49ers Hold Off Commanders 23-17 to Stay Perfect at 6-0
The San Francisco 49ers are 6-0 after a 23-17 win over the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
San Francisco had to sweat it out. Safety Malik Mustapha broke up a fourth-down throw for Treylon Burks near the goal line with 1:54 left. Fourth down is an offense's last chance to keep a drive alive, and the stop preserved the lead. The Guardian
Christian McCaffrey powered the 49ers early with two rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Brock Purdy did the rest through the air, completing 21 of 29 passes for 264 yards. His touchdown pass went to tight end George Kittle in the second half.
Washington would not go away. Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw two second-half touchdown passes to pull the Commanders back into it. The rally fell short, and Washington dropped to 1-4-1.
Purdy left with more than a win. He crossed the 1,500-attempt threshold to qualify for the NFL's career passer rating leaderboard, the league's efficiency score where a higher number is better. His 105.6 rating now sits atop the all-time list, ahead of Lamar Jackson's 102.7.
What makes this stand out is how steady Purdy has been to get there. The 26-year-old entered Week 6 leading the NFL with 13 touchdown passes against just two interceptions through five games.
The 6-0 start is San Francisco's best since opening 8-0 in 2019. The 49ers arrived Monday at 5-0, their first 5-0 start since 2023, while Washington came in at 1-3-1. NFL.com
The night was not all good news for San Francisco. Veteran receiver Mike Evans left the game with an Achilles injury.
For fans, this means the 49ers keep the pressure on the rest of the NFC. Unbeaten records draw attention in October. This one feels earned, built on a run game that finishes and a defense that closes.
