The Washington Commanders face a tough task on Monday Night Football in Week 6 as they take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
With a 1-3-1 record and a slew of injuries, it’s hard to have confidence in this Commanders team. Last week’s controversial tie with the New York Giants didn't help assuage anyone's doubts.
The Commanders began the season with incredibly high hopes. Jayden Daniels was back. The defense was bolstered. The skill positions were essentially locked down. After five weeks of play, though, any excitement around Washington has dissipated. Fan confidence is practically gone. Analysts and experts don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, and the Commanders have one of the league's hardest schedules, so it won't get easier.
It’s not all bad, though. Good things are still happening for the Commanders, so let's look at three reasons for optimism ahead of their matchup with the 49ers this Monday.
Jayden Daniels looks like Jayden Daniels
Getting Jayden Daniels back on the field in Week 5 gave the Commanders’ offense a huge boost. They moved the ball well, Daniels made good decisions, and they put points on the board. Unfortunately, that only lasted for three quarters, but it is still a positive sign for the Commanders since they were without their starting quarterback for two and a half weeks.
In his first game back, Daniels threw for 199 yards and rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 17 of 25 passes, and drove the offense to score 27 points in regulation. His spark gave the offense the signs of life it has been missing. If they can pair his production with cleaner late-game execution, then they will have a path to keep up with the 49ers.
However, if they can’t give Daniels the support and help he needs on the field, we have to remember that he’s only one person. He can’t win the game by himself, no matter how much he wills it. He needs the defense to keep doing what it’s doing, and he needs his skill players to be ready for their assignments.
Washington's turnover ratio
The Commanders have given the ball away twice this season and taken it away seven times, for a turnover ratio of +5. They have the second-best turnover ratio in the league. Meanwhile, the 49ers have given the ball away five times and taken it away seven times, creating a turnover ratio of two.
Washington will have to lean on its ability to take the ball away against the undefeated 49ers on Monday, as it could be the key to a win.
49ers can be pushed
Undefeated does not mean unbeatable. In their Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the Niners needed a late-game score to win the game by three points. Seattle kept it close, and with the Commanders also beating the Seahawks this season, that should give them confidence going into this matchup.
On top of that, the 49ers will be without a familiar face on Monday as wide receiver Deebo Samuel is dealing with a hamstring issue. Samuel likely would have loved facing his former team, but the issue is likely to keep him sidelined for some time. Samuel has three of San Francisco’s 13 passing touchdown receptions, and he is known for his explosive play ability even on short passes.
The Commanders will still have to contend with Mike Evans, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, but the loss of Deebo Samuel will change the dynamic of the Niners’ offense. The Commanders can capitalize on that with takeaways and get their defense off the field, giving the offense more opportunities to score and come away with a win.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders vs. San Francisco 49ers: 3 reasons for optimism