San Francisco – The San Francisco 49ers closed out a hard‑fought 23‑17 win over the Washington Commanders on Monday night, marking their sixth straight victory to start the 2026 season. While the scoreboard showed a win, the tone in the locker room was one of measured relief rather than celebration.
Key takeaways from the game
Linebacker Fred Warner summed up the team’s mindset: “You don’t want to just be a 6‑0 team. You want to be a team that’s on the rise… the goal is to win while getting better as a team overall.” The Niners dominated the first three quarters, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal on their opening six drives to build a comfortable lead.
Washington rallied with two long touchdown drives, cutting the margin to six points. The 49ers’ defense, which had allowed only three points in the first five Commanders’ possessions, stepped up late, delivering two crucial stops that sealed the win. The victory gave San Francisco its first 6‑0 start since 2019.
What’s working
The pass rush has been a standout, recording four sacks on Monday for a total of nine in the past two weeks – the first back‑to‑back games with at least four sacks since 2023. Young talent is contributing heavily: eight of the season’s 15 sacks have come from players 25 or younger, including Mykel Williams and rookies Gracen Halton and Romello Height.
Areas needing improvement
The fourth‑quarter offense faltered. After a strong start, the 49ers went three‑and‑out on their final three possessions, gaining just two yards total. This marked the first time since the 2005 season opener that San Francisco won a game without generating a first down in the fourth quarter.
Individual notes
Safety Malik Mustapha, who began the season on the bench, has emerged as a playmaker. He stopped Cooper Kupp short of a first down in Week 5 and made two key stops late in Monday’s game, including a third‑and‑3 tackle and a pass breakup near the end zone.
Conversely, kicker Eddy Pineiro continues to struggle, missing his third extra point of the season and three field goals, tying the league‑worst total of six missed kicks in the first six games. His career extra‑point success rate of 90.9% now ranks 45th among kickers with at least 100 attempts.
Injury report
Wide receiver Mike Evans left late in the first half with Achilles tendinitis after missing practice the previous week. His status for the upcoming game remains uncertain. Linebacker Luke Gifford (groin) and defensive back Upton Stout (shoulder) also exited with injuries, while defensive end Nick Bosa (calf) could return after missing four games. Wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) is expected to be activated from IR soon.
Looking ahead
San Francisco travels to Atlanta on Sunday, seeking a third consecutive 7‑0 start – a feat achieved only three times since the franchise joined the NFL in 1950 (1990, 2019, and 2022). Coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized patience, saying, “I feel good that we just won a game, but I’ll wait until the season’s over to celebrate.”
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
