NFL Game Preview: Washington Commanders (1-3-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-0-0)

0
5
San Francisco 49ers logo

ESPN/ABC: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (field reporter), Laura Rutledge (field reporter)

Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 PM ET

Levi’s Stadium

Referee: Adrian Hill

Regular Season: SF leads series, 20-11-1 (SF won 3 of past 4)

Last reg. season meeting: 12/31/23: SF 27 at WAS 10

Dan Quinn (WAS) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 2-1 Reg. Season: 61-62-1 (.496)

Kyle Shanahan (SF) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 3-2 Reg. Season: 87-67 (.565)

Washington Last Game: T, 27-27 vs. NYG (OT) (Week 5)

San Francisco Last Game: W, 32-29 at SEA (Week 5)

COMMANDERS NOTES

• QB JAYDEN DANIELS completed 17 of 25 pass atts. (68 pct.) for 199 yards & had 103 rush yards & 2 rush TDs in Week 5, 1 of 2 QBs (Josh Allen) with 100+ rush yards in a single game this season. Has TD pass in 2 of his past 3. Aims for 3rd in row on MNF with 200+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes. • RB JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT had season-high 82 rush yards & rush TD in Week 5. Aims for 3rd in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR TERRY MCLAURIN has 1,000+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 seasons. Aims for 3rd in row vs. SF with 60+ rec. yards & TD catch. • WR STEFON DIGGS ranks 3rd with 960 receptions, 4th with 11,674 rec. yards & tied-5th with 77 TD catches since 2015. Had 10 receptions for 92 yards in last game vs. SF (12/7/20 w/ Buf.). • WR TREYLON BURKS has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. • WR ANTONIO WILLIAMS ranks 3rd among rookies with 155 rec. yards. • LB SONNY STYLES led team with 13 tackles & had TFL & PD in Week 5, 1 of 3 rookies (Jacob Rodriguez & Anthony Hill) with 13+ tackles in a single game this season. Ranks 6th among rookie LBs with 33 tackles in 2026. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. • LB FRANKIE LUVU had 9 tackles in Week 5. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3. • OLB K’LAVON CHAISSON had sack & FF in Week 5. Has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of his past 4. • DT DARON PAYNE had sack & FF in Week 5. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 vs. SF. • CB AMIK ROBERTSON had 7 tackles & PD in Week 5. Leads NFL with 8 PD in 2026. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS totaled 10 tackles & had 2 TFL & PD in Week 5. Aims for 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & 4th in row with PD. Had 5 tackles & TFL in last game vs. SF (12/1/24 w/ Buf.). • S JEREMY REAVES had 5 tackles & PD in Week 5. Aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Aims for 3rd in row vs. SF with PD.

49ERS NOTES

• 49ERS are 5-0 for 3rd time in past 8 seasons (2019 & 2023). • QB BROCK PURDY completed 19 of 29 pass atts. for 189 yards & 2 TDs for 92.5 rating in Week 5. Aims for 6th in row with 2+ TD passes. Is only QB with 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in each of 1st 5 weeks. Passed for 230 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting & aims for 3rd in row vs. Was. with 2+ TD passes. Has 3+ TD passes in 2 of his past 3 on MNF. • RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY had 83 scrimmage yards (68 rush, 15 rec.) & rush TD in Week 5. Ranks 2nd with 13,402 scrimmage yards (7,875 rush, 5,527 rec.) since 2017 & 3rd with 103 scrimmage TDs (67 rush, 36 rec.). Had 91 scrimmage yards (64 rush, 27 rec.) in last meeting. Has TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Was & 90+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. Was. Aims for 7th in row on MNF with 95+ scrimmage yards & 5th in row with TD. • WR MIKE EVANS led team with 7 catches for 113 yards & had TD reception in Week 5. Has 111 career TD receptions, tied with HOF Tony Gonzalez for 9thmost in NFL history. Aims for 3rd in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. Had 2 TD receptions in last game vs. Was. (9/8/24 w/ TB). • TE GEORGE KITTLE has TD catch in 3 of his past 4. Has 110+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on MNF. Ranks 2nd among TEs with 616 receptions, 8,276 rec. yards & 3rd with 56 TD receptions since 2017. • DL GRACEN HALTON (rookie) had sack, FF & FR-TD in Week 5, only rookie this season with FR-TD. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. • LB FRED WARNER led team with 10 tackles & had FF in Week 5. Ranks tied-3rd with 50 tackles this season. Has 10+ tackles in 2 of his past 3. • S MALIK MUSTAPHA had 7 tackles, PD & FR in Week 5. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Aims for 3rd in row on MNF with 7+ tackles. • CB RENARDO GREEN had 3 PD & 2 INTs in Week 5, 1 of 3 CBs with 2 INTs in a single game this season. Aims for 3rd in row on MNF with PD.

Game Odds

Washington Commanders           52

San Francisco 49ers                        – 7.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, October 18, 2026

Previous articleNHL Morning Skate for Sunday, October 18, 2026
Next articleNHL Morning Skate for Monday, October 19, 2026
NFL Editor
Profile: A dedicated NFL analyst with a deep understanding of the league’s strategic, cultural, and statistical landscape. This columnist provides weekly coverage that blends film‑study insight, advanced metrics, and league‑wide context, offering readers a clear view of how teams evolve across a long and demanding season. Background: With extensive experience covering professional football, the columnist has contributed to national sports platforms, digital media outlets, and radio segments focused on team dynamics, coaching trends, and roster construction. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a methodical approach to evaluating performance, breaking news, and long‑term organizational strategy. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive schemes Player evaluation, draft analysis, and free‑agency movement League trends, coaching philosophies, and historical context Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes and statistical models into insights that resonate with both casual fans and seasoned bettors. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful analysis, and a comprehensive understanding of the NFL’s fast‑shifting landscape.