49ers Hold Off Commanders 23-17 to Stay Unbeaten
The San Francisco 49ers stayed unbeaten, but they had to survive a late scare to do it.
San Francisco held off the Washington Commanders 23-17 on “Monday Night Football” at Levi’s Stadium, closing out Week 6 with a game that came down to the final play. The win moved the 49ers to 6-0, while the Commanders fell to 1-4-1, one of the NFL’s worst records this season.
The 49ers Build a Big Lead
For most of the night, this looked like a comfortable win for San Francisco. The 49ers scored 13 points in the first quarter and led 20-3 at halftime, with their star players doing much of the damage. Tight end George Kittle, one of quarterback Brock Purdy’s favorite targets, finished with five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco opened the second half by forcing a Washington punt, then added a field goal to stretch the lead to 23-3. At that point, the game looked all but decided.
Washington Wakes Up
The Commanders, led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, finally found their rhythm in the second half. After struggling to move the ball early, Washington outgained San Francisco 224-72 over the final two quarters.
Washington’s first big drive came in the third quarter. Daniels completed all five of his passes on an 11-play march, including a 13-yard throw to veteran receiver Stefon Diggs on fourth-and-5 to keep the drive alive. He capped it by finding Diggs again at the goal line for a touchdown, Diggs’ fourth of the season.
After Washington’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, Daniels went right back to work. He hit Antonio Williams for a 23-yard gain, then found running back Rachaad White for a 9-yard touchdown with 9:22 left in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 23-17.
San Francisco Hangs On
From there, the game turned into a defensive battle. San Francisco’s offense, so effective in the first half, couldn’t put the game away, and Washington got one last chance to take the lead after its defense forced another stop.
The 49ers’ young defenders came through when it mattered. Safety Malik Mustapha and Romello Height were among those who made big plays in crucial moments, and San Francisco sacked Daniels on the game’s final play to seal the win.
What’s Next
The 49ers remain one of the league’s few unbeaten teams, though their second-half struggles left plenty to clean up. Washington, meanwhile, showed real fight in the comeback, but the Commanders are still searching for a way to play four competitive quarters as they head into Week 7.
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