5 keys for 49ers to beat Washington
There’s little wiggle room left for playoff contention
Nick Bosa’s game-ending sack catapulted the 49ers into one of their most euphoric and unique celebrations ever.
Player after player dove headfirst and slid on their bellies across Washington’s rain- soaked playground. “Mud Bowl 2019 champions!” cornerback Richard Sherman proclaimed after that Oct. 20 win at Fed ExField.
The 9- 0 shutout kept the Niners unbeaten — win No. 6 in an 8- 0 start toward the NFC title — and such defensive dominance was studied closely by their next opposing coach, Ron Rivera, whose Carolina Panthers were on their bye week.
Fast forward a season and Rivera is Washington’s coach. He presides over one of the NFL’S most dominant defensive fronts. It not only was made in the 49ers’ mold, but it’s keyed a three- game win streak entering Sunday’s game against the 49ers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
“I’ll be honest, after having seen what the 49ers have done the last couple of years, when I was going through my ( Washington) interview process, that was one of the things that truly intrigued me, was the potential to build that front and mimic what the 49ers did with their success,” Rivera said on a conference call with Bay Area media.
“The way they play, we want to create that type of energy up front. When you’re attacking a quarterback and getting him off his spot, you have an opportunity to impact the game. We wanted to mimic that.”
So Washington, as the 49ers did with Nick Bosa in 2019, went and drafted a phenomenal defensive end out of Ohio State, that being Chase Young, who, like the 49ers’ blueprint, is surrounded by other firstround talent.
But both Washington and the 49ers are 5-7, so neither is looking like a NFC powerhouse. Injuries waylaid this 49ers’ season. Growing pains and quarterback changes — welcome back, Alex Smith — delayed Washington’s rise to contention.
State Farm Stadium’s roof will be closed when they meet, so there will be no wetlands for a postgame Slip ‘N Slide. If the 49ers are to prevail again, however, here is how:
1. TRENT WILLIAMS’ LEAD >> Quarterback Nick Mullens referred to left tackle Trent Williams as “a very strong leader in this locker room.” There is no better time to show it than this game. Williams spent the previous decade in Washington, which traded the perennial Pro Bowler to the 49ers during this year’s draft for a 2021 third-round pick.
Williams might only have four games left in his 49ers’ audition, however. He is a pending free agent. He can not be franchise tagged, per his contract restructuring this summer. What he must do is have his elite play rub off more on his linemates.
“It’s the last quarter of the year. We understand the focus has to be heightened and we don’t have a lot of wiggle room,” Williams said after Monday’s 34-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The 49ers’ line couldn’t move the Bills, whose coach, Sean Mcdermott, was Rivera’s defensive coordinator in Carolina from 2011-16. So expect Washington to try mimicking them, too. The 49ers need stouter play from right tackle Mike Mcglinchey, plus the line’s rawest spots in center Daniel Brunskill and right guard Colton Mckivitz.
As for Williams, “Obviously his resume speaks for himself,” Mullens said, “but, I’m very thankful that he’s got my blindside.”
2. IMPROVED PASS RUSH >> Alex Smith’s sensational comeback from leg surgeries can take on another layer of awe if he beats his original team. He can pick apart the 49ers defense if he is afforded as much time and room as Josh Allen got in his 375-yard, four-touchdown, no-interception brilliance Monday night.
It was a cruel reminder how much the 49es miss Bosa (ACL tear in Week 2), not to mention Dee Ford ( back injury after Week 1). Dion Jordan had the 49ers’ only sack Monday. Arik Armstead still has just 1 1/2 sacks, after a career-high 10 last year got him paid, along with his run support on the edge, which he still does well.
3. TIGHT END WATCH >> Jordan Reed, like Williams, is an obvious storyline because he, too, found refuge with the 49ers after not sitting out his final Washington season with health issues. Reed’s flashed here and there, but with just 200 yards and three touchdowns, he hasn’t come near replacing the production of injured star George Kittle.
Kittle’s blocking prowess is just as missed, and while the 49ers hoped rookie Charlie Woerner could help in that department with Ross Dwelley, keep an eye on Woerner’s potential as a receiver. He got his first career catches Monday night (two for 18 yards) and that might entice more targets. 4. RUN OR DONE >> When the 49ers can’t run the ball, they’re cooked.
Not that Mullens is averse to chucking the ball, and his aggressive nature provided the rare spectacle of a deep completion Monday night to Aiyuk for 49 yards. Mullens’ 3,926 yards through 14 starts are thirdmost in NFL history (Patrick Mahomes, 4,584; Andrew Luck, 3,978).
This offense is predicated on gashing defenses with runs to the outside. True, they run up the gut with success to wallop the New England Patriots. It’s just time for Raheem Mostert to glide wide and follow a wave of blockers through a hole into open space.
5. SECONDARY RECOVERY >> A stuck-in-the-mud pass rush will expose any secondary, and the 49ers’ played ghastly against the Bills. It wasn’t just because they were down to their fourthstring nickel back in Dontae Johnson. It wasn’t just because Tarvarius Moore, in his ninth career start, made inexcusable coverage mistakes.
Neither Jason Verrett nor Richard Sherman matched the Bills’ elite level. Washington has an elite receiver in Terry Mclaurin. He could be the key to a Washington victory.
Mclaurin has 71 catches for 977 yards but only three touchdowns. Smith will look to find him on short and intermediate routes.