The losses have outweighed the wins. Yes, Mike Singletary has inspired this team to play better, Shaun Hill looks like a competent NFL starter and Frank Gore continues to be Frank Gore. But still, the team is 3-8 and is just 1-3 under Singletary since he took over for the fired Mike Nolan last month. The 49ers have not had a winning season since, gulp, 2002 and have seen Dennic Erickson, Mike Nolan, and now Mike Singletary attempt to lead the team back to glory. A revolving door at wide receiever and offensive coordinator, to go along with no consistency at quarterback, have really hampered the team. 2006 may be the best season the 49ers have had since 2002 but even then that team only won 7 games. Fans will claim the team would have been even better in 2007 if Norv Turner had stayed and Alex Smith continued to develop. Still, a great player will still be great, coaching changes or not. That's my take. Norv Turner should never have been hired by the Chargers, and could be available for a coordinator position real soon. Okay, so we aren't here to talk about all of the 49ers short comings since Steve Mariucci was canned. There is a game to be played on Sunday vs. the 6-5 Buffalo Bills. Right?
Nate Clements faces his former team and let's hope he can forget the horrible play he had last Sunday when he was torched by Terrell Owens for over 200 yards. This is the same corner-back that was given an $80 million contract? Moving on. The 49ers have the league's 23rd ranked defense and will match up against Buffalo and their very own 19th ranked offense. Trent Edwards hasn't played the same since the team began the year 4-0 and Marshawn Lynch is still struggling. He has had just one 100 yard game this season, compared to last year when he had 3 times as many. Dick Jauron was talked about as a possible coach of the year candidate but now all of that talk has vanished. Buffalo pounded away at Kansas City last week but that team has just 1 win on the year and no defense, so it was literally a gimme.
The 49ers were blasted by the Cowboys 35-22 and the game was much more of a blowout than that 13 point loss indicated. "I don't think there's any other team this year, or maybe in the last couple of years, that played Dallas more physically, more soundly than we did yesterday," Singletary said. The hall of fame linebacker had no issue with the 49ers effort and didn't second guess the game plan he had defensively for the game. Maybe he should have. Not only did former 49er T.O. have 213 yards in the air, but he had 3 plays which covered 45 yards or more. "Trust me, it's not the scheme," Singletary insisted. "The scheme is designed to work a certain way, but everybody has to do their job. So on two or three big plays that (Owens) made, everybody has to do their job, and they did not. But it's not the scheme." Still Singletary didn't seem to be let down at all. You have to give him credit for having a plan and sticking with it, and when that didn't work he still stood by the original plan. I commend him for that. It didn't help that Frank Gore was shut down having just 26 yards on 14 carries, a number that will surely have to increase if the 49ers are to win any of their final 5 games.
Chiefs linebacker described the 54-31 loss to Buffalo as "embarrassing" and it surely was. In fact, it was the most points allowed by the Chiefs.. ever. "They worked hard, obviously, preparing for this game, and they got a lot of bounces," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "They made a lot of plays." Buffalo had 20 points off of Kansas City turnovers and Edwards had a bounce back game of sorts tossing for 273 yards and a couple of touchdowns. "I always try to be confident," said Edwards. "Even when I'm not, I try to act like I am. That's the position you have to be in." This was exactly the type of game the Bills needed and still has them in the mix for an AFC wild card spot, although it will be tough. Their 4-0 start was one of the hottest stories in the NFL's first month, but they are 1-5 since then with 4 of those losses by 9 or more points. After the 49ers Buffalo has 3 division games left remaining and a week 16 match up in Denver. It will take 9, possibly 10, wins just to qualify for the AFC wild-card. After their recent streak it's unknown whether the Bills will be up to that task.
The 49ers have nothing left but pride to play for, and of course Mike Singletary's job. The Bills on the other hand have a lot to prove. First they really should play for coach Dick Jauron's job, he looked to soon be signing a contract extension with the Bills but after the recent few weeks of play that should be reexamined. Buffalo must also prove their 4-0 start wasn't a flule and that they are still a solid team. What better way to rebound than play the 49ers? Frank Gore looks to get the ball more than he did a week ago, but these 49ers still have a long way to go. Make it 2 straight for the Bills.
Buffalo 21 49ers 10
