One thing does not change, though. The defending NFC champion 49ers are 5-6 and they need to get on a heater - which will be tough to do Sunday night in Buffalo - if they stand any chance of defending their crown because right now they’re in last place in the NFC West and sitting outside the NFC wild-card picture.

A light dusting of snow began covering the Buffalo Bills' facility on Friday as the team completed its final practice of the week inside Highmark Stadium. With a lake-effect storm advisory already in place,

The snow may taper off by kickoff, but conditions ahead of the Bills game Sunday night could still make travel difficult.

While the 49ers look like an easy opponent, San Francisco's health could be a major factor in the game, warns one NFL expert. If they get back the right players, the Bills will be facing a much tougher game against a playoff-level team desperate to keep their hopes alive.

The region’s most significant winter storm of the season thus far looks set to hit from Friday through the weekend, with the lake effect snow event set to bring upwards of two feet of snow to some areas.