The San Francisco 49ers saw their playoff chances plummet following consecutive losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
While the 49ers are still technically in the playoff hunt, their season may be better defined by whether they can play spoiler for other teams. That’s what they’ll be aiming to do Sunday while also trying to keep their own playoff hopes on life support.
Buffalo has dominated a relatively weak AFC East and entered Week 13 with a simple clinching scenario. They needed the Miami Dolphins to lose to the Packers on Thanksgiving night. Green Bay handled business for Buffalo in that one, routing the Dolphins 30-17 at Lambeau Field.
Now the Bills can clinch the AFC East title and a playoff spot by knocking off the 49ers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night.
While it’s all but a certainty the Bills will eventually wrap up the division, the 49ers should at least draw a little motivation from trying to keep it from happening against them. Not to mention their own slim playoff hopes revolve around winning some games they probably shouldn’t on paper. That starts Sunday in Buffalo where a win would improve the 49ers’ own postseason chances, and delay the Bills’ celebration for at least one more week.
