San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (#11) celebrates his touchdown in the fourth quarter with his teammates against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on Sunday DEC 31, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

The road to the Super Bowl will go through Santa Clara.

The San Francisco 49ers regained their swagger in a 27-10 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field.

Along with the Arizona Cardinals upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco clinched the number one seed in the NFC and will home field advantage for the entire playoffs. Washington has lost seven in a row as their dismal season has one week left.

It was a big rebound for the 49ers after losing six days earlier to the Baltimore Ravens. It was also a nice rebound for quarterback Brock Purdy who came off his worst game of his career by going 20 of 26 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Purdy finished with a QB rating of 124.7.

“For us to be able to lock up that (number) one seed and get guys healthy going into (the) playoffs is huge for us,” said Purdy about what it means for his team to have a bye week for the playoffs. “So we’re excited about that. Obviously to have two games in the playoffs (at home) before the big one is huge.”

San Francisco (12-4) opened the game with a 12 play 55-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal by Jake Moody. The 49ers defense recorded a three and out on Washington’s first posssession.

The 49ers scored its first touchdown on its next offensive possession. Purdy completed a nine play 63-yard drive with a two-yard shovel pass to Deebo Samuel who ran around the left side for his sixth receiving touchdown on the season.

After a 47-yard field goal from Joey Slye, Washington (4-12) marched down the field late in the first half to score its only touchdown of the game. Quarterback Sam Howell connected with Terry McLaurin on 42-yard reception during the drive. It set up McLaurin’s three-yard touchdown reception from Howell with 4:33 left in the second quarter.

San Francisco closed out the first half with a Moody 22-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining to complete a 10 play 71-yard drive that ate 4:14 off the clock.

The 49ers opened up their first possession of the second half with 12 play 83-yard touchdown drive to go up 20-10. Running back Christian McCaffery began the series with 10-yard reception for a first down, but after a rush for no yards he aggravated a lower body injury. Elijah Mitchell took over for McCaffery and finished off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown.

McCaffery finished with 64 yards on 14 carries and had four receptions for 27 yards.

San Francisco’s defense took over the game as they ended the next two Washington’s drives with interceptions off of Howell. Charvarius Ward recorded his fourth interception of the season with 14:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“We still gotta continue to get better. It’s not about completely removing ourself or just rest of everybody (next week)…We gotta make sure we’re at our best when our best is needed, for when our moment comes,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said.

The 49ers took advantage of the turnover when Purdy threw for his second touchdown of the game, a 17-yarder to Brandon Aiyuk to put the game out of reach. Purdy pressured out of the pocket, scrambled to the right before finding Aiyuk all alone in the endzone.

Deommodore Lenoir recorded his second interception with 8:57 left in the game to end any chance of a comeback by the Commanders.

Aiyuk led all receivers in receiving with seven catches for 114 yards to go along with his touchdown. Mitchell led all rushers in rushing with 80 yards on 17 carries. Samuel chipped in five catches for 37 yards.

Howell went 17 of 28 for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. McLaurin led Washington in receiving with four catches 61 yards. Brian Robinson chipped in 44 yards on nine carries.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-9 on third down conversions. Washington was 3-for-9.

Purdy became the 49ers single season all-time passing leader in yardage with 4,280. He surpassed Jeff Garcia who has the previous record of 4,278 who set the mark in 2000.

UP NEXT: San Francisco closes out the regular season hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday 1/7 at 1:25pm at Levi’s Stadium.