Cornerback Clements excels against his former team

<p>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A week ago, 49ers cornerback Nate Clements patiently answered all questions at his locker. He talked about what went wrong.</p><p>On Sunday, Clements was the last man out of the visitor’s locker room at Ralph Wilson Stadium. This time, however, he was not interrogated. He was asked to speak about his successful return to play his former team.</p><p>Clements and the entire 49ers defensive backfield played exceedingly well in a 10-3 upset victory against the Buffalo Bills.</p><p>“We just wanted to come out and compete,” Clements said. “Every Sunday we prepare ourselves. This week we practiced hard and studied, and we did a lot of hard work. So we wanted to come out and make a good showing and get a ‘W.’”</p><p>The 49ers secondary, and Clements in particular, had a rough day a week earlier in a 35-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Clements was in coverage for most of Terrell Owens’ 213 yards receiving.</p><p>The Buffalo Bills had 205 yards passing Sunday, but the 49ers kept them out of the end zone on four trips into the red zone. Clements, Walt Harris and Donald Strickland played solid games.</p><p>Clements played the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Bills before signing a lucrative free-agent contract with the 49ers in 2007.</p><p>“Any time you win and you’re not at home, it’s big,” Singletary said. “But to limit the number of points they had to three is very rewarding and very exciting. Our guys really prided themselves on trying to do the little things and keep them out of the end zone. And we executed pretty well.”</p><p>The 49ers secondary played a big role in enabling the club to secure three sacks. Each time Bills quarterback J.P. Losman was sacked it was a result of his inability to find an open receiver.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE</b></p><p>The opposition had a streak of 23 consecutive games of scoring 10 or more points. The last time the 49ers held an opponent to only three points was midway through the 2006 season when the 49ers defeated Minnesota 9-3. It was the franchise’s best defensive performance on the road since a 38-0 victory at New Orleans in the final game of the 2001 season.</p><p><b>JOE SUBS FOR JOE</b></p><p>Niners radio play-by-play man Joe Starkey had never missed a game in his 36-year broadcasting career for any health reason. And even though he was not the main voice on Sunday’s broadcast, he was still able to make a contribution despite a nasty case of laryngitis.</p><p>Joe Fonzi, of KTVU-TV, took over the play-by-play duties after the first series of the game when Starkey’s voice gave out. He worked alongside analyst Gary Plummer for the remainder of the game.</p><p>Starkey said he knew he could not continue after calling the 49ers’ 14-play game-opening drive that culminated with an Isaac Bruce touchdown reception.</p><p>“‘Bruce’ came out like a squeak, and I said, ‘This doesn’t work,’” Starkey said.</p><p>Said KNBR program director Lee Hammer: “He looked at me, and I looked at him, and we both knew he had to stop.”</p><p>Fonzi got a heads-up that he might be needed while dining Saturday night. He retired to his hotel room early to begin preparing for the broadcast. Hammer said Fonzi did “a great job.”</p><p>“There’s no team in the NFL that I was less familiar with than the Buffalo Bills,” Fonzi said.</p><p>Starkey participated in the halftime discussion and also handled the postgame interviews. Starkey will return (if his voice cooperates) when the 49ers play the New York Jets on Sunday.</p><p><b>EXTRA POINTS</b></p><p>Running back Frank Gore was disappointed in his performance Sunday. He rushed for just 66 yards on 24 carries. He fumbled twice, losing one of them.</p><p>“I feel like I could’ve played a lot better,” Gore said. “I told my offensive line that I owe them. In that situation down in the red zone, I can’t be putting the ball on the ground. I’ll get better next week.”</p><p>Linebacker Patrick Willis, who recorded a game-high 14 tackles, returned to the game after sustaining a rib injury. He underwent precautionary X-rays after the game. The results were not immediately available. He was the only player listed on the 49ers’ preliminary injury report.</p><p>The 49ers waived linebacker Ahmad Brooks to activate receiver Chris Hannon for the game. The 49ers plan to re-sign Brooks, if he clears waivers, as early as today. Hannon was activated from the practice squad because of injuries to receivers Arnaz Battle and Josh Morgan. Also, Jason Hill had a groin strain. Hill collected five catches for 55 yards. Hannon did not play.</p><p>Tight end Vernon Davis did not catch a pass. The only ball thrown his way went for a 37-yard touchdown. However, Davis was called for offensive pass interference on the play.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com</p>