Paging Admiral Ackbar, because the San Francisco 49ers almost turned a 20-3 first-half lead into a trap game in the second. The win brought the Niners to 6-0, but also generates questions about whether the offense can keep the chains moving after the team lost Mike Evans to injury in the first half. The defense's bruising play against the Commanders generated excitement, game-saving stops … and penalties that helped sustain Washington's second-half drives. Not every win is going to earn straight A's - or in this week's case, any.
Offense: B-
In the first half, the 49ers' offense scored touchdowns on three of its five possessions, powered in part by Mike Evans' 54-yard catch that set up their second touchdown. Christian McCaffrey set season highs in touches (25) and yards (117), but his first-half fumble at Washington' 21-yard line helped keep the Commanders in the game. The second-half struggles after Evans' injury-related exit were ominous - Brock Purdy was sacked twice and the offense only got a field goal while going three-and-out on their last three possessions.
Defense: B
Despite the absence of Dre Greenlaw, the defense played a very physical game, but that came with some negative consequences as well as good. Osa Odighizuwa created a first-and-goal on the Commanders' first third-down conversion of the entire game in the fourth quarter with a late hit on Jayden Daniels; the Commanders subsequently made it a one-score game. Two illegal contact plays in the second half gave Washington first downs that also sustained their rally. But Malik Mustapha's pair of plays on the Commanders' next-to-last possession - stuffing Jeremy McNichols on third down, then breaking up Daniels' desperation heave toward the goal line were crucial to keeping the Niners in the win column. The defensive line made four sacks, by Mykel Williams (who lost a nifty series-killing deflection to a penalty), Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton and one split twixt Romello Height and Keion Williams, but despite strong pressure Daniels nevertheless completed chunk plays to four receivers.
Special teams: C
This might be a generous C, because familiar problems re-emerged. After his latest miss Monday, kicker Eddy Piñeiro already has missed three extra points this season; the record in a season is eight. And Jacob Cowing muffed a punt (again), this time on the 49ers' own 2-yard line; at least this time his fumble was recovered. And Siran Neal's on-again, off-again heroics on special teams were off again, as his running into punt returner Luke McCaffrey after the fair catch had been signaled gave Washington another 15 yards and let Washington start its last possession from its own 46.
Coaching: B
The 49ers came in with a well-crafted offensive game plan that might have put four touchdowns on the board in the first half, if not for McCaffrey's fumble. Kyle Shanahan's offense showed some risk-taking swagger, going for it on fourth down twice - and converting both times, including on a 4th-and-3 on their second possession, en route to their second touchdown. The short-handed defense overcame not having Greenlaw and Nick Bosa, certainly, but the many flags thrown in the second half against the unit could have been decisive.
Overall: B-
This might seem harsh, but the Commanders almost pulled off an upset against a team touted by the NFL's best. A better opponent might have handed the 49ers their first loss of the season, and certainly the offense's second-half disappearance instead of generating those classic Shanahan possessions that kill the clock and spare the defense is far from reassuring. The Niners have banked six wins; the challenge for them now is to build on the good, keep mistakes to a minimum, and see if they can survive their latest big injury.
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at 49ers game grades: 49ers escape Commanders' trap, but it wasn't pretty.