After a long week in Youngstown, and finally being able to wash the taste of a loss away with a complete obliteration of the Jets, the Niners return to the Stick to face the Buffalo Bills. It’s a run heavy offense with CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson being the leading contributors. Both backs are a bit nicked up at this point but they will still try keep their young QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, from feeling the pressure of trying to throw the ball. Although the Niners lost to the Vikings in week three, they held Adrian Peterson to only 86 yards on 25 carries, so undoubtedly, Fitzpatrick will still feel pressure in the pocket.
The Bills are coming off a horrific loss to the Patriots and looking for redemption as the Niners did last week but this isn’t the dysfunctional and injury plagued Jets they are facing. The Niners are 6th in the league against the run and haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown at home in eleven games.
On the other side of the ball, Brandon Jacobs is expected to return on Sunday. Although Coach Harbaugh says Jacobs is a game time decision, Jacobs himself has stated that he is ready to play. Alex Smith and the rest of the offense will be playing against a defense that gave up 580 yards to the Patriots. The Pats had two 100 yard receivers (Welker and Gronkowski) and two 100 yard rushers (Bolden and Ridley). Part of this might be attributed to Mario Williams having a sprained wrist, but one man does not a defense make.
The Niners ultimately need to keep this from being a let down game, but with the loss of the Vikings still fresh in their minds, I’m sure the last thing they want to endure is another 6 days of agony.
