San Francisco beat Washington 23-17 on Monday, 19 October, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and stayed unbeaten at 6-0. The 49ers became the first NFL team to reach six wins this season and have now won six straight games to open the year. Washington fell to 1-4-1 after a second-half rally came up just short.

Purdy sets a passer rating benchmark

Brock Purdy completed 21 of 29 passes for 264 yards, and his fifth throw of the night was the 1,500th of his career. That qualified his 105.6 passer rating as the best in NFL history, ahead of Lamar Jackson's 102.7. His first touchdown, an 11-yard pass to George Kittle on the opening possession, gave San Francisco a 7-0 lead. Christian McCaffrey scored twice on the ground, a one-yard run early and a second touchdown late in the first half that pushed the lead to 20-3. By halftime the 49ers had 17 first downs, as many as Washington ran plays in the first half.

Purdy credited the defense after the game:

“[The defense] did it for us all game, I'm proud of those guys”

Brock Purdy105.6

Lamar Jackson102.7

Brock Purdy

105.6 passer rating

Lamar Jackson

102.7 passer rating

Data from the article text

A late Washington push falls short

The 49ers led 23-3 until the final seconds of the third quarter, when Washington scored the first of two straight touchdowns. Jayden Daniels threw two touchdown passes in the second half, and the Commanders cut the margin to 23-17. Daniels finished 29 of 40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns. With 1:54 left, Washington went for it on fourth down near the goal line, but safety Malik Mustapha broke up the pass to Treylon Burks. Washington got the ball back at its 46 with 52 seconds left, and an intentional grounding call on Daniels left one final play from the 40. Keion White and Ogbo Okoronkwo sacked him before he could get a desperation throw away.

Mustapha and the injury list

Safety Malik Mustapha made his second start of the season after Marques Sigle was injured, and he set the tone with his physical play. He stopped running back Jeremy McNichols for no gain on third-and-3 from the 17, just before the two-minute warning. Mike Evans, who had Achilles problems before kickoff, left just before halftime with an Achilles injury and did not return; he finished with three catches, for 94 yards according to the New York Times and 93 according to RP Online. Terry McLaurin was carted off with an air cast on his left knee in the first quarter, and he was ruled out early in the second quarter. Washington also lost defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to a knee injury. McLaurin, 31, had signed a three-year, $96 million extension and missed seven games last season with a quad injury.

What comes next

San Francisco's next opponent is Atlanta, which Purdy pointed to after the win. Washington is still searching for consistency after last week's tie against the New York Giants, when it mismanaged the clock in overtime and lost a chance at a game-winning field goal. The 49ers also beat Seattle last week, and they now have six wins in six games. The Commanders have four losses in six games.