THE PARTICULARS

• Time: 10 a.m.

• The line: Bills by 6 1/2.

• Records: 49ers 3-8, Bills 6-5.

• TV: Ch. 40; Ron Pitts (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (color), Charissa Thompson, (sideline). • Radio: KFBK (1530 AM), KNBR (680 AM). Joe Starkey (play-by-play), Gary Plummer (color).

• Why watch: Mike Singletary has preached a smash-mouth style since taking over as head coach, and he'll get another chance to put the philosophy to practice against the Bills. The question is whether offensive coordinator Mike Martz can adapt.

• Rewind: At the tail end of what became the worst 49ers season in 25 years, Cody Pickett started at quarterback and finished 4 of 10 for 55 yards as the 49ers fell 41-7 on Dec. 26, 2004. Within a month, the 49ers fired Dennis Erickson and replaced him with Mike Nolan.

WHO'S THE MAN?

Frank Gore

49ERS RUNNING BACK

The South Florida native should get plenty of work in western New York, especially if the weather is as bad as advertised. Gore had his second-worst game of the season last week against the Cowboys. He'll face another big, aggressive defense today.

49ERS THREE KEYS

• Shaun Hill keeps getting tested. Three weeks ago, it was his first road game. This time it's his first bad-weather game. The forecast calls for snow and temperatures around freezing.

• Allen Rossum's ankle injury affects two positions. He'll be replaced at kick returner by tight end Delanie Walker. At punt returner, look for former Bill Nate Clements to handle the job. • The 49ers will play their second game with what could be their starting offensive line for next season. Adam Snyder struggled last week at right tackle; Chilo Rachal is learning his craft at right guard.

BILLS THREE KEYS

• Rookie cornerback Leodis McKelvin, with whom the 49ers are familiar from the Senior Bowl, started last week in place of Jabari Greer (knee sprain) and finished with two interceptions, one of them for a touchdown.

• Buffalo has missed defensive end Aaron Schobel, who will be out for a sixth consecutive game with a foot injury. Defensive ends Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney are hard workers but lack Schobel's talent.

• Quarterback Trent Edwards hasn't topped the 300-yard mark this season, but he came close – 273 yards – last week against Kansas City. The Bills won 54-31, and Edwards had a passer rating of 121.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Marshawn Lynch vs. 49ers' defensive line

The Bills have the league's biggest offensive line, averaging 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds. Behind them is Lynch, a former Cal standout who weighs 215 pounds himself and almost never goes to the ground upon first contact. Lynch has 710 rushing yards and 42 receptions on the season. He'll be matched against a 49ers defensive line that has looked flimsy at times this year but last week did a good job against Cowboys running back Marion Barber.

INJURY REPORT

49ers

Out: S Dashon Goldson (knee), PR Allen Rossum (ankle). Questionable: WR Arnaz Battle (foot), WR Josh Morgan (groin), CB Walt Harris (hamstring). Probable: LB Patrick Willis (ankle), WR Jason Hill (groin).

Bills

Out: CB Jabari Greer (knee), LB Teddy Lehman (hamstring), TE Robert Royal (hamstring), DE Aaron Schobel (foot), DT John McCargo (back). Doubtful: S Donte Whitner. Questionable: DE Copeland Bryan (foot), LB Keith Ellison (ankle), TE Derek Schouman (hamstring).

49ERS STATISTICS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int

J.T. O'Sullivan 220 128 1,678 8 11

Shaun Hill 116 70 906 7 3

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Frank Gore 191 860 6 4.5

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Frank Gore 36 331 1 9.2

Isaac Bruce 34 558 5 16.4

Bryant Johnson 27 337 2 12.5

BILLS STATISTICS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int

Trent Edwards 303 204 2,266 10 10

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Marshawn Lynch 189 710 7 3.8

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Lee Evans 42 810 3 19.3

49ERS SCHEDULE

Sept. 7 Arizona L, 23-13

Sept. 14 at Seattle W, 33-30

Sept. 21 Detroit W, 31-13

Sept. 28 at New Orleans L, 31-17

Oct. 5 New England L, 30-21

Oct. 12 Philadelphia L, 40-26

Oct. 19 at N.Y. Giants L, 29-17

Oct. 26 Seattle L, 34-13

Nov. 2 BYE

Nov. 10 at Arizona L, 29-24

Nov. 16 St. Louis W, 35-16

Nov. 23 at Dallas L, 35-22

Today at Buffalo 10 a.m.

Dec. 7 N.Y. Jets 1:05 p.m.

Dec. 14 at Miami 10 a.m.

Dec. 21 at St. Louis 10 a.m.

Dec. 28 Washington 1:15 p.m.