Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers: first-half open thread

The Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers are set to face off tonight in blustery conditions. With temperatures in the upper-20s expected, and wind gusts of up to fifteen miles per hour looking to drop the wind chill to around 20 degrees, it certainly won’t be a comfortable night. Is it the coldest game we’ve seen at Highmark Stadium? No, not even close. However, it’s the first true “winter” game for the 2024 season and this year’s Bills group.

San Francisco is dealing with a lot on the injury front, as star left tackle Trent Williams and star pass rusher Joey Bosa are both out. The 49ers are also missing starting corner Deommodore Lenoir, offensive lineman Aaron Banks, and defensive lineman Jordan Elliott. Quarterback Brock Purdy missed last week’s game with an injured shoulder, but he’s playing tonight.

For the Bills, the team is inching closer to full health. Linebacker Matt Milano is back, as is right tackle Spencer Brown. Tight end Dalton Kincaid is set to miss his second straight game thanks to a knee injury, and Keon Coleman will miss his third straight game thanks to a wrist injury. Overall, however, Buffalo is trending in the right direction as it relates to their health.

How will quarterback Josh Allen look in his first game since his engagement to singer/actress Hailee Steinfeld? Can the Bills lock up their franchise-record fifth straight AFC East Division title tonight? Will the Bills rely on their running game, or will they let Allen sling it through the elements? We’re a few hours away from finding out the result, but we’ll have to trust the process in the meantime.

Your first-half thread is here, friends. Please remember to be civil to each other. Remember to toggle the comments to “oldest” for that classic game-thread feel. And, most importantly, remember to enjoy the game wherever it is you’ll be watching.

Go Bills!