If you didn't know the San Francisco 49ers were Super Bowl contenders last season, you might not believe it now. The 5–6 team has had a frustrating season marred by several injuries to its top stars—including running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel—and just isn't playing at the level fans have grown to expect.
Case in point: this week's Sunday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills, where a red zone fumble nearly widened the Bills' already-large lead. San Francisco was first-and-goal at Buffalo's 5-yard line when QB Brock Purdy handed the ball off to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who dropped it mere inches—if that—from the goal line. The Bills' Christian Benford then picked it up and ran it down to midfield, where Purdy eventually stopped him.
