Washington Commanders vs. San Francisco 49ers preview, prediction pick: Can Niners continue ascent?

Yardbarker Quick Pick

Spread: San Francisco -6.5

Total: 37.5 points

We're thinking San Francisco cruises in this one. They're 9-5 ATS, one of the best marks in the NFL, and Washington is off a relatively soft schedule of late. We don't like them to be prepared for this one. The Commanders have played the Giants twice, Falcons and Texans over the past four weeks. Give us the Niners at home. — Griffin Carroll, Yardbarker

Betting: 49ers -6.5

Purdy replaced injured Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) during the Week 13 game against the Miami Dolphins and guided the 49ers to a 33-17 win. He has followed up as a starter with consecutive victories over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks to help San Francisco clinch the NFC West title.

He played in last Thursday's 21-13 road win over the Seahawks despite rib and oblique injuries, passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Star tight end George Kittle says he is more than a little impressed.

"He has shown us that, 'Hey, this isn't a fluke. I know how to play quarterback. I know how to throw the ball to my guys. And I'm going to get the ball to my guys that make (yards after the catch), who gets first downs, who score touchdowns,'" Kittle said. "I think Brock's going to do nothing but continue to get better."

Purdy wasn't even an afterthought when the season commenced. Second-year pro Trey Lance was handed the starting job, but he fractured his right ankle in Week 2. That elevated Garoppolo back into his former starting gig and he engineered the club's turnaround from a shaky 3-4 start before sustaining the season-ending injury.

Now the 49ers are battling for the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and coach Kyle Shanahan wants his club to attain it.

"There's no doubt about it," Shanahan said. "I mean this isn't our final goal by any means. I'm very proud of our team and what we accomplished throughout the year to get to this. Our goal is to get into the tournament and we accomplished that, but now it's all trying to set that up to be the best situation we can."

The Commanders currently own the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC but Sunday's 20-12 loss to the New York Giants leaves them just a half-game ahead of the Seahawks and the red-hot Detroit Lions.

Washington moved into contention with a 6-1-1 stretch in which quarterback Taylor Heinicke stepped in after Carson Wentz fractured a finger on this throwing hand in mid-October. Wentz was active for the game against the Giants but coach Ron Rivera stuck with Heinicke, who passed for 249 yards and one touchdown -- but the Commanders converted just one of 10 third-down opportunities.

"When you get down there, it's hard enough to drive the football in this league and convert first downs over and over again," Washington wideout Jahan Dotson said. "So, when you get in the red zone you have to score. It's tough when you're just giving the ball back to the other team without putting points on the board."

Still, Rivera is opting to start Heinicke in the crucial matchup against a 49ers' defense led by end Nick Bosa (NFL-best 15.5 sacks). San Francisco leads the NFL in scoring defense (15.0 points per game) and total defense (286.1 yards per game).

"The biggest thing is sticking with Taylor and with what we're trying to establish," Rivera said. "It is something, to be quite frank, that I do have to think about at some point. But if we can play the way we've played and do the things we've done, then we'll stick where we are."

Guard Saahdiq Charles (concussion) sat out Tuesday's practice for Washington. For the 49ers, defensive end Kerry Hyder (ankle) and defensive tackle Kevin Givens (knee) missed practice. Purdy was limited.

The teams last played in 2020, when Washington beat San Francisco 23-15. The 49ers had won five of the previous six meetings.