San Francisco 49ers Week 5: Stat Predictions for Key Players vs. Buffalo Bills

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

After posting their most dominating victory of the season against the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers return home to face the Buffalo Bills, a team with a much more potent offense.

In Week 1, the Jets beat the Bills 48-28, and using point-differential logic, the 49ers should win by 54 points on Sunday.

Jokes aside, the 49ers are heavy favorites in this one and for good reason.

The Bills just allowed 52 points to the Patriots, including 45 in the second half.

Will Alex Smith and company take advantage of Buffalo's struggling defense?

Let's look at some stat predictions for Sunday's matchup.

Quarterbacks

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

After watching Colin Kaepernick run for 50 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets, I'd be shocked if he didn't see the field for at least a few plays.

Still, Alex Smith should get the vast majority of the snaps against a Buffalo defense that's been getting shredded by opposing quarterbacks.

Unless either Mario Williams or Mark Anderson has a breakout performance, Smith should have a statement game that hushes the local detractors who believe Kaepernick should be featured much more in the offensive attack.

 

Alex Smith: 21-of-30, 256 yards, two touchdowns; one rush, five yards

Colin Kaepernick: 1-of-1, 15 yards; two rushes, 10 yards

Running Backs

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

It sure sounds like Brandon Jacobs thinks he's going to play this Sunday. Assuming he does play, he'll take over the short-yardage role, which could come in handy in the red zone.

Splitting carries with Jacobs and Kendall Hunter could decrease the load for Frank Gore, which usually results in even greater efficiency from the 49ers' top back. Expect Gore's yards-per-carry average to be near 6.0.

Hunter played his best game of the year against the Jets, rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Hunter should be able to build off last week's momentum and exploit a porous Buffalo run defense that allowed 247 rushing yards to the Patriots.

 

Frank Gore: 13 carries, 77 yards, one touchdown; one catch, five yards

Kendall Hunter: 10 carries, 56 yards; two catches, 12 yards

Brandon Jacobs: five carries, 19 yards, one touchdown

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Bills are allowing 269.5 passing yards per game—just what the doctor ordered for a 49ers aerial attack in need of a bounce-back performance.

Twice this season the Bills have allowed one wide receiver to catch two touchdown passes in one game (Stephen Hill and Dwayne Bowe). Overall, the Bills have allowed eight touchdowns to wideouts.

Smith nearly connected with Mario Manningham on a few long throws against the Jets. This week against Buffalo could be Manningham's breakout performance in red and gold.

 

Mario Manningham: six catches, 85 yards, one touchdown

Vernon Davis: four catches, 60 yards, one touchdown

Michael Crabtree: five catches, 45 yards

Delanie Walker: two catches, 40 yards

Randy Moss: one catch, 18 yards 

Kyle Williams: one catch, 13 yards

Key Defensive Players

Elsa/Getty Images

The Bills defense is likely to spot the 49ers an early lead. It will be important that Buffalo head coach Chan Gailey doesn't give up on the run game, which features two explosive backs in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, both of whom, according to BuffaloBills.com, are recovering nicely from their injuries.

At some point, I suspect the Bills will fall behind by two scores and become one-dimensional. This will give Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks and the Niners' defensive line plenty of opportunities to pressure Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

San Francisco's sack total may not be all that impressive, but as long as the 49ers defense is getting pressure on Fitzpatrick, it should force multiple turnovers.

 

Justin Smith: four tackles

Ray McDonald: three tackles

Aldon Smith: three tackles, 1.0 sacks

Ahmad Brooks: two tackles, 1.0 sacks

Patrick Willis: eight tackles

NaVorro Bowman: nine tackles

Carlos Rogers: three tackles, interception

Tarell Brown: two tackles, interception

Donte Whitner: six tackles

Dashon Goldson: three tackles, interception

Prediction

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Over the last two seasons, the Bills are 2-8 on the road.

Expect their losing trend to continue against the 49ers, who have an 8-1 regular-season home record over the same span.

San Francisco's balanced offense should have no problem breaking the 30-point barrier against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the 49ers defense hasn't allowed more than 27 points in a regular-season home game since November of 2009. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick will have his fair share of success, but San Francisco's opportunistic defense will be able to force a few timely turnovers to ensure this game isn't close at the end.

 

San Francisco 31 Buffalo 17