By Field Level Media
Oct 19 (Field Level Media) – The San Francisco 49ers seek to stay unbeaten as they play host to a Washington Commanders team battling to stay in contention in the porous NFC East on “Monday Night Football” in Santa Clara, Calif., to close out Week 6 of the NFL season.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers are 7.5-point favorites as they attempt to improve to 6-0. Despite being more than a touchdown favorite, San Francisco has attracted 75 percent of the spread-line bets and 84 percent of the money at BetMGM. The story is similar at BetRivers, where the 49ers have been backed by 80 percent of the spread bets and 74 percent of the money, respectively.
The total-points line has shifted from 51 to 52 points at BetMGM, where the Over has drawn 53 percent of the total bets while the Under has attracted 59 percent of the money wagered. The action has been much more one-sided at BetRivers, with the Over backed by 63 percent of the bets and 91 percent of the money.
The 49ers have won 10 consecutive games as favorites, while each of the Commanders’ past eight games against NFC opponents has gone over the total- points line.
PROP PICKS
–49ers TE George Kittle Over 63.5 Reception Yards (-125 at BetMGM): Kittle is coming off a 24-yard receiving game against the Seattle Seahawks, breaking a streak of three consecutive games with at least 70 yards. Given San Francisco’s injuries at wide receiver, Kittle will remain a go-to target for quarterback Brock Purdy.
–49ers RB Christian McCaffrey Anytime TD Scorer (-270 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book. McCaffrey has five touchdowns this season, all coming on the ground. Those have come over the past four games after he was held out of the end zone in the season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams.
KEY STAT
The 49ers are off to their third 5-0 start under coach Kyle Shanahan and their second in four years. They also went 8-0 to begin the 2019 campaign on their way to appearing in Super Bowl LIV.
THE NEWS
San Francisco is riding high off an entertaining 32-29 win last week at rival Seattle. The 49ers’ defense produced four takeaways and powered a comeback from an eight-point second-half deficit.
Shanahan likened this week to the 49ers’ other marquee win — over the Rams in Australia in Week 1 — saying he loved how his players attacked their work in the week that followed. And the former Washington offensive coordinator (2010-13) warned that the Commanders are better than their 1-3-1 record.
“We’ve had an extra day off, we had a real emotional win and I know we got a really good team coming in here that’s as hungry as can be, and I know it’s probably gonna be our biggest challenge so far,” Shanahan said.
Washington aims to move forward from a 27-27 tie against the New York Giants that could have been a much-needed victory. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, who looked sharp in his return from a dislocated left (non-throwing) elbow, scrambled with no timeouts remaining and the clock winding down in overtime. The Commanders did not hustle back to the line in time to spike the ball and set up a game-winning field-goal try.
Both head coach Dan Quinn and Daniels have shouldered the blame in public.
“Ultimately, it’s on me,” Daniels said Thursday. “… Regardless of what happens, I’m the person on the field who’s supposed to calm everything, control everything, and I failed to the standard I hold myself to and the standard of this organization. … It was a failure in my eyes. I know I’m better than that, I hold myself to a higher standard than that. Moving forward, I’ll grow from it, learn from it and it’ll never happen again.”
Daniels rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries to go with 199 yards on 17-of-25 passing against the Giants. His performance drew praise from this week’s opposing coach.
“You take away the running element of him, just how he plays in the pocket is so natural,” Shanahan said, “with how accurate he is, how strong his arm is, how poised he is going through the progression, how fearless he is hanging in there and taking a hit and keeping his eyes down the field.”
Daniels also took five sacks against New York, but this week he may get to avoid two of the 49ers’ top defenders. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw will serve a one-game suspension after he head-butted a Seattle player on the sideline who was not wearing a helmet. Nick Bosa was ruled out Saturday as the pass rusher recovers from calf and knee injuries that have sidelined him for the last three games.
Renardo Green intercepted Seattle’s Sam Darnold twice last week, while the 49ers’ star performer on offense was veteran wideout Mike Evans. He fought for multiple key first downs on his way to seven catches, 113 yards and one touchdown.
The longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers star has played through multiple injuries in his first season in San Francisco, including two broken ribs.
“He’s a dog. That’s all I can say,” Purdy told reporters. “He fights through stuff. He’s competitive as heck, and he’s going to go out there and obviously give the team every chance or everything that he’s got, even if he’s going through stuff.”
INJURY REPORT
COMMANDERS: Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) did not practice all week and was ruled out Saturday. Quinn said that Croskey-Merritt, quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee), edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste (pectoral) and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu (groin/ankle) would not travel with the team for the game.
Quinn said Croskey-Merritt reinjured the groin he hurt in August. “That’s harder, on the same injury,” he said. “We’ll work really hard to get him back.”
Croskey-Merritt leads the Commanders with 239 rushing yards and has two rushing touchdowns. He missed the final two preseason games with a groin injury.
Rachaad White (shoulder) and Austin Ekeler (chest) are expected to share running back duties, though both have been limited in practice. Jeremy McNichols, who began the season on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury, will travel with the team and could be activated Monday.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who missed the tie against the Giants, practiced Saturday, as did Terry McLaurin (hamstring). The pair have combined for 32 receptions, 373 yards and four scores this season.
49ERS: San Francisco has been decimated by injuries at wide receiver this season, the latest being to No. 2 wideout Deebo Samuel. He figures to miss multiple weeks after straining a hamstring against Seattle. It was welcome news for the 49ers, then, that they opened Christian Kirk’s 21-day practice window Thursday. Kirk has yet to play this season due to a calf strain.
Evans (ribs, Achilles) sat out Thursday’s practice. Defensive lineman Gracen Halton (quadriceps) also sat out. Kirk, tackle Colton McKivitz (illness) and defensive back Siran Neal (neck) were limited.
PREDICTION
The Commanders should play inspired in prime time while trying to become the lone NFC East team to win in Week 6. They have the defensive personnel to keep the game competitive if they can win the turnover battle. Washington still faces a massive uphill battle with Purdy playing at an MVP level and San Francisco’s defense back to its fast and ferocious style. –49ers 30, Commanders 23
(–Field Level Media)
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