The Commanders are walking into Monday night with more than a bad record. They’re staring at a piece of NFL history nobody wants attached to their name.
Washington enters the matchup with San Francisco at 1-3-1, and another loss would push the franchise into an ugly corner: the first NFL division since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to go winless in consecutive weeks when all four teams played a game, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.
That possibility hangs over a season that has already been messy for Washington. Last week’s tie with the Giants had the feel of a defeat after the Commanders blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, then let the clock run out in overtime without even trying a game-winning field goal.
Jayden Daniels was back for that one after an elbow injury and gave Washington a lift, throwing for 199 yards and adding 103 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns. But the Commanders still leave Week 6 needing a reset, and San Francisco is hardly the opponent you want when you’re trying to find your footing.
The 49ers come in as one of the last undefeated teams, with Brock Purdy leading a group that’s rolling right now. Washington badly needs a win to change the mood heading into Week 7, but the challenge is obvious.
San Francisco’s defense has been one of the league’s best, giving up the fourth-fewest points at 18.6 per game and the fourth-fewest total yards at 297.2 per game.
The bigger picture around the NFC East makes Washington’s situation even more jarring. The division has been one of the league’s most disappointing so far. The Giants still sit in first at 3-2-1, but Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the Saints exposed plenty, including ongoing quarterback questions and a rough night for Cam Skattebo after his costly fumble in Week 5.
Philadelphia has slid to 2-4 after losing to Carolina, and Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve because of a blood clot in his calf. Dallas also dropped to 2-4 after a 23-13 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night, when Dak Prescott went 34 for 54 and threw two interceptions.
The NFC East already went 0-2-2 in Week 5, with the Cowboys and Eagles losing and the Commanders and Giants tying. So far in Week 6, the division is 0-3. If Washington falls again, all four teams will have gone without a victory in both weeks.
Washington’s lone win came in Week 3, a 33-31 comeback against the Seahawks, and Daniels did not play in that game. Now that he’s back, the Commanders have at least a chance to steady themselves. But with San Francisco on deck, the margin for relief is thin.
In Other News...
Kyle Juszczyk Just Reignited A Ugly 49ers Controversy
A fresh layer was added to an old 49ers grievance after Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson got tossed in Week 6 for spitting on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. The incident immediately brought back memories in San Francisco, where Kyle Juszczyk said Gardner-Johnson had done the same to him in a game last season, a claim that had already helped fuel some hard feelings around the league.
Gardner-Johnson pushed back on the accusation, but the latest ejection only gave the story new life for 49ers fans who remember how it played out the first time. With one ugly moment already on the record, the lingering question is less about the punishment Gardner-Johnson just received and more about what comes next for a controversy that clearly was never fully put to rest. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Costly Linebacker Test At The Worst Time
A linebacker room already under pressure now has one more wrinkle to sort out, and it comes at a bad time for San Francisco. Dre Greenlaw will miss the next game after his Week 5 ejection for headbutting an opponent, leaving the 49ers to adjust defensively as they prepare for Washington.
The immediate answer appears to be rookie Jaden Dugger, who is expected to step into Greenlaws role for the matchup with the Commanders. For a defense that leans on Greenlaws presence and experience, the timing makes this more than a simple depth-chart shuffle, especially with the appeal process having already run its course. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Face One Sneaky Problem On Monday Night
The 49ers are set to host the Washington Commanders on Monday night at Levis Stadium, and the setup looks more like a late-fall Bay Area evening than a weather worry. Temperatures are expected to dip into the upper 50s by kickoff, with stadium gates opening in the afternoon for fans making their way in for prime-time football.
Still, there is one small element that could matter once the game gets going. The forecast calls for minimal rain, but the wind could become the more noticeable factor as the night wears on, and that can have an impact on both the passing game and any decisions that reach into field-goal range. [Read more 🡒]