San Francisco 49ers

49ers vs. Bills: Previewing Week 6 for San Francisco

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers travel to take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Head coach Chip Kelly will be starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the first time this season, but what else should we expect from the red and gold Sunday?

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (center) talks with an official during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Boasting a measly 1-4 record, head coach Chip Kelly needed to make some changes for his scuffling San Francisco 49ers as they take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

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BuffaLowDown 5hSan Francisco 49ers to Start Colin Kaepernick vs. Buffalo Bills

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Kelly will be starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who takes over for a struggling Blaine Gabbert for the first time since Week 8 of the 2015 season. It’s one of the few shake-ups the Niners head coach can make.

And with few things going right for San Francisco, there isn’t much sense in keeping things the way they were.

The Niners are coming off a 33-21 Thursday Night Football loss a week ago to the Arizona Cardinals. Added rest should play into the 49ers’ hands. But Buffalo (3-2) has reeled off three consecutive victories, including victories over the Cardinals and New England Patriots in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively.

So can San Francisco pull off a road upset.

Based on what has been seen thus far, probably not. The Niners run defense has been putrid, and they’ll have to face standout tailback LeSean McCoy, who is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Let’s break down this matchup and get the Faithful ready for this Week 6 showdown in New York.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Week 6 By the Numbers

Through five weeks of action, this year’s 49ers are looking not much different than the Niners of 2015.

Offensively, San Francisco has posted 111 points — good for 18th in the league — but has only managed to gain a paltry 1,457 all-purpose yards, which is next to last in the NFL. The Niners offense is also averaging just 4.5 yards per play, dead last.

We know the majority of offensive problems the 49ers are facing have revolved around the passing game. Or lack thereof. Receivers aren’t getting open, and now-benched quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been widely ineffective under center.

Thus the change.

San Francisco is generating decent offense on the ground, and No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde already has 377 yards and six touchdowns under his belt. Yet the Niners offensive line is still experiencing troubles run blocking.

Guarding against the run is another issue for San Francisco. Defensively, the Niners have already allowed 734 yards on the ground, which ranks 31st out of 32 teams. And this unit will have to find a way to contain Bills running back LeSean McCoy, who ranks No. 4 in the league with 447 yards on the ground.

If there is a weakness in Buffalo’s offense, it might be in its passing game. A total of just 847 yards through the air ranks dead last in the league. So the 49ers secondary might not be as hard pressed to handle the Bills passing offense with quarterback Tyrod Taylor under center.

Speaking of Taylor…

Oct 2, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) throws during the second half of the Buffalo Bills 16-0 win over the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Comparison

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a dual-threat weapon, whom head coach Rex Ryan will try to feature in both the passing and ground attacks. Taylor already has 26 rushing attempts for 168 yards and a touchdown on the season, and he’s averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

But the Niners have faced dual-threat quarterbacks this season already. In Week 2, San Francisco squared off against Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton. The following week, the 49ers had to deal with Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

The results weren’t exactly spectacular though, and yet San Francisco may want to spy Taylor in this particular matchup and force him to pass.

Taylor is completing 61.9 percent of his passes. But his 6.5 yards-per-attempt average ranks just 24th in the league.

On the flip side, 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s ineffectiveness has opened the door for Colin Kaepernick to try and redeem himself after a dreadful 2015 campaign.

Kaepernick missed all of OTAs and a good chunk of minicamp while recovering from offseason surgeries. And a dead arm forced him to miss much of training camp and half of the preseason.

Yet there is still a remote possibility head coach Chip Kelly, somehow, delivers the “magic elixir” necessary to reinvigorate Kap’s career.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) on the sidelines in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Colin Kaepernick Restructures His Contract

One of the issues facing quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers was his six-year, $114 million contract, which included an injury-protection clause that would have limited San Francisco’s options if Kap couldn’t pass a physical in advance of 2017.

As ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan broke down, Kaepernick’s current contract now stands at two years and with an option for the second season.

The injury clause is removed, which was widely viewed as one of the reasons Kaepernick wasn’t seeing any playing time this season.

This, of course, leads to speculation Kap isn’t necessarily worried about playing in San Francisco in 2017. It’s possible, perhaps likely, the quarterback is merely auditioning for a job elsewhere next year.

And the first step on such a path would begin in Week 6.

The bar couldn’t be set any lower for Kaepernick. Given how problematic the Niners’ quarterbacking situation has been this season, Kap merely has to play moderately better than Blaine Gabbert — who is ranked dead last out of all qualifying QBs, per Pro Football Focus — to retain starting reps.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is attended to during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Significant 49ers Injuries

San Francisco doesn’t exactly have a clean slate of health entering Week 6. But only one player, defensive back Jimmie Ward, didn’t practice, per the team’s website.

All are listed as questionable, according to Pro Football Reference, although it’s likely defensive end Arik Armstead is a sure-go for Week 6. And we probably should expect wide receiver Jeremy Kerley — the team’s leading receiver — to be active as well.

Guard Zane Beadles is an interesting development. Earlier this week, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News reported rookie guard Joshua Garnett would get his first start of the season.

Colin Kaepernick is not only new #49ers starter. I hear Joshua Garnett, 1st-round pick from Stanford, will start at right guard in Buffalo

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 11, 2016

Maybe Garnett starts at right guard, which moves Andrew Tiller into Beadles’ spot. If the latter is unable to play, that is.

And Ward? His spot is likely to be taken over by rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson, who has been one of the few bright spots for San Francisco this season.

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive and Defensive X-Factors for San Francisco

Right Tackle Trent Brown

Second-year tackle Trent Brown might be OK in pass protection this year. But his run blocking has been atrocious. Pro Football Focus gives him a 40.1 run-blocking grade, which is the lowest along San Francisco’s offensive line.

The Niners need to get their rushing offense going. But pass protection, especially with Colin Kaepernick under center also needs to be effective enough. Brown will frequently be tasked with stopping Bills linebacker Jerry Hughes, who is second on the team in sacks (four).

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

Obviously. All eyes will be on Kap during this contest.

Head coach Chip Kelly is hoping Kaepernick can provide something of a spark to an offense struggling to maintain any sort of rhythm or consistency. It’s hard to speculate Kaepernick will be a major improvement for a weak Niners offense. But at least it’s a much-needed change.

Can that change, and extra motivation for Kap, prove to be a difference-maker?

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers inside linebacker Gerald Hodges (51) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker Gerald Hodges

San Francisco is without All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman (Achilles) for the rest of the season. So that means added pressure on the remaining interior linebackers.

Gerald Hodges is the best run defender, outside Bowman, out of the Niners’ linebacker crop. PFF gives him an 80.7 run-stopping grade so far. And he’ll be tasked with trying to limit the gains of Bills running back LeSean McCoy on Sunday.

If Hodges and the 49ers front seven can’t do so, one can almost automatically tack on another 2016 loss.

Cornerback Rashard Robinson

2016 has already been a bad season for San Francisco. But rookie corner Rashard Robinson has done more than raise some eyebrows over five weeks.

PFF ranked Robinson the No. 3 overall rookie entering Week 6 — quite the accolade, considering some of his company.

With Bills No. 1 receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) on injured reserve, Robinson will frequently be tasked with covering fellow Buffalo wideout Marquise Goodwin.

Maybe we’ll see Robinson’s first generated turnover of his career this week.

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view of New Era Field before a game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Game Information

The San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Fox at New Era Field.

Those wishing to stream the game can visit NFL Game Pass to do so. And be sure to check your local radio affiliates for coverage if necessary.

Buffalo is currently a nine-point favorite over San Francisco, according to Odds Shark, with a predicted score of 25-17 in favor of the Bills.

In order for the 49ers to pull off a victory, the team’s run defense will have to come away with vast improvements over what has been seen in recent weeks. The Niners’ lackluster standings against opposing ground games has been disastrous ever since Week 1, so look for this to be a major factor.

And yet the wide focus falls on quarterback Colin Kaepernick and whether or not he’ll look more like the 2012 and 2013 version instead of what fans saw a year ago.