The San Francisco 49ers extended their undefeated season start to six games by fending off a late onslaught from the Washington Commanders.
Jayden Daniels’ touchdown throw to Stefon Diggs late in the third quarter kept Washington’s hopes alive despite the 49ers threatening to run away with it after leading 20-3 at the intermission.
Daniels found Rachaad White in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, cutting the Commanders’ lead to six, but the game-winning score eventually remained elusive.
Brock Purdy, the quarterback for San Francisco, ended with 264 passing yards and a score.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | San Francisco 49ers vs Washington Commanders |
| 49ers Record | 5 wins, 0 losses |
| Commanders Record | 1 win, 3 losses, 1 tie |
| 49ers Quarterback | Brock Purdy |
| Commanders Quarterback | Jayden Daniels |
| Purdy's Passing Touchdowns | 13 through five weeks |
| Key Injury Concern | Deebo Samuel's hamstring injury |
| Main Storyline | Can Washington upset the unbeaten 49ers? |
49ers Must Beware of Upset Against Commanders
Being predicted to win doesn’t mean much, as we discovered in Week 6 and see almost every week in the NFL.
Maybe the San Francisco 49ers should take note of the fact that teams like the Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts, who were heavy favorites, lost on Sunday.
The 49ers have a 5-0 record. The only NFL teams without a loss are them, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Kansas City Chiefs. The 49ers take on the 1-3-1 Washington Commanders, who are fresh off a humiliating time-management fiasco that robbed them the opportunity to defeat the New York Giants in overtime.
49ers Face a Dangerous Commanders Challenge
The Commanders may pose a threat. They’ve already defeated the Seahawks. With two lengthy rushing touchdowns last week, Jayden Daniels, who is back and healthy, demonstrated his ability to create plays.
The Commanders’ one victory does not prove they are unable.
But it’s difficult to defeat the 49ers. After five weeks, Brock Purdy’s 13 throwing touchdowns led the NFL, and he is being considered for MVP.
Who needs it more?
Week 6 has already gone well for the 49ers. The Rams dropped to 2-4 after losing to the Cardinals, while the Seahawks lost to the Broncos on Thursday nite.
Although a defeat wouldn’t be too devastating, the 49ers would prefer to increase their lead in the NFC West.
The Commanders need to steal a game or two to get back into the competition in a soft NFC East after a sluggish start to the season. The Commanders would only be one game behind the Giants for first place if they pulled off an upset victory.
Key player: 49ers LB Fred Warner
Luke Kuechly was the latest off-ball linebacker to earn NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Brian Urlacher was the most recent champion before to Kuechly in 2005.
Warner will have a case, but winning DPOY won’t be simple. Warner leads the NFL with three forced fumbles and has already recorded 50 tackles.
Out of all inside linebackers, Jacksonville’s Ventrell Miller has the highest Pro Football Focus grade. There is no denying Warner’s influence on the 49ers’ defense. With Nick Bosa, San Francisco ranked fourth in defensive DVOA after five weeks.
Betting market watch
When playing the Commanders at home, the 49ers (-7.5) are clear favorites. Washington has devoted the whole week to analyzing and elucidating the reasons behind last Friday’s 27-27 draw with the New York Giants.
The 49ers will undoubtedly have the travel edge because they haven’t had to leave the West Coast since their Week 1 game in Australia (three straight home games and a trip to Seattle).
The 49ers (2-1 ATS at home) are playing too well, and I have a feeling Washington hasn’t recovered from last week. However, Mike Evans (questionable) is a significant possible missing element.
