49ers Benefit From Bills’ Giveaway

Once again, the Buffalo Bills have gone ice-cold in December.

Handed two big opportunities Sunday--Miami’s loss to Indianapolis and San Francisco’s decision to rest quarterback Joe Montana’s injured ribs--the Bills bobbled away five second-half turnovers and lost to the 49ers, 21-10.

Roger Craig rushed for 105 yards and the go-ahead touchdown for the opportunistic 49ers, who were outgained 301 yards to 283 but turned their opponent’s misplays into a victory for the second straight week.

Steve Young was unspectacular in place of Montana but still passed for one touchdown to Jerry Rice and rushed for another as San Francisco relied on its ground game for a change.

“We really wanted to establish the running game,” said Rice, who caught just three passes as the 49ers ran the ball 43 times. “If we really can balance everything out with the running and the passing, we’re going to be hard to stop.”

The game meant little to the 49ers, 13-2 and assured of the home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, and everything to the 8-7 Bills, who are now in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East.

But the difference wasn’t apparent as the Bills lost for the fourth time in five games and fourth straight on the road.

“All the last few games have been in our grasp,” Bills nose tackle Fred Smerlas said. “How many teams beat us this year? None--we beat ourselves. . . . When you keep cutting your throat, eventually you run out of blood.”

The Bills could have clinched their second straight divisional title with a win following Indianapolis’ 42-13 rout of Miami.

Instead, they left here tied with the Colts and Dolphins and pondering another late-season slump--they’ve hurt their postseason prospects by losing three of their last four in each of the last three years--heading into Saturday’s road game against the New York Jets.

They still will win the division with a victory, but could miss the playoffs with a loss.

The Bills set up a 21-point San Francisco burst in 5:10 of the second half by losing the ball in their own territory on three straight possessions.

Beleaguered Bill quarterback Jim Kelly was 26 of 42 for 265 yards, but threw three interceptions, two in the second half. He scored Buffalo’s only touchdown on a one-yard run with 7:49 remaining before Andre Reed’s fumble and another interception killed any comeback hopes.