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Commanders Fall Short 23-17 To 49ers In Comeback Bid, Bye Week Ahead
The Washington Commanders mounted a late-game comeback against the San Francisco 49ers but ultimately came up short. Washington fell 23-17 at Levi's Stadium to close out week six of the NFL season.
Washington appeared to be headed for a blowout after falling behind 23-3 in the first half. However, the Commanders found their rhythm on both sides of the ball in the second half, putting pressure on San Francisco and giving themselves multiple scoring opportunities.
Their comeback bid ultimately fell short when quarterback Jayden Daniels was sacked by 49ers defensive lineman Romello Height on the final play. The victory extended San Francisco's unbeaten record to 6-0, while Washington fell to 1-4-1 heading into their bye week.
Terry McLaurin Exits Game With Knee Injury
The Commanders suffered an early blow when wide receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off the field with a knee injury late in the first quarter. The team's medical staff placed an air cast on his leg before he was carted off the field, and he was later ruled out for the remainder of Monday night's contest.
McLaurin injured his left knee while running a route on third-and-9 with 2:16 left in the first quarter. His leg appeared to buckle as he changed direction on the route near Washington's sideline. Daniels was also sacked on that same play.
Before exiting the game, McLaurin had caught a 27-yard pass on Washington's opening drive, helping set up Drew Stevens' 51 yard field goal. He entered Monday's matchup with 15 receptions and a team-leading 230 yards so far this season, making his absence a significant setback for the Commanders' offense.
The 31-year-old receiver had already missed Washington's week four matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in London after suffering a hamstring injury during that week. He returned the following game before sustsianing the knee injury against San Francisco.
Head Coach Dan Quinn shared after the game that there was fear that McLaurin's injury could be significant for Washington. However, he will undergo further tests on Tuesday to determine the severity of his knee injury.
San Francisco Had Control Early On
The 49ers entered Monday night as one of the NFL's last three undefeated teams. San Francisco had come off of an impressive road win over NFC West rival and reining Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
Led by quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers continued their spark despite injuries amongst its receiving corps. Purdy had recorded 1,196 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions through his first five games, while only being sacked once.
The 49ers early dominances against Washington reflected their offensive efficiency built in previous games this season. San Francisco built a 23-3 advantage, capitalizing on the Commanders' struggles to build momentum. For much of the first half and into the third quarter, Washington appeared to be outmatched on both sides of the ball.
But that changed for the Commanders late in the third quarter, when Daniels and Washington's offense began to find openings within San Francisco's defense.
Commanders Ignited Second-Half Comeback
Washington began its rally with a 65-yard drive spanning 11 yards near the end of the third quarter. Facing fourth-and-5 at the San Francisco 31-yard line, Daniels connected with Stefon Diggs for a 13-yard gain to keep the drive alive.
Five plays later, Daniels struck Diggs again for a one-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 23-10. The Commanders' defense followed that drive with a crucial stop. The defense forced a quick three-and-out, holding San Francisco to a loss of one yard. Washington then drove 80 yards on 10 plays to bring the game within one score.
On third-and-8 at the San Francisco 41-yard line, Daniels completed a 23-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams, moving Washington to the 18-yard line. A roughing-the-passer penalty moved the ball forward, setting up another scoring opportunity.
Daniels the connected with running back Rashaad White over the middle for a 9-yard touchdown, trimming the 49ers' lead to 23-17.
With the defense continuing to deliver stops, Washington had a chance to complete the comeback. After another three-and-out by the 49ers, Daniels found wide reciever Treylon Burks for a 30-yard gain to the San Francisco 31-yard line.
Running back Jeremy McNichols appeared to deliver a breakthrough when he broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run with 4:19 remaining. However, it was a dace mask call on guard Chris Paul that wiped away what would have been the game-tying touchdown.
Late Opportunities Slipped Away
Despite the costly penalty, Washington continued to fight for momentum. Daniels was initially sacked on fourth-and-8, but an illegal-contact penalty against San Francisco gabe the Commanders a first down at the 49ers' 24-yard line.
The offense advanced to another game-changing fourth-down moment. Daniels targeted Burks in the corner of the end zone, but the pass fell incomplete amid contact. This left Washington without the score to tie the game.
The Commanders' defense gave the offense one final opportunity forcing another 49ers punt. Daniels moved the ball forward for Washington with completions to White for nine yards and Williams for 17. Those two plays brought the Commanders closer to a game-winning possession.
However, the comeback rally ended on three consecutive plays. The first play was an incompletion to stop the clock, followed by a play which resulted in an intentional-grounding penalty, and Height's sack on Daniels being the finale.
Washington had battled back from a 20-point deficit tto put itself within reach of a dramatic finish. But it was missed opportunities and costly penalties that proved prevent the successful comeback.
Washington Heads Into The Bye Week Looking For Answers, Loss Adds To NFC East Turmoil
Washington's loss dropped the Commanders to 1-4-1 and added to the NFC East's division turmoil. The NFC East became the first became the first division since the 1970 NFL merger to go winless in back-to-back weeks, in which all four teams played.
For Washington, the late surge in Monday night's contest, offered a glimpse of the team's potential. But it was a slow start and missed opportunities on critical fourth downs that overshadowed the comeback effort.
The Commanders will now enter their scheduled bye week, giving Coach Quinn and his staff time to evaluate injuries, the team's performance, and shortcomings in preparation for the rest of the season. After another frustrating defeat. Washington will need to build on its second-half resilience and find greater consistency when they return to the field.
Washington will retun in week eight against NFC East rival the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium. The matchup is currently slated for primetime. However, the NFL has until Tuesday to decide whether to flex the game out that window, as both teams have endured difficult starts to the season.
