Week Seventeen

 49ers 27, Washington 10

No turnovers.  A dominant fourth quarter. 184 rushing yards, most of them after halftime.  38 minutes of possession.  408 total yards against 225. In other words, pretty much what we expected the 49ers to do against a tough but undermanned opponent. And the purpose of the whole thing was quietly achieved: San Francisco clinched the top seed, home-field advantage, and the first-round bye for the first time since 2019, when they went to the Super Bowl and almost won it.

Leading only 13-10, the 49er defense opened the third quarter with three-and-out, followed by the offense launching a seven-minute touchdown drive that ended with Elijah Mitchell, not Christian McCaffrey, scoring the touchdown.  

The last play of the third quarter decided the game. Charvarius (doesn't that sound like a Pokemon character?) Ward made a perfect break to intercept Sam Howell's pass at the 49er goal line, and the Commanders would not threaten again. 

You will never see a quarterback execute a play better than Brock Purdy did on his escape, rollout, improv, field direction, and deep  touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk with 9:30 remaining. It capped a 95-yard (105 counting a needless holding penalty) drive after Ward's pickoff. Mitchell gained 28 of those yards as the team's lone running back after our MVP candidate was idled for the duration with a strained calf.  It was 27-10, Purdy had 224 passing yards at that point, and the Niners went run, run, run the rest of the way-- 36 total carries on the day, averaging five yards a pop.  

Now comes an essentially meaningless last-game showdown with the Rams, who also clinched a playoff spot Sunday, as we predicted they would in preseason. An LA win over the 49ers would ensure  them the sixth seed and a date against the Lions in Detroit-- Matthew Stafford against Jared Goff.  You know you want to see that one.

As for the 49ers, two full weeks of R&R for many, likely including Trent Williams as well as McCaffrey.  The first playoff game at Levi Stadium will be played on January 20 or 21.  Don't that sound nice?