49ers Notebook: 49ers ponder playing in snowy weather; Kyle Juszczyk complains about key fumbling; Why didn’t George Kittle score more goals compared to Bills?

The weather outside at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, was terrible on Sunday night, but the way the San Francisco 49ers played the Buffalo Bills inside the stadium was even worse.

The 49ers gave up 220 yards on the ground, turned the ball over three times and were dominated for four quarters in a 35-10 loss to the Bills in front of a national audience. Snow fell throughout the game in what could ultimately go down as the worst moment of the season for the 49ers.

After the game, the 49ers talked about Sunday’s weather and how it affected their performance. We have those comments in this version of the 49ers Notebook, along with some quotes that address a key fumble in fullback Kyle Juszczyk’s play and why quarterback Brock Purdy stopped looking for tight end George Kittle in the passing game. Let’s get started…

I don’t blame the weather

The 49ers aren’t as used to snowstorms as their opponents were Sunday night, but they were in no mood to blame that situation for what happened.

Highmark Stadium was one of several locations in western New York, northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio that were hit by snowfall between Thanksgiving and Sunday. Orchard Park received about two feet of snow during that time, while the storm dumped nearly four feet of snow in areas south of Orchard Park and nearly five feet of snow in parts of Ohio. The snow continued throughout Sunday night’s game, causing players from both teams to lose their footing at times. But the 49ers downplayed those terms somewhat when discussing them after the game.

“It was just snow and cold,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “Snow on the ground. I had to pay attention to the correct position. That’s it.”

The weather also likely played a role in one of the 49ers’ turnovers – a fumble that the Bills recovered after a pass slipped out of Purdy’s hands.

“The tracking, I think, convinced a lot of people on both sides,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “You know, as far as turnovers go, I think Brock got caught on that one pass — obviously on third down (pass) that slipped out of his hands. That makes it difficult, but difficult for both teams.”

When Purdy spoke to reporters after the loss, he gave his own account of the playing conditions and suggested that the snow may have actually helped fuel the 49ers’ rushing attack.

“Just the running, guys were a little slower and then the pass rush, dealing with that while trying to go through reads and stuff was difficult,” Purdy said. “But, you know, I think it kind of helped the run game and we were able to make some really good runs. But just the kicking in general, and toward the end of the game it felt like the snow was melting a little bit, so the ball got a little slicker.

49ers kicker Jake Moody may also have been affected by the weather, as he missed a 45-yard field goal and missed a 55-yard attempt behind the uprights.

“I’m not thinking about that right now,” Shanahan said. “I know he made two missed shots in this game. The conditions weren’t good, but especially the 55 yard shot in those conditions would have been a great shot at the end of that half in my opinion. But I thought the shot before that (from 45 yards) was one he should have taken.

Shanahan told reporters the 49ers were not surprised by Sunday night’s weather-related events and are prepared for what lies ahead.

“It feels like we expected,” Shanahan said. “We were prepared for it. We had an idea that this would be the case, so we dressed warmly. And then you go out and play the game.”

And one 49ers player even enjoyed playing in the snow and everything that came with it.

“Blizzards are fun,” Kittle said. “It’s a very sticky type of snow. I think you saw everyone out there clicking their heels like Dorothy the whole game. It’s one of the weirder environments I’ve ever played in… I had a great time, a fantastic fan base.”

“I think I had 23 snowballs fly past my head. However, nobody scored so I was pretty excited. So they just took advantage and we didn’t.

One he wishes he had back

While Purdy’s fumble may have been due to the elements, a crucial fumble by fullback Kyle Juszczyk was not. Trailing 21-3 early in the third quarter, the 49ers were on the verge of scoring a touchdown that would have put them back in the game. Juszczyk got the call on a 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard line, an opportunity he doesn’t normally get. But safety Taylor Rapp knocked the ball out of his hand, whereupon Bills cornerback Christian Benford picked up the ball and ran back to midfield.

Juszczyk, who has only scored six rushing touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons, was understandably disappointed that he missed his chance for another touchdown.

“Extremely (disappointing),” Juszczyk told reporters after the game. “It sucks. I don’t get many opportunities, so each one means so much to me. When something like this happens, I take it personally. It’s just something I never want to have and I’m going to try and fix everything.

Shanahan was asked why he chose Juszczyk in this situation and said the play called was a good response to the looks the Bills usually get near the goal line.

“It was a good plan for the fronts that always play down there,” Shanahan said. “It’s difficult to play the ball against their zero looks and that was a well-planned play to get a reversal and it felt really good. I don’t think Kyle hasn’t fumbled the ball in a long time. I don’t remember it.” The last time he did it.

“First and goal in the four-man field and I don’t know if he would score. We wanted to be in the first goal, so we definitely enjoyed the game. They stripped him and made a good play.”

Where was George?

Sunday’s weather conditions seemed perfect for a heavy workload for Kittle, but he was only targeted twice during the game.

Kittle’s only catch came on the first play of the game, after which he no longer played a role as a receiver. When Kittle was asked after the game why, he didn’t have an answer.

“I have no explanation,” Kittle said. “I think I ran six more routes the rest of the day.”

Kittle said there was no problem with how the Bills covered him.

“I felt pretty open several times,” Kittle said. “It is what it is.”

One reason for that could be that the 49ers were successful in running the ball, but Purdy also said his interpretations didn’t end with him getting the ball to Kittle.

“I thought we set up some good plays. The conditions are just difficult,” Purdy said. “We run the ball so well, and then when we had the opportunity to throw balls, the reads just didn’t get me to George. So it just happened that way. But obviously we have” “I would like to get George the ball as often as possible and it’s a shame we haven’t done that.”