Monday night gives us one last Week 6 game, and on the surface, it looks like a pretty lopsided matchup. The 49ers are 5–0, averaging 30.8 points per game, and looking every bit like one of the league’s best teams. The Commanders are 1–3–1 and still trying to turn a talented roster into a team that can actually close out games.

Their 27–27 tie with the Giants pretty much sums up the frustration in Washington. The Commanders led by 14 with eight minutes left, watched New York rally, and then let overtime run out while they were in field-goal range. Jayden Daniels, playing his first game back after dislocating his elbow, took the blame for that final decision.

“We tied, but it was a fail in my eyes.”

Now he gets a chance to respond on the biggest stage of the week.

Here are the three things that could decide it.

1. Give Daniels Time to Make San Francisco Worry

Daniels wasn’t exactly rusty against the Giants. He ran for 103 more and scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 38-yard sprint. The problem? New York still got to him five times.

San Francisco did the same thing to Sam Darnold in Seattle, sacking him five times and picking him off twice. Washington can’t keep asking Daniels to play superhero on every third-and-long.

The Commanders need quicker throws and enough protection for Daniels to get past his first read. Terry McLaurin can flip a drive with one catch, and Daniels is dangerous when a play breaks down and he has room to run. But Washington converts just 31.9% of their third downs, 29th in the league. A few big plays won’t matter much if the offense keeps giving the ball right back.

There’s still a path for Washington to make this interesting. Their only win came against defending champion Seattle, and Daniels didn’t even play. The Commanders forced three turnovers and scored 33 points that day. They’ve shown what this team can look like. They just haven’t come close to doing it often enough.

2. Don’t Let McCaffrey Make Every Choice a Bad One

Christian McCaffrey already has 286 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns and another 137 yards on 19 catches. So if Washington starts stacking the box to keep him from running between the tackles, Brock Purdy can make them pay over the top. He’s thrown 13 touchdown passes in five games, and Mike Evans and George Kittle give him two very different ways to attack a defense. The 49ers are averaging 128.6 rushing yards and 236.4 passing yards a game. That balance is what Washington has to disrupt.

The Commanders do have a decent place to start. They’re giving up 95.4 rushing yards a game, which ranks eighth in the league. But stopping McCaffrey on one play doesn’t mean the problem’s gone. He can catch a pass on the next snap, and Purdy can hit Evans outside if defenders start creeping toward the line. Deebo Samuel is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury, but San Francisco still put up 32 points in Seattle.

Washington’s bigger issue has been closing out halves. They've allowed 95 second-half points, the most in the league. Against a 49ers offense averaging nearly 18 points after halftime, playing well for the first 30 minutes won’t be enough.

3. Make the Big Moments Count

San Francisco got past Seattle in part because their defense came up with four takeaways. Washington’s plus-five turnover differential says they can create some extra chances, too. The bigger issue is what happens after that.

The 49ers have scored touchdowns on 14 of 16 red-zone trips. Washington's given up touchdowns on 15 of 18. That’s a rough matchup for a team trying to pull off a road upset. If the Commanders can force San Francisco to settle for field goals and finish their own drives, they’ve got a real shot to keep this thing close.

San Francisco has the more reliable offense, the better defense, and home-field advantage. There's just no way around it.

An upset would mean the Commanders are ready to be more than a team with potential. Another convincing 49ers win would show that this 5–0 start can hold up even with injuries and a desperate opponent coming to town.

We’ll find out Monday night.

All stats courtesy of Fantasy Points Data.

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