook highlighted the offensive explosion with a career-long 65-yard touchdown run, part of his 107-yard rushing performance.
Buffalo extended its streak of scoring 30 or more points to six straight games, showcasing the form that has them eyeing the AFC’s top seed.

Meanwhile, the 49ers continued their downward spiral, dropping to 5-7 and suffering significant setbacks, including what coach Kyle Shanahan fears is a season-ending knee injury for Christian McCaffrey.

After returning from an Achilles injury earlier this season, McCaffrey exited in the second quarter following an awkward step on the snowy field.

“It feels dark and gloomy and absolutely depressing” tight end George Kittle said of the team’s struggles.
San Francisco also endured turnovers, missed field goals, and injuries to five starters, leaving their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

Despite a solid defensive effort early on, the 49ers failed to capitalize offensively, with Brock Purdy limited to just 94 passing yards in his return from a shoulder injury.

Buffalo, now 10-2, has secured a division title with five games to spare for the first time since 1991, setting up a potential battle with Kansas City for the AFC’s top seed.

Up next, the Bills will visit the Los Angeles Rams, while the 49ers will host the Chicago Bears.