Big test out West
Commanders look to boost playoff hopes by upending division champions
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The stakes for the San Francisco 49ers down the stretch of the season aren’t particularly high after they clinched the NFC West Division last week.
The Niners are most likely slotted into either the second or third seed in the NFC, with a possible second-round home playoff game in the balance.
The situation is very different for Washington (7-6-1) heading into today’s game at San Francisco (10-4) after the Commanders lost last week to the New York Giants, putting a dent in their playoff hopes.
Washington is clinging to the seventh seed but could fall out of playoff position with another loss.
“A big part of the mentality that we have to take is that we’ve got to go out and we’ve got to play our best,” coach Ron Rivera said. “We’ve got to get some things corrected and fixed and ready to go.
“We can’t struggle in some of the areas we have lately. Those things have to be addressed and they are being addressed.”
The biggest issues for the Commanders are on offense after they were held to 32 points combined in back-to-back games against the Giants and struggled to finish drives in the red zone.
Now they’re set to face the NFL’s stingiest defense.
“It is somewhat of a measuring stick and it is a good opportunity to kind of see how we rank and how we stack up against people,” Rivera said.
The Niners have stacked up well the past two months, with a seven-game winning streak led by a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in a game during that entire stretch.
The offense hasn’t been as dominant but has done enough, even after rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was forced into action in the first quarter of a Week 13 win over Miami after an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 49ers are assured of no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC but could move higher if they make up one game on Minnesota or three on Philadelphia in the final three weeks.
“I want to win all three games so we’re hot going in the playoffs,” tight end George Kittle said. “That’s what I want.
“We have a rookie quarterback that needs all the reps he gets. I hope guys aren’t asking for plays off . ... I hope pedal to the metal and we’re out there trying to get better and trying to win football games because our offense wasn’t pretty against Seattle.”
Purdy good: Purdy has fared quite well in his limited action, looking much more capable than expected for the final pick of the draft. Since taking over for Garoppolo he is 58-for-84 (69%) for 612 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
He also played through injuries to his ribs and oblique last week.
“He’s got so much toughness,” running back Christian McCaffrey said. “He’s resilient. He’s able to go out there and sacrifice a lot and make some plays knowing that he’s going through a lot.
“[It’s] just a testament to his character and his toughness.”
Run, Taylor, run: Taylor Heinicke got the nod to start a ninth consecutive game in large part because of his mobility and willingness to take off and run to evade pass rushers.
Heinicke knows he’s not going to run the ball like Cam Newton or Jalen Hurts, but he can scramble far better than teammate Carson Wentz.
“There are some plays that we
have in our offense that allow me to read somebody and get some stuff from my legs,” Heinicke said. “I feel comfortable with my legs. I feel like I can make some things happen. Obviously I’m a smaller guy, so when it’s time to get hit I’m trying to get down.”
Heinicke fumbled twice in Washington’s loss to the Giants last week, so ball security is a focus.
“You got two hands on the ball,” Rivera said. “Two hands have to remain on the ball and protect it to the ground.”
Familiar face: McCaffrey and Rivera have a long history, with Rivera serving as the Carolina coach for McCaffrey’s first three seasons. McCaffrey had his most productive campaign in 2019 under Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner, who has the same role now for Washington. McCaffrey gained 2,392 yards from scrimmage that season and scored 19 TDs.
“He was awesome,” McCaffrey said about Rivera. “I have so much respect for him.
“I know a lot of guys in the staff and he drafted me. He believed in me, gave me an opportunity. I’m always thankful for Coach Rivera.”
Chase time: While Niners edge rusher Nick Bosa continues his monster season, a player many compared to him might finally be ready to start his. Chase Young is expected to make his season debut more than 13 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
The team has been extra careful
with Young, whose operation involved grafting part of his left patellar tendon on the other side to fix the tear.
It helped that the front four, led by defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne and end Montez Sweat, had been so effective. But after Washington failed to sack Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, it seems time to see what impact Young can have.
Jimmy Garoppolo, becoming the first QB since Aaron Rodgers in 2008 to throw for at least 175 yards with at least two TDs and a passer rating of at least 115 in each of his first two starts. Purdy has thrown two TD passes in three straight games.
KEY MATCHUP: Washington red-zone offense versus San Francisco red-zone defense. The Commanders have struggled in the red zone, converting just one of three trips into TDs last week against the Giants. They have scored TDs on just 11 of 23 trips since Taylor Heinicke replaced Carson Wentz as the starter and rank 29th on the season by scoring 4.32 points per drive in the red zone.
San Francisco has been one of the stingiest defenses near the goal line, ranking fifth in the league by allowing 4.45 points per red-zone drive.
KEY INJURIES: Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is expected to return for Washington after missing the past three games with an ankle injury . ... San Francisco defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee) could return from IR this week . ... Niners cornerback Charvarius Ward is expected to play after having a concussion last week.
FANTASY TIP: San Francisco tight end George Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and two TDs last week. Kittle has three of his six TDs on the season in the two games WR Deebo Samuel missed and could be in position to add to that total with Samuel out again this week.