For a change, Niners finish what they start

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The 49ers’ offense started strong, and the defense finished it off.

That’s right, they finished.

That is what 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary has demanded from his team after taking over for fired Mike Nolan on Oct. 20. The 49ers have rarely finished a game strong this season.

But on a cold, drizzly, gray day on the outskirts of Buffalo, the 49ers finished the job in impressive fashion against a team that began the day with haughty playoff hopes.

The 49ers looked like a squad built for the blustery conditions Sunday while securing an improbable 10-3 victory over the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“We did cap it off today,” 49ers cornerback Nate Clements said. “At the end of the game on defense, it was four downs and then we were out of there.” And the 49ers returned home with a victory, no less.

The Bills took over at their own 19-yard line with 1:47 remaining after a 51-yard punt from Andy Lee. Buffalo backup quarterback J.P. Losman, who played the second half in place of injured starter Trent Edwards, threw two incomplete passes, was sacked and had just a 1-yard completion on fourth and 15.

“We knew coming in here it was going to come down to the defense,” Singletary said. “It was going to come down to trying to keep them out of the end zone, particularly red-zone defense. I’m excited about what our defense was able to do.”

The 49ers (4-8) won for the second time in five games under Singletary. In the process, they dealt a body blow to Buffalo’s playoff hopes. The Bills fall to 6-6. But Singletary said he has no desire to gain any motivation from playing the role of the so-called spoiler.

“I hate (the term) spoiler,” Singletary said. “What it says is that your team is not going anywhere. What I like is that we came out and played football.”

In doing so, the 49ers reversed a trend for them — and for West Coast teams, in general. The 49ers had won just three of their previous 30 games that started at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Also, the 49ers became the first team from the West Coast to get a victory in the Eastern time zone this season.

“I just think if you’re prepared to play and you’re ready to play, you can be tired another time,” Singletary said. “I don’t really buy that. I just think when you’re prepared, you’re ready to go. You’re hungry, and you got to get it done.”

Quarterback Shaun Hill led the 49ers to a game-opening drive that set the tone for the game. The 49ers took the opening kickoff and put together a 14-play drive that chewed up more than eight minutes of the first quarter.

The 49ers opened the game with five consecutive running plays to Frank Gore. Hill converted third-down pass completions to Bryant Johnson, Jason Hill and Isaac Bruce.

Bruce scored the only touchdown of the game on a 12-yard pass from Hill, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 161 yards in the game.

“The first drive was the only drive that we had of the (game), so it was definitely a good thing we were able to go down and get a touchdown,” Hill said. “Obviously, after the weather kind of changed, it made things a little more difficult.”

The game began in 38-degree conditions. The temperature dropped, and the rain intensified as the game went on.

The 49ers drove 77 yards for a touchdown the first time they touched the ball. On the 49ers’ next nine possessions, they managed just seven first downs and finished with 195 yards of total offense.

The 49ers’ special teams played a major role in the victory. Kicker Joe Nedney gave the team a huge lift when he squeezed a 50-yard field goal just over the crossbar with 11 seconds left in the first half for a 10-0 lead.

Also, Lee enabled the 49ers to win the field-position battle with six punts that averaged 47.3 yards.

And then there was the bizarre day experienced by Bills kicker Rian Lindell.

The 49ers kept the damage to a minimum despite the Bills’ four trips inside the red zone. Lindell missed two field-goal attempts — both of which amazingly clanked off the left upright, prompting Bills fans to yearn for the good ol’ days of Scott Norwood.

Lindell managed a 22-yard field goal. The 49ers’ defense also held on a fourth-and-2 early in the fourth quarter from the 7-yard line.

“I think it’s pretty clear that the story of this game is the red zone,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said. “We did not convert. We just didn’t convert.”

Linebacker Takeo Spikes credited defensive coordinator Greg Manusky with devising a solid game plan and getting the unit well-prepared to face the Bills. The 49ers worked part of practice Thursday on red-zone defense, and they spent the entire session on Friday in those situations.

“He can tell us what they’re going to run,” Spikes said. “But a lot of people don’t tell you why they run it versus certain stuff. For him to be able to put us in that position, that’s the reason why we were going to be effective in the red zone.”

The 49ers’ strength in the red zone has been consistent this season. They rank fifth in the league, surrendering touchdowns just 42.2 percent of the time opponents have gotten inside the 20-yard line.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.