Monday night’s game pitted two hungry teams who needed to win in order to either save their season (Washington) or turn it around (San Francisco). San Francisco was the more fortunate of the two teams, as they used a pass-heavy offensive game plan and a stout defensive performance led by the likes of linebacker Ahmad Brooks (6 tackles including 2 sacks for minus 23 yards in losses) to turn away the Redskins 27-6 on the road.
This win was important in helping to erase the two-game skid that the 49ers sloshed through in the previous two weeks. Before tonight’s win, the last time the 49ers won a game was on October 27, 2013 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. This is Week 12 so it’s easy to see just how much tonight’s win was important to the Niners’ season.
San Francisco took a 17-6 lead into halftime, and that lead on the surface didn’t look air-tight. But with the constant struggles of the Redskins’ offense in this game, the score might as well have been 37-6 San Francisco.
With 7:45 left in the third quarter, the Niners took over at the WAS 45 after a Sav Rocca punt was returned 17 yards by running back LaMichael James coupled with a 5 yard penalty on Washington for one of their players not being lined up correctly on the punt. On 4th and 4 from the WAS 34, quarterback Colin Kaepernick (15 of 24 for 235 yards, 3 touchdowns and no thefts) threw a pass out of bounds that was intended for running back Frank Gore which turned the ball over on downs to Washington.
But on the Redskins’ ensuing drive, they were forced to punt when quarterback Robert Griffin III (sacked 4 times and went 17 of 27 for 127 yards, no score, and 1 interception) was tackled for no gain by defensive tackle Justin Smith on 3rd and 5. Smith staying at home and trailing the play for a good while was the key on that play. Smith’s big play led to a 5-play 39 yard scoring drive from the 49ers which culminated with an easy 1 yard touchdown pass to an all-alone Vernon Davis (4 catches for 70 yards and 1 score) near the right middle corner of the end zone. That score gave the Niners a 24-6 lead with 1:05 left in the third quarter.
Then on the last play of the third quarter, Brooks showed why it isn’t all about Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman as far as production and publicity goes for San Francisco’s linebackers. Brooks beat Redskins left tackle Tyler Polumbus with technique, will, and athleticism on his way to sacking RGIII for an 11 yard loss to force a 4th and 19 punt.
Brooks’ sack led to the Niners’ next drive which started at their own 45 yard line. Kaepernick once again came through for his team as he took off for a 5 yard gain to the WAS 30 and a first down on 4th and 2. SF was assessed a 5 yard delay of game penalty on the play because Kaepernick spiked the ball after the play. That run set up a successful Phil Dawson 49 yard field goal to give SF their last points of the game and a 27-6 lead with 9:01 left in the game.
Brooks registered his second sack of the game near the seven minute mark of the fourth quarter when RGIII couldn’t find any open targets and had to subsequently scramble for his life forward and backwards, with Brooks finally sacking the passer at the WAS 21 yard line for a 12 yard sack. Brooks’ sack forced a 4th and 23 punt for the Redskins. That sack was Brooks’ 8.5th takedown of the year which leads the 49ers, with his closest competitor for the team sack lead being fellow linebacker Aldon Smith who has 6.5.
Later, Kaepernick executed three kneel downs to end the game.
