Washington has a 5-7 record which is the same as the New York football Giants at the top of the NFC East. But a tie with the Giants would mean the Washington Football Team would not make the playoffs because the Giants’ two wins against Washington this season would break any tie if they finish with the same W/L record. The Giants play the 6-6 Cardinals while the WFT plays the 49ers today.
For Washington, they will face some familiar faces like the 49ers head coach, Kyle Shanahan, who was the former offensive coordinator for Washington. Also in 49ers uniforms are Trent Williams and Jordan Reed. We all remember how Williams sat out last year in a contract dispute and then demanded a trade. Reed, 30, was a 3rd round pick with Washington back in 2013. The 32-year-old tackle was a 1st round pick by Washington and 4th overall. There are former 49ers on Washington like Alex Smith who San Fran drafted 1st overall in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Once again, Dwayne Haskins will be Smith’s backup after Kyle Allen suffered an ankle injury five weeks ago. Head coach Ron Rivera went with the veteran Smith as his starting quarterback. Smith has led Washington to three straight wins and Monday’s upset of the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.
The injury bug hit Washington as rookie runner, Antonio Gibson, won’t play today because of a toe injury. He was officially ruled out by the team Friday after he suffered a turf toe injury in Monday’s game against Pittsburgh. With Gibson out, Washington will have to rely on both veteran Peyton Barber and versatile back J.D. McKissic. Barber, who has mostly been Washington’s short-yardage back this season, will get much of the work today. This season, Barber has 26 of his 73 carries coming in situations that were either goal-to-go or with the team needing 2 yards or less for a first down. Because 36% of Barber’s work in short yardage situations, it has distorted his stats as he averages 2.68 yards per carry and only 0.86 yards after contact.
“It is concerning about Gibson’s injury,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said. “It is complicated for a running back because he’s got to plant, cut, turn. I think the big toe — that’s where his power and energy that he runs with comes up.”
The 5’10” McKissic has carried the ball 55 times for 231 yards this season along with catching 56 passes for 408 yards and 639 of total offense and one touchown. Washington was having success with McKissic and Gibson on the field at the same time.
Also, Washington hopes to get wide receiver Terry McLaurin more passes in this game. He is regularly double-teamed and has three touchdowns this season on 71 receptions for 977 yards.
“We lose a little bit of that dynamic ability Antonio brings to the offense,” McLaurin said. “We’d be lying if we said we won’t miss Antonio, but those guys will help pick us up.”
For Smith’s miracle comeback, he has now shown that he can lead his team to wins, and this game is against a good team. Smith is set to make $19 million next season with both Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen under team control as well as the chances that the team could acquire another quarterback in next year’s draft.
San Francisco is favored in this game by 3 points on the William Hill Sportsbook:
- 49ers vs. Washington spread: Pittsburgh -3.0
- 49ers vs. Washington over-under: 43.5 points
- 49ers vs. Washington money line: San Francisco -145, Washington +125
This game is televised on FOX at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona which is an alternate site for San Francisco at 4:25 pm ET.
