ORCHARD PARK — The San Francisco 49ers scored first — a field goal with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter, but the Bills responded immediately — and then often.
Buffalo’s 75-yard touchdown drive was capped by a LeSean McCoy four-yard touchdown, giving the Bills a 7-3 lead. A blown coverage led to San Francisco’s first touchdown of the game as Colin Kaepernick found a wide open Torrey Smith for a 53-yard touchdown to put the 49ers ahead 10-7 less than a minute into the second quarter.
The Bills offense again had an answer as they marched 75 yards for a second time on a seven-play drive capped by LeSean McCoy’s second rushing touchdown of the day from 11 yards out off a direct snap in a Wildcat formation. It put Buffalo up 14-10 with 10 minutes left in the half.
The Niners got three points back on a 48-yard field goal from Dawson to cut Buffalo’s lead to one (14-13) with just under six minutes left in the second quarter. Buffalo pushed their lead back up to four as they got a 40-yard field goal from Dan Carpenter to make it 17-13 at the half.
The second half began quietly until Tyrod Taylor hit Nick O’Leary 23 yards before finding Justin Hunter behind the defense for a 30-yard touchdown strike to put the Bills up 11 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
San Francisco wouldn’t go away as the Niners were able to move the ball well enough to get another field goal from Phil Dawson from 47 yards out to make it a one score game (24-16) just 12 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Again the Bills would turn to McCoy, who finished off another Buffalo long drive using his trademark elusiveness to reach the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown run with 11 minutes left in the game (31-16).
On the ensuing kickoff Nickell Robey-Coleman forced a fumble and Jonathan Meeks recovered at the 49ers 27-yard line. Five plays later Tyrod Taylor found Robert Woods for a five-yard touchdown reception to effectively put the game away with 10 minutes left in regulation (38-16).
Mike Gillislee put the exclamation point on the victory with a 44-yard touchdown run to make it a 45-16 final.
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