The Washington Commanders' rally fell short on Monday as they lost 23-17to the San Francisco 49ers.
Jayden Daniels was sacked on the game’s final play, ending the Commanders’ last chance to steal a win from the undefeated 6-0 49ers.
The Commanders were completely outplayed and outcoached for the first two and a half quarters as the 49ers raced to a 23-3 lead. Then, Washington suddenly came alive on both offense and defense.
Closing out the third quarter, Washington drove 65 yards in 11 plays. The key play of the drive was a fourth-and-5 at the 49ers' 31, when Daniels found Stefon Diggs for 13 yards to the 18. Five plays later, Daniels found Diggs for a one-yard touchdown, and it was 23-10.
The Commanders’ defense came alive, holding the 49ers to
-1 yd in three plays, forcing a punt. Washington responded with an 80-yard drive in 10 plays. On a third-and-8 at the 49ers’ 41, Daniels connected with Antonio Williams for 23 yards to the 18. A roughing-the-passer penalty moved the ball to the 9. Daniels then found Rachaad White in the middle of the field as the Commanders closed to 23-17.
This time the Commanders’ defense forced a punt after the 49ers gained no yards in three plays. Daniels found Treylon Burks for 30 yards to the 49ers’ 31-yard line. Jeremy McNichols then ran 31 yards for a tying touchdown with 4:19 remaining, but left guard Chris Paul was caught committing a facemask penalty, taking the score off the board.
Daniels was then sacked on fourth-and-8, but the 49ers were called for illegal contact, giving the Commanders a first down at the San Francisco 24. On fourth-and-3 at the 49ers’ 17, Daniels’ pass to Burke at the pylon was incomplete; contact caused Burke to drop the pass.
One final stop by the Commanders’ defense forced another San Francisco punt. Daniels found White for 9 yards and Williams for 17. But the final three plays were an incompletion to stop the clock, an intentional grounding, and then Daniels was sacked by Romello Height, ending the Washington rally.
With the loss, the Commanders fall to 1-4-1 and can now get some much-needed rest during their scheduled bye week.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders rally falls short, lose to 49ers 23-17
