SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Washington Commanders spent the first half getting pushed around and the second half nearly stealing a game, but their comeback ran out of time in a 23-17 Monday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
San Francisco controlled the opening two quarters, piling up 303 yards to just 90 for Washington and taking a 20-3 lead to the locker room. A field goal on the first 49ers drive after the break pushed the margin to 23-3.
Washington then found its footing. After penalties stalled one series, Jayden Daniels guided scoring drives of 56 and 66 yards, hitting Stefon Diggs for one touchdown while a running back caught the other. Daniels finished the night completing 73 percent of his throws for a 110.4 rating.
The defense matched that push, holding the 49ers to three-and-outs on three straight fourth-quarter possessions to give the offense two shots at a winning drive.
Neither one landed. On the first, Daniels had to spend a timeout when the play clock nearly expired on fourth-and-8, and a later fourth-down throw to Treylon Burks was knocked away by safety Malik Mustapha. On the last, Daniels reached the San Francisco 28 but was flagged for intentional grounding, then was sacked on the final snap.
The night also cost Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who was carted off in the first quarter with a knee injury. The Commanders were already without their starting running back, managed only 3.1 yards per carry and gave up four sacks.
The loss stings after the Week 5 overtime defeat to the Giants, when Daniels took a sack as time expired with Washington in field goal range.
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