THIRD QUARTER
Wasted effort
Marshawn Lynch dominated the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Bills, Lynch’s fantastic rushing only got them three points.
Lynch carried six times for 87 yards in the quarter as the Bills pulled within 10-3.
The big gain was a 50-yard run off left guard. Lynch followed a dominating block by Derrick Dockery on Niners linebacker Patrick Willis, cut up the middle and broke toward the right sideline before being pulled down at the San Francisco 9-yard line.
“It was ’50 Gut,’” center Duke Preston said of the play. “He hit it right where he was supposed to. Dock got a good second-level block on the linebacker.”
The big gain led to a 22-yard Rian Lindell field goal.
Challenges: Three plays after losing a challenge, Bills coach Dick Jauron tried again when 49ers back Frank Gore fumbled when he hit the ground on a 3-yard gain. Initially the referee ruled Gore fell after being touched by a Bill. Replays showed he was not touched. The Bills got the ball.
