Commanders rush for 244 yards, record 7 sacks in 45-14 rout of 49ers

Santa Clara, CA - The Washington Commanders turned a dominant rushing performance and disruptive defensive showing into a 45-14 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.

Washington rushed for 244 yards, recorded seven sacks and intercepted three passes while finishing with a 394-284 advantage in offensive yards. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White supplied the biggest individual numbers on the ground, combining for 178 yards and three touchdowns on only 22 carries.

Croskey-Merritt led the Commanders with 115 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts, including a 49-yard run. White added 63 yards and two scores on six carries, with a long of 38 yards. Their production gave Washington a 160-yard advantage over a San Francisco rushing attack that finished with 84.

"When you finish with that kind of rushing total, everybody had a hand in it," Croskey-Merritt said. "I wanted to be decisive with my opportunities, and Rachaad gave us another explosive element. We were able to keep producing."

Jayden Daniels completed 16 of 22 passes for 160 yards with one interception and a 74.0 passer rating. His longest completion covered 29 yards, and the Commanders finished with 150 passing yards.

Washington also spread the ball around in unconventional ways, with White, Diggs and Christian Kirk each completing a pass.

"There are things I can clean up, especially the interception, but we had a lot of different people contributing," Daniels said. "The rushing numbers stand out, and as an offense we gave ourselves a lot to build from."

The Commanders generated 19 first downs and made seven trips into the red zone, recording two touchdowns and two field goals on those possessions. They converted 3 of 9 third downs and their only fourth-down attempt.

Washington's defense produced an even sharper statistical contrast. The Commanders finished with seven sacks and three interceptions against a San Francisco offense that attempted to find answers through the air. Brock Purdy completed 24 of 41 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions contributed to a 60.6 passer rating.

San Francisco finished with 15 first downs and converted 5 of 15 third downs. The 49ers went for it eight times on fourth down, converting four, and scored two touchdowns across four red-zone trips.

"Three interceptions are too many, no matter what else is on the stat line," Purdy said. "We had some production in the passing game, but the result is what matters. I have to be better with the football."

Mike Evans was Purdy's leading receiver, catching five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. George Kittle added five receptions for 55 yards, but San Francisco did not match Washington's output on the ground. Christian McCaffrey carried 17 times for 73 yards, with a long run of 16.

The 49ers entered the game at 3-2, one game better than the 2-3 Commanders, with both teams coming off losses. Washington emerged from the matchup with a 31-point victory, more first downs and a 110-yard advantage in offensive production.

For San Francisco, the 200 team passing yards were not enough to offset the three interceptions, seven sacks or the difference in rushing production. The 49ers' defense recorded three sacks and one interception, but Washington still reached 45 points and nearly 400 offensive yards.

The Commanders left Santa Clara with their third win and a performance defined by complementary production: two runners with touchdowns, a defense with 10 combined sacks and interceptions, and a final margin that reflected Washington's broad statistical advantages.

Up Next

San Francisco will travel to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7 as the 49ers look to rebound. Washington has its next game at home in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when the Commanders will try to follow up their 45-point performance.