SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Despite being given several opportunities to pull off an improbable win against the undefeated 49ers, the Commanders came up short of a comeback in a 23-17 defeat on Monday Night Football.
Facing a third-and-long from San Francisco’s 40-yard line with six seconds left in the game, quarterback Jayden Daniels was sacked to provide an anticlimactic finish to a game that had plenty of twists and turns.
The Commanders trailed 23-3 midway through the third quarter, but were able to claw back within six points in the fourth. At one point, Washington appeared to take the lead on a long touchdown run from Jeremy McNichols, but it was called back by a penalty.
“I love their fight, but I’m sick about the ending,” coach Dan Quinn said. “When it’s hard, I love their resolve. But to be the team that we need to be, we’ve got to be more consistent.”
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Daniels finished 29 of 40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Touchdown catches by Stefon Diggs and Rachaad White gave Washington hope, but in the end it wasn’t enough. While the loss drops Washington to 1-4-1, Monday’s late surge marked a dramatic shift from a deflating first half.
The 49ers Christian McCaffrey (64 yards rushing and two touchdowns) and Mike Evans (94 yards receiving) took turns carving up Washington early, helping San Francisco get out to a 20-3 lead by halftime.
Washington’s offense didn’t reach the end zone until there were 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Its struggles were made worse by the loss of Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin, who went down with a leg injury in the first quarter. The unit looked rudderless for much of the first half, generating just 90 yards and failing to convert on a third down before the break.
“We dug ourselves a hole,” Daniels said after the loss. “We’ve got to [put together] a full game, be a four-quarter team. You know, not just a half team.”
Washington started to show some signs of life in the third quarter. Daniels found Stefon Diggs for a one-yard touchdown pass and, after forcing a three-and-out on the next 49ers possession, Washington drove 80 yards down the field and scored again to pull within a six points.
But on the Commanders’ final drive, Daniels was pressured into an intentional grounding penalty with 16 seconds remaining, which cost his team a down and a crucial 10 seconds on the clock. Given one last shot at a Hail Mary, two 49er pass rushers combined for a sack as double zeros hit the scoreboard.
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