Weather or not, Niners heading east

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — There is a certain mindset that 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary is trying to instill in his team during his time in charge.

He wants a rough-and-tumble team. He does not want a team that relies on trickery or deception. As he said in his memorable first postgame press conference, he wants a team that will hit the opponent in the mouth.

His goals will be tested this morning, because the 49ers play another of those early road games against the Buffalo Bills. The Niners have won just three of their past 30 trips since 2003 in which they were assigned a kickoff time at 10 a.m. (Pacific).

Moreover, the 49ers will have to contend today with some un-Bay-Area-like weather at Ralph Wilson Stadium, not far from Lake Erie.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity,” Singletary said. “It’s going to be a physical game, a black-and-blue game. It’s going to be cold — weather’s not going to be great, so it sounds perfect.”

Yeah, perfect for penguins.

“When it comes down to games, weather can be a factor if you let it be,” Singletary said. “But if you see past the weather and look at the victory, the possibilities, the opportunity, it’ll take you past the weather. It just depends on how much you want it.”

The 49ers (3-8) are on the verge of their sixth consecutive losing season. To avoid extending the franchise-worst streak today, they will have to do something they have not been able to accomplish this season: beat a good team.

The Bills (6-5) need a victory today to avoid falling too far behind in the crowded AFC playoff hunt.

The 49ers’ three victories have come against Seattle, Detroit and St. Louis — teams with a 4-31 combined record. (And one of Seattle’s two victories this season came against the 49ers in Singletary’s debut after taking over for fired Mike Nolan.)

Singletary has spent a lot of time with offensive coordinator Mike Martz since taking over as head coach. He wants Martz to shift away from the aerial assault he has long favored. Singletary wants the power game, with running back Frank Gore, to be the focus of the offense.

In a game such as today’s, both teams might not have any other choice. Bills coach Dick Jauron said it is important to build a big, physical team to be able to cope when the weather turns bad.

“I also just feel in general that you want to be able to run the ball effectively in our business,” Jauron said. “It helps in everything else that you want to do. It helps to throw the ball. It helps to slow down the pass rush. It helps in everything you want to do offensively.

“When you add in the weather factor for us, there are days up here obviously when it’s difficult to complete a pass even if there’s nobody on the field with you. The wind can blow, the snow can come in. Things just happen here.”

Niners left tackle Joe Staley said the offensive line likes the kind of game in which they can fire out and make blocks in the run game. And a little inclement weather is all the better.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It takes me back to my peewee games. Growing up in Michigan, the (bad) weather was always something we played in. You always want a game to be physical. And I’m sure this will be another physical game.”

Quarterback Shaun Hill said he played in his share of harsh-weather games while he played junior college ball in Kansas. Hill is making his fourth start of the season, and he expects his play to continue to get better.

This is the kind of game that does not figure to be easy for Hill, whose arm strength has been questioned.

“The longer I’m in this role, I do raise the bar and expect more out of myself,” Hill said. “I feel like there’s a whole lot more upside than some people think. Every week I just try to improve and hold myself to a higher standard.”

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

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