A pair of Super Bowl hopefuls from each conference meet up on Sunday, Dec. 1 to close out the NFL schedule for the day with the Buffalo Bills hosting the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.
The game is scheduled to start at 8:20 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC. Fans looking to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTV, which offers RedZone, a free trial and $30 off on your first month, or DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ airs all local market games. Additionally, games on NBC can be watched on Peacock.
The Bills are 9-2 and coming off their bye week, which followed a big win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo’s six-game winning streak is the best of any team in the AFC currently.
The 49ers are looking to bounce back after consecutive losses dropped them below .500 at 5-6. Last week against the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco was without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who is expected to return from the injury that kept him out a week ago.
Who: San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills
When: Sunday, Dec. 1 at 8:20 p.m. EST
Where: Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY
Stream: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial); or NFL+ or Peacock
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial, and $30 off the first month for new costumers.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.
What is NFL+?
NFL+ and NFL+ Premium allow fans access to the most NFL content available online. From game replays, coaches film and all-22 field angles of the games to NFL Network original programing, NFL+ and NFL + Premium allow fans to stay fully locked in with every NFL team no matter where you are in the country.
What is Peacock?
Peacock is the home to the Premier League, Sunday Night Football, exclusive college football games, WWE premium live events and the Olympics, as well as programing across the NBCUniversal networks.
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Saquon Barkley is the NFL’s version of Shohei Ohtani: Analysis
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.
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Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL.
There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now.
Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984.
Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award.
He’s not the betting favorite, however.
Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400.
Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP.
It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller.
Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t.
Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012.
Playing for a winning team matters, too.
Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP.
Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference.
Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award?
Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington.
If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley.
Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986.
Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022.
The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose.
Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner.
The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition.
Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance.
Clinching scenarios
The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night.
Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins.
Status quo in Dallas?
It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season.
Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension.
“I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said.
McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago.
Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season.
The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
