Published October 19, 2026 11:30 PM
The Commanders dug a hole in the first half, and the 49ers were throwing dirt on top of them in the third quarter.
San Francisco led 20-3 at halftime and 23-3 with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. It came down to the last play.
The 49ers held on for a 23-17 victory that was too close for comfort for the home fans. The 49ers are 6-0, and the Commanders are 1-4-1.
The Commanders had 17 plays, two first downs and 90 yards in the first half. The 49ers had 41 plays, 17 first downs and 303 yards in the first half.
The second half was all Washington, with Jayden Daniels throwing two touchdown passes and giving the Commanders a chance to win.
The Commanders outgained the 49ers 224 to 72 in the second half.
On Washington’s next-to-last possession, the 49ers had the Commanders stopped on Romello Height’s sack of Daniels with 2:55 left. But Ashtyn Davis was called for illegal contact. It was one of four defensive penalties the 49ers had resulted in Commanders’ first downs.
The Commanders faced a fourth down at the San Francisco 17, and Daniels gave Treylon Burks a chance to catch a touchdown pass. Burks had it briefly before Malik Mustapha forced it out as Burks hit the ground in the end zone with 1:54 remaining.
The 49ers’ last three drives were three-and-outs, gaining a total of 7 yards. That gave Washington a second chance for a miracle comeback.
49ers gunner Siran Neal was called for fair catch interference on the punt, and the 15-yard penalty gave Washington the ball at their own 46. The Commanders reached the San Francisco 28 before Daniels was called for grounding, and on the final snap, Ogbo Okoronkwo and Height combined for a sack of Daniels. It was one of four sacks for the 49ers.
Brock Purdy was 21-of-29 for 264 yards and a touchdown. He lost his star wide receiver, Mike Evans, before the end of the first half. Evans aggravated his Achilles soreness and missed the second half after making three catches for 94 yards in the first half.
Christian McCaffrey rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and caught nine passes for 53 yards. George Kittle made five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Daniels was 29-of-40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He lost his star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, to a knee injury in the first quarter, and nine different Commanders receivers caught at least one pass.