The Buffalo Bills will turn to the next page of their 2024 NFL regular season.
Following their bye week, the Bills (9-2) will take on the San Francisco 49ers (5-6) at Highmark Stadium in Week 13.
But before we even get to kickoff, there will be a lot of discussions and conversations to be had throughout the coming days.
Here are five storylines to watch for during the lead up to Bills vs. 49ers:
Post-bye winners
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Forget every other stat that comes to mind when comparing teams, here’s the only one that matters (kidding, but it’s a good one): Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott has never lost a game coming out of the bye in his tenure with the Bills.
Can the Niners buck this trend?
Prime-time again
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The final weekend in the NFL is always a “TBD” one. There could still be more prime-time football en route… and of course, there is the postseason to consider.
However, as far as the known-Bills schedule is concerned, Week 13 will be the last time Buffalo is featured in a prime-time football slot. The 49ers head to town for a “Sunday Night Football” clash.
Bills Mafia will certainly show out once again.
Josh Allen vs. who?
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Brock Purdy or Brandon Allen? It’s unclear who will start under center for the Niners against the Bills. Purdy missed his first game of the season due to a right shoulder injury last week. His team lost 38-10 as Allen guided them.
As always, facing a starting QB or backup always looms large.
Plenty of Bills injuries to monitor
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With their bye week unfolding in Week 12… that puts a positive light on the injury report. Will the Bills get some players back in the lineup?
A few to keep in mind are wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist), offensive lineman Spencer Brown (ankle), and linebacker Matt Milano (bicep-injured reserve).
Streaks?
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The Bills have some streaks on the line… sort of. The one truly at stake in their one relating to wins in a row. Buffalo would be victors of seven-straight outings in topping San Francisco.
In addition to that, the Bills can earn their fifth-straight AFC East title with a win and a loss by the Miami Dolphins against the Green Bay Packers. Although, that can still happen at a later date too… but still, having the chance to lock up the division this early remains a storyline.
