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While the Washington Commanders are likely playing with a lame-duck coach, the San Francisco 49ers will be without a key defender. These teams, going in different directions, will meet in Week 6 on Monday Night Football, and here are bold predictions for the contest.
Still reeling from a last-second overtime mental meltdown in the 27-27 tie to the Giants, the Commanders carry a record of 1-3-1 and a heavy underdog role into this game. Meanwhile, the 49ers are flying high with a record of 5-0 on the season. They’re coming off an exciting 32-29 win over the Seahawks, giving them firm control of the NFC West title chase.
49ers QB Brock Purdy will throw for 300 yards
The Commanders have been good against the run this season, giving up only 95.4 yards per game. They will have a challenge against the 49ers’ offense, who are No. 8 in rushing yards per game.
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Look for the Commanders to slow, not stop, Christian McCaffrey. However, that opens things up for the 49ers’ passing attack to hit high gear.
The biggest problem the Commanders will have is Mike Evans. That’s not a deep analysis. It’s something every team faces when playing the 49ers. Purdy said Evans makes a big difference, according to ESPN.
“He’s a game changer,” Purdy said after the win over the Seahawks. “True X receiver that, if you get the right look and stuff and you give him a chance, he can make defenses pay.
“I thought today he did a great job with that, going up and getting the ball multiple times and just using his length and everything to create some separation. So as a quarterback, any time I have an (opportunity) to go to him, it always feels good.”
Evans doesn’t shy away from the attention. And why should he? He’s a future Hall of Famer.
“I do feel like I’m one of the best receivers in the game,” Evans said. “I got a big frame, so if you throw it around me, I’m going to do my best to try to make those contested grabs.”
The 49ers won’t have Deebo Samuel, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Seahawks. That could allow the Commanders to focus more attention on Evans. But the 49ers still have threats, including George Kittle.
And even Kittle has major respect for Evans, according to a post on X.
“Mike Evans is really good at football,” Kittle posted.
49ers TE George Kittle will have a season-high reception total
Kittle’s best game came in Week 3 against the Cardinals as he grabbed six passes for 82 yards and a pair of scores. Look for him to have a similar line against the Commanders with Samuel on the shelf.
The 49ers have Kittle, Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, and Jacob Cowing on the roster. And that’s enough, said head coach Kyle Shanahan, according to ESPN.
“I think we have enough,” Shanahan said. “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.”
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will finally cross 200-yard passing mark
In three games this season, Daniels hasn’t totaled over 200 yards passing. Look for that to change against the 49ers. It makes sense for the 49ers to focus defensively on keeping Daniels in check as a runner. He’s coming off a game where he ran for 103 yards on nine carries and a pair of touchdowns.
And look for the Commanders’ game plan to lean more on the passing game than it has so far this season. Part of it will likely be from necessity as the Commanders figure to be chasing points throughout this game.
Daniels has a lot to prove after his late-game blunder against the Giants. He has tried to own the situation, according to ESPN.
“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.”
A bounce-back game against the 49ers by Daniels won’t help Quinn’s future as head coach. But it would be an olive branch to Commanders’ fans who are furious about Daniels’ mental meltdown.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin will get a long TD
Look for the Commanders to strike deep against the 49ers. McLaurin should be the beneficiary with a 40-plus-yard score.
McLaurin hasn’t been anything special from a fantasy perspective this season. He had catch totals of 2, 2, 6, and 4 in his first four games. He has 203 total yards and one touchdown. Those aren’t WR1 numbers. He is playing like a pedestrian blob so far this season.
And while he probably won’t juice up those numbers much against the 49ers’ tough defense, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to get a deep ball.
How big of an ask is a 40-yard TD strike between Daniels and McLaurin? Consider that Daniels’ longest pass of the season is 33 yards. McLaurin’s longest catch is 30 yards. Those numbers seem to belie the likelihood of a long hookup. However, the 49ers can’t fear the deep ball because of this duo’s modest production. And that’s why there’s a window of opportunity for a bomb.
However, look for the Commanders to fall to 1-4-1 after this one. They don’t have the roster to compete with the 49ers.
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