Game Breakdown: 49ers Clinch No. 1 Seed, Get Past Washington 27-10
The 49ers shut out Washington in the 2nd half to pull away for a 27-10 victory and then clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs thanks to Arizona’s upset win over Philadelphia.
San Francisco now faces a choice of how much rest to give its starters in next week’s game against the Rams. Based on the Washington game, a tune-up of playing at least through the first quarter seems to be necessary. Starters who enter next week’s game with questionable status will likely be held out.
For the league’s fourth-oldest team, securing the top seed is a pivotal step toward making the Super Bowl. The attrition of a 17-week season has led to many injuries, particularly on defense.
Now the 49ers don’t play meaningful football for three weeks, hosting a divisional round playoff game the weekend of January 20th. As seeds and matchups currently stand, the Niners could face Philadelphia in the divisional round and then the winner of Detroit at Dallas for the NFC Championship at Levi’s Stadium.
Against Washington, the Niners sleepwalked through the first half, with the offense stopped in the red zone twice and the defense losing to a Washington offensive line missing three starters.
The Commanders were in the Niners red zone with a chance to cut it to three and Charvarius Ward won the game with an interception at the two-yard line. The Niners then marched for a score and never looked back.
GAME BALLS
Brock Purdy – Set a new franchise record for passing yards in a season at 4,280, surpassing Jeff Garcia’s 4,278 in 2000. Purdy reached the mark with 444 attempts, over 100 fewer than Garcia’s 561 when he set the record. Purdy finished the game 22-28 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
Brandon Aiyuk – Seven catches for 114 yards and the touchdown that ended the game. Aiyuk has gone over 110 yards receiving in two straight games and three of his last four.
Elijah Mitchell – With Christian McCaffrey held out with 8:38 left in the 3rd due to a calf injury, Mitchell stepped up to play a key role in two final touchdown drives. Mitchell would end the day with 17 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, his best game since an 89-yard effort against the Chargers over a year ago.
Charvarius Ward – He held inside position on Terry McLaurin and intercepted the ball at the two. The pick changed the game and essentially won it. Ward also had four tackles and a tackle for loss.
LESSONS
The run defense can’t work without Arik Armstead. That has been made clear as Armstead has sat out, but the point was driven home when Washington’s makeshift offensive line missing three starters made holes for Brian Robinson, who had nine carries for 44 yards.
Washington also did a solid job of protecting Sam Howell, limiting the Niners to one sack due to a solid job upfront and a quick passing game.
If any position group on the team needs an extended bye it’s the defensive line that must have Armstead back healthy for the playoffs.
MILESTONES
McCaffrey eclipsed 2,000 yards of total offense for the season. His 1,459 rushing yards this season ranks 4th in 49ers history. With a game left, he can potentially surpass Roger Craig (1502) and Garrison Hearst (1,570) to climb to 2nd behind Frank Gore’s 1,695 in 2006. However, his calf injury may lead to him being held out next week.
George Kittle needs just nine yards receiving next week to reach 1,000 for the season.
A LOOK AHEAD
The Rams game no longer carries meaning and I’d expect any starter who is ailing will sit this one out. For the team overall, playing through the first quarter makes sense for the key starters, possibly through the first half for others. After that, depends on who, but caution makes sense. The 49ers can’t afford to lose a starter to a season-ending injury in the final regular season game.
Both No. 1 seeds have been determined, the Niners in the NFC, and the Ravens in the AFC after an impressive 56-19 thrashing of Miami. The two teams will enter the playoffs as favorites for a rematch in Las Vegas in the Super Bowl.
