Thankfully, there are only two games remaining for the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL season. Unfortunately for Washington, those games are against two of the NFL’s best teams.
On Sunday, Washington hosts an angry San Francisco 49ers, who are coming off a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. Not only does San Francisco need to win to keep its hopes alive for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, it’s also the return to Washington for left tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Chase Young.
Even if the Commanders are terrible and expected to lose, don’t you think this game means a bit more to Williams and Young?
Washington has lost six in a row, made a quarterback change last week that may not even happen, and is an absolute mess in the final weeks of head coach Ron Rivera.
Anyway, onto our picks.
Here are our staff picks for the Commanders and 49ers.
Bryan Manning
This is our easiest pick of the year. It wouldn’t matter if it was Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett under center for the Commanders. This past week’s quarterback moves feel like an appropriate ending for Ron Rivera’s four years as head coach. He mishandled the QB situation until the end.
As for the game, Washington was going to lose by 20 or more before Friday’s injury news. Now, the Commanders could lose by 35.
My pick:
49ers 45, Commanders 13
Ivan Lambert
The Commanders secondary is going to really miss Kendall Fuller, Percy Butler and Benjamin St-Juste. The 49ers could definitely post several explosive plays Sunday.
With the way the Commanders defense has played this season, it seems virtually impossible that they will not surrender big plays, both rushing and receiving, on Sunday.
With the Commanders also missing offensive tackle Charles Leno, 49ers defensive ends could really have an enjoyable day. Sam Howell may be playing after all, and his mental state has not been good as he continues to not see the field well.
If Jacoby Brissett does play Sunday, how much he is limited by his tight hamstring, could really make life for him difficult.
49ers 33, Commanders 13
Sammy Mansfield
San Francisco comes to FedEx today, reeling from their beatdown at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens last week in what was supposed to be a Super Bowl preview. I expect Brock Purdy and Company to bounce back this week and absolutely shred this Commanders’ defense in a Shanahan revenge game.
Following yet another devastating loss, it looks like the Sam Howell experiment may be coming to an end, as Ron Rivera decided earlier this week to turn the team over to Jacoby Brissett for the remainder of the season. Brissett has looked outstanding the last two games in limited playing time, leading 5 TD drives with zero interceptions.
However, Jacoby was a late addition to the injury report with a hamstring injury, so it is unclear who will be starting in this one. Regardless, either QB will have a difficult time putting up points against this relentless San Fran defense.
49ers 32, Commanders 17
