Our Seahawks just dropped a heartbreaker to the Broncos last night, falling 17-14 in Denver, and now the Niners are looking to put an even tighter hold on the NFC West. San Francisco is riding a five-game winning streak and gets to host the limping Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium. The Commanders, fresh off a tie with the New York Giants, somehow have an injury report longer than the Niners’ own, which is just another gut punch for us knowing what San Francisco could do with this opportunity.
San Francisco’s Ground Game vs. Washington’s Not-So-Weak Front
The Niners love to run the ball, we all know that. They might be even more inclined to hit that “magic 30-carry number” against Washington, especially with receiver Mike Evans missing Thursday’s practice due to Achilles soreness. But here’s the kicker, and something that could give San Francisco a surprising challenge: Washington’s front seven isn’t one of their issues. Seriously, among all the Commanders’ problems in 2026, their defensive front isn’t it. Their overall defense sits at a zero in EPA, meaning it’s not a positive, but it’s not a detriment either. The scales tip because their run defense is solid, allowing a strong -0.07 EPA/rush. It’s their passing defense that’s been absolutely torched, giving up 0.05 EPA/pass. So, will the 49ers actually throw it around the yard, testing Fabian Moreau or Mike Sainristil? Amik Robertson has played great, but the secondary around him is super susceptible to the pass. It could be a chess match we don’t want to see San Francisco win easily.
Jayden Daniels and The 49ers’ Mobile QB Problem
This is where it gets really annoying for the Niners, and honestly, a little frustrating when you think about how they struggle here. It doesn’t matter the season, the defensive coordinator, or who is on the roster; the 49ers consistently have issues defending mobile quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability single-handedly kept Washington alive last Sunday against the Giants. The Commanders operate out of shotgun a lot, at 53.9%, and are under center only 37.7% of the time, which is the third-lowest total in the NFL. San Francisco will absolutely NEED to keep Daniels locked in the pocket and force him to work from there. If he starts improvising outside the pocket, he opens up plays for himself to run or find guys downfield if the coverage breaks down. A disciplined pass rush will be the absolute key to containing him. Let’s hope they don’t figure it out perfectly tonight.
Washington’s Left Tackle Nightmare: A Gift for San Francisco?
This one feels like a cruel twist of fate for the Commanders, and a potential easy street for the 49ers. The loss of Laremy Tunsil at left tackle for Washington cannot be understated; he was a massive upgrade for their offensive line. His absence has been brutal. Third-year tackle Brandon Coleman has stepped in, and the numbers are just ugly: he’s responsible for a staggering 32.2% of Washington’s allowed pressures, which is the highest number in the entire NFL. This season alone, Coleman has given up 18 pressures, 13 hurries, two QB hits, and three sacks on 203 snaps. If San Francisco’s defensive line, which just had an extra day of rest after a super physical matchup with the defending Super Bowl champs, can’t feast on that, then what are we even doing? This could be a huge factor in the game, and one that absolutely favors the Niners in the worst way for us.
So, while our 12s are still reeling from last night’s close loss to Denver, the 49ers are in prime position to tighten their grip on the NFC West. A win on Monday night puts an even tighter hold on the division for San Francisco, and that’s a tough pill to swallow after watching our own guys fight so hard. Let’s just hope the Commanders can pull off something wild and keep things interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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