San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws to a receiver as he is pressured by Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat (90) in the second half at Levi Stadium Santa Clara Sat Dec 23, 2022 (AP News photo)
by Marko Ukalovic
SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers (11-4) were in full control in a 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders (7-7-1) on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco, who have already clinched the NFC West, continue to roll with their season best eight straight win. Washington have lost two in a row and their playoff hopes are in peril with two games left in the regular season.
Neither offense had nothing to write home about for most of the first half as they both looked like they drank too much eggnog the night before with combined punts.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy had three balls tipped down at the line of scrimmage during the first two quarters that kept 49ers from establishing a rhythm on offense.
Washington looked to have the first time make a dent on the scoreboard when they went on a 17-play drive of 84 yards that took almost 11 minutes off the clock. However, linebacker Fred Warner stopped Antonio Gibson at the one-yard line on 4th and goal.
San Francisco (11-4) answered on the following drive in just three plays. Ray Ray McCloud ran an end around for a 71-yard rushing touchdown thanks to a great seal block set by wide receiver Willie Snead IV, who was activated off the practice squad, to cap off the 99-yard drive and break the deadlock. It was McCloud’s first career rushing touchdown.
Washington (7-7-1) gained back the momentum just before halftime when Juan Jennings had the ball bounce off his hands into the arms of Darrick Forrest at the 31-yard line. Tyler Heinicke connected with Jahan Dotson on a four-yard touchdown reception with 22 seconds left to even the game.
San Francisco opened the second half with a seven play 76-yard drive to regain the lead. Purdy found tight end George Kittle wide open down the middle for a 34-yard touchdown reception.
Once again, the 49ers defense stepped up to the plate when they needed to and killed a second Washington fourth down conversion when Heinicke tried a quarterback sneak on 4th and 1 at the Commanders 34-yard line.
San Francisco’s defense also won the battle of the trenches as they held the vaunted Commanders rushing attack to just 79 yards on the ground despite the two-headed monster of Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr., who led Washington in rushing with 58 yards on 22 caries for a 2.6 average.
“We have plenty of room to improve. It always looks good on the scoreboard when you get the win, but you have to be hard on yourself as a team in order for us to be great and take that step. We have to stop them from scoring. When you allow the team 20 points, you don’t like it. You have to do better,” 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw said.
The 49ers made the Commanders pay for that decision two plays later when Purdy rolled out to the left on a bootleg and found Kittle out in the flat. The Pro Bowl bound tight end ran back into the middle and glided into the endzone for his a 33-yard touchdown reception, his second touchdown of the game.
“He makes my job easy,” said Purdy regarding the connection he has with Kittle. “If you just get the dude the ball he’ll just take off. George (Kittle) is extremely explosive, more than people think. He does a great job with the yards after the catch. I wish I would’ve had him catch that third touchdown as I think I threw it a little short. (But) just can’t give a (Iowa) Hawkeye too many touchdowns in a game.”
Kittle has back-to-back games with two touchdowns receptions and is the first 49ers player to accomplish that feat since Terrell Owens did it twenty years ago in 2002.
Washington answered back just over two minutes later with a four play 75-yard drive that was finished with a Terry McLaurin three-yard diving touchdown reception from Heinicke.
Nick Bosa made the defensive play of the game with his second sack of the game. The Pro Bowl defensive end hit Heinicke from behind popping the ball up in the air as Jordan Willis recovered the ball at the Washington 11-yard line. Robbie Gould kicked his second field goal of the game, a 23-yarder, to give San Francisco a two-score cushion with 12:02 left in the fourth quarter.
“When you have as a good a pass rusher who is as good as Nick, those are the best guys who have a way to change the game,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Bosa cemented his defensive player of the year award with two sacks and leads the NFL with 17.5.
Curtis Samuel cut San Francisco’s lead to 30-20 when he caught a 20-yard touchdown reception from Carson Wentz, who came in and replaced Heinicke, who was benched by Commander’s head coach Ron Rivera, with 3:51 left in the fourth quarter.
Christian McCaffery closed out the scoring with a one-yard rushing touchdown on the 49ers ensuing drive that began on the Washington 38-yard line when the Commanders failed to recover an onside kick.
San Francisco scored six on their seven second half offensive possessions.
Purdy finished 15 of 22 for 234 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Kittle had his best game of the season with six catches for 120 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. McCaffery chipped in with 46 yards with 15 carries. Brandon Aiyuk contributed five catches for 81 yards.
Heinicke went 13 of 18 for 166 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and one fumble. Wentz was 12 of 16 for 123 yards and one touchdown in mop up duty. McLaurin led Washington in receiving with four catches for 77 yards to along with his one touchdown.
GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 4-for-11 on third down conversions. Washington went 7-for-11.
San Francisco leads the all-time series against Washington 22-12-1.
UP NEXT: San Franciso plays their final road game of the season on Sunday 1/1 when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders at 1:05pm at Allegiant Stadium.
