The Commanders are stumbling into Monday night with all the confidence of a team that just watched a winnable game slip through its fingers, while the 49ers arrive at 5-0 looking every bit like the side that knows exactly who it is. Washington is still shaking off the aftertaste of that 27-27 tie with the Giants, and now it gets a much taller task in Week 6 under the lights.
San Francisco’s edge starts with the balance of its offense. Washington has held up well against the run, allowing only 95.4 yards per game, but that figure gets stress-tested by a 49ers attack that sits No. 8 in rushing yards per game. The Commanders can make things uncomfortable for Christian McCaffrey, but they probably can’t take him away entirely, and that’s where the rest of the San Francisco offense can start working.
The 49ers will also have to manage without Deebo Samuel after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Seahawks. That opens the door for Washington to pay closer attention to the passing game, but San Francisco still has plenty of answers.
George Kittle is one of them, and he’s coming into this matchup with the kind of praise that usually sticks. “Mike Evans is really good at football,” Kittle posted.
Kittle’s own production has been there before, especially in Week 3 against the Cardinals, when he caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. With Samuel sidelined, another day like that is in play against Washington.
Kyle Shanahan, for his part, isn’t sounding worried about the depth chart, saying, “I think we have enough,” and adding, “We've got three guys on practice squad also who can help. I mean, anytime you lose this number of guys, whether it's four guys or five guys, whatever it is, it's a huge challenge.
But we do have guys in this building who can do it, and we'll always look.”
On the Washington side, Jayden Daniels is still searching for a breakout passing day. He has not topped 200 passing yards in any of his first three games, but that could change here if the Commanders are forced to chase.
Daniels is coming off a game in which he ran for 103 yards on nine carries and scored twice, and San Francisco may decide the priority is limiting him as a runner. Washington’s offense, by necessity, may lean more heavily on the pass than it has so far this season.
Daniels is also dealing with the fallout from that late-game blunder against the Giants, and he didn’t dodge responsibility. “We have to stop the clock,” Daniels said.
“We have to know the situation. We have to relay that as an offense.
It starts with everyone, top down. Ultimately, it's on me.”
Terry McLaurin could be the big-play outlet if Washington is going to land a shot downfield. His numbers so far have been quiet - catches of 2, 2, 6, and 4 in his first four games, with 203 yards and one touchdown - but there’s at least a path to a splash play. Daniels’ longest completion this season is 33 yards, and McLaurin’s longest catch is 30, yet the 49ers can’t ignore the possibility of a deep strike between them.
A long touchdown from Daniels to McLaurin would be a surprise, but it’s the kind of surprise Washington needs. Even so, the better team and the deeper roster still belong to San Francisco, and the 49ers should leave Monday night with the win and Washington falling to 1-4-1.
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