Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

2001 · Week 12

Final

Bills

Buffalo

QB Alex Van Pelt

0·35

49ers

San Francisco

QB Jeff Garcia

3Com Park · outdoors · grass · 45°F · wind 25mph

Closing spread

SF -8.5

Total

44.5

Model margin

+6.8est.

SF perspective

Push chance

None

half-point line — cannot push

Win probability

  • 49ers
  • Bills

How each play moved the game.

49ers winsBills wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Billsedge map49ers
  • -0.062EPA / play+0.097
  • 39.3%Success rate45.1%
  • -0.032EPA / dropback+0.174
  • -0.115EPA / rush-0.001
  • 7.5%Explosive rate9.2%
  • 34.4%Third-down rate44.9%
  • 45.4%Red-zone TD rate69.0%
  • 1.05Points / drive1.93
  • 3.0%Turnover rate1.8%
  • +0.039EPA / play allowed-0.061

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

BUF lead 4–3 since 1999

BUF have won 3 straight. Meetings average 44 points. SF are 3-4 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2024 · W13SF @ BUF1035BUF
2020 · W13BUF @ SF3424BUF
2016 · W6SF @ BUF1645BUF
2012 · W5BUF @ SF345SF
2008 · W13SF @ BUF103SF
2004 · W16BUF @ SF417BUF

Box score

Individual performances

Bills

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Alex Van Pelt21/3816804

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Travis Henry691.50
Sammy Morris263.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Eric Moulds714550
Avion Black12160
Peerless Price39150
Reggie Germany12140
Jay Riemersma1180
Travis Henry2240

49ers

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Jeff Garcia19/2718920

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Garrison Hearst251245.01
Terry Jackson5377.40
Paul Smith4276.81
Jeff Garcia4184.50
Vinny Sutherland11616.00

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Terrell Owens68721
J.J. Stokes810680
Tai Streets23341
Garrison Hearst23180
Eric Johnson12-30

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +8.56.0%7.3%3.2%5.0%3.4%3.2%2.6%

Positive margins favour 49ers; negative favour Bills.

Half-point at risk

1.32%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

66.8%

Expected total

46.3est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+4.20
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+6.76