49ers lock up No. 1 seed in NFC with workmanlike win over Commanders-ZoomTech News

Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers had a solution to quarterback Brock Purdy’s four-interception efficiency in a loss final week to the Baltimore Ravens — his worst recreation as a professional.

Hand the soccer to Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. 

These two 49ers working backs mixed for 144 dashing yards and a rating in a 27-10 victory over the Washington Commanders, as San Francisco rebounded to enhance to 12-4 on the season. Mitchell totaled 80 dashing yards on 17 carries. The 49ers completed with 184 dashing yards on the day. 

Mitchell was again on the sector after lacking three video games with a lingering knee problem and obtained extra reps as a result of McCaffrey watched from the sidelines within the second half after a calf damage restricted his availability. 

Shanahan mentioned McCaffrey suffered a attainable calf pressure and can be evaluated additional on Monday. 

The victory gave the 49ers a 12-win season for the sixteenth time in franchise historical past. However the Commanders didn’t go down simply, trailing simply 13-10 at halftime earlier than the 49ers scored 14 answered factors within the second half to tug away for the win.

The Commanders misplaced their seventh straight recreation and dropped to 4-12 on the 12 months. 

Paired with the Philadelphia Eagles’ shocking 35-31 loss at residence to Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers earned the No. 1 seed with one recreation to play, which features a first-round bye and home-field all through the postseason. 

Shanahan mentioned he and his gamers watched the final seconds of Philadelphia’s loss within the locker room, with a loud cheer erupting after seeing the end result. 

“I actually did not wish to pay an excessive amount of consideration to it,” Shanahan mentioned. “Did not wish to get our hearts damaged. However … they pulled it out. It was fairly cool to see.” 

Shanahan mentioned the plan can be to relaxation some gamers within the ultimate regular-season recreation at residence in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams — however that does not imply the crew will let up. 

“I nonetheless suppose there’s plenty of issues we have got to proceed to get higher at, and the one method you do that’s to maintain training soccer and enjoying soccer,” Shanahan mentioned.

Linebacker Fred Warner mentioned it is essential to proceed to play properly heading into the postseason.

“It is not about fully eradicating ourselves and we will be resting everyone,” Warner mentioned. “Kyle is clearly in control of that, and I do not know his plan for the whole lot. However the message from him is we will proceed to get higher. We have to verify we’re at our greatest when our greatest is required for when our second comes.” 

Purdy completed an environment friendly 22-of-28 (78.6%) for 230 yards, two landing passes and no interceptions for a 124.7 passer ranking. Within the course of, he grew to become the franchise single-season passing chief with 4,280 yards, surpassing Jeff Garcia’s mark of 4,278 yards set in 2000.

The 49ers did job of defending Purdy up entrance with the return of left deal with Trent Williams to the beginning lineup after he left the sport final week with a groin damage. Purdy was not sacked and confronted simply six pressures from Washington’s protection. 

On San Francisco’s ultimate landing drive, Purdy made two performs that confirmed his brimming confidence returned. Early within the fourth quarter on first-and-10 from San Francisco’s 44-yard line, Purdy threw a pinpoint strike to Brandon Aiyuk on a go route for a 38-yard acquire. 

4 performs later, Purdy escaped the pocket to his proper, pointed to Aiyuk to alter his course and located him behind the tip zone for a 17-yard reception for a rating and the ultimate factors of the sport. Aiyuk caught seven of his eight targets for 114 receiving yards. 

“It is simply staying current,” Purdy mentioned, when requested about his bounce-back efficiency. “Do not get caught up in what is going on round, what individuals are saying and all that form of stuff. There’s a lot extra soccer to be performed, and so for myself understanding that and trusting the method and the routine that I’ve achieved all season since I have been enjoying within the NFL.

“That is the place my thoughts was at after the final recreation. There did not have to be a drastic change in something. I wanted to be smarter with the ball and execute higher.” 

Whereas Purdy sizzled, the 49ers nonetheless confirmed they’ve loads of work to do as they prepare for the playoffs.

The 49ers generated only one sack in opposition to Washington quarterback Sam Howell, with edge rusher Chase Younger enjoying in opposition to his former crew for the primary time for the reason that midseason commerce. Nevertheless, the 49ers managed to intercept Howell twice within the second half, together with a career-high fifth choose by Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir’s third of the 12 months.

San Francisco additionally struggled within the purple zone on offense, ending 3-of-6 on the day and selecting Jake Moody area targets from 38 and 22 yards. 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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