49ers vs. Commanders Week 16 Live Blog

Drake Jackson is a healthy scratch.

SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the 49ers' Week 16 home game against the Washington Commanders. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

11:38 Here are the 49ers' inactives: Drake Jackson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel, Ross Dwelley, Kerry Hyder, Kevin Givens and Nick Zakelj.

11:39 Jackson apparently is a healthy scratch, which seems shocking because he was the 49ers' top draft pick this season. But this news really shouldn't come as a suprise, because the rookie's playing time had dwindled the past few weeks -- he played only 49 snaps total in the last three games, and he hasn't recorded a sack since Week 6. He's only 21-years old, so maybe he hit the rookie wall, meaning he's exhausted. He certainly never has played this many games in a row before. He still has a bright future, but the 49ers defense won't miss him today. Look for Jordan Willis to take Jackson's snaps.

11:42 The good news for the 49ers is that running back Jordan Mason is active and apparently healthy enough to play. That's good news, because this game probably will be extremely physical, and Mason is their most punishing running back. His availability will prevent the 49ers from overusing Christian McCaffrey in a relatively meaningless game before the playoffs. Plus, rookie third-round pick Ty Davis-Price is healthy and could get some playing time as well. He also is a big, powerful rusher like Mason, although Davis-Price seems to lack Mason's vision and quickness.

1:00 FYI: Washington's defense hasn't given up more than 21 points in a game since Week 4.

1:03 The 49ers win the toss and defer. Washington will receive the opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

1:06 Jordan Mason suffers an injury during the kickoff. He's still down. Looks like he hurt his right leg.

1:06 Mason jogs off the field. Hopefully the injury isn't serious and he can return.

1:08 On 3rd and 6, Jahan Dotson drops what would have been a long touchdown pass, and the Commanders go three and out. Looks like he lost the ball in the sun. Deommodore Lenoir was in coverage and he lost the ball and his man. Huge break for the 49ers. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 35.

1:18 On 3rd and 1 from the Washington 15, Ty Davis-Price runs up the middle for no gain. Next play, Brock Purdy hands off to Kyle Juszczyk, who pitches to Chrsitian McCaffrey for no gain, and the 49ers turn it over on downs. If Jimmy Garoppolo had been the quarterback, Kyle Shanahan would have called a quarterback sneak. I guess Shanahan doesn't trust Purdy to run that play.

1:23 On 3rd and 13, Taylor Heinicke scrambles up and to his right, fires downfield and nearly gets intercepted by Tashaun Gipson, and the Commanders go three and out again. Then they commit a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty during the punt just to make things easier on the 49ers. That's what I call the Christmas spirit. The 49ers take over at midfield.

1:29 On 3rd and 4 from the Washington 44, the Commanders blitz and the 49ers don't pick up the blitzer, who decks Purdy. Spencer Burford also gets beaten on the play, and the 49ers go three and out. That was a terrible sequence. After the punt, the Commanders take over at their 15.

SECOND QUARTER

1:47 On 4th and goal from the 1, Fred Warner tackles Antonio Gibson at the one-foot line, and the Commanders turn it over on downs. What a clutch tackle by Warner who's having a phenomenal game so far.

1:55 On 2nd and 10 from the 49ers 29, Ray Ray McCloud runs a sweep from the shotgun and scores untouched. That's an old Deebo Samuel play. McCloud exploded through the Commanders defense. That's a game-changing play.

49ers 7, Commanders 0.

1:58 Robbie Gould boots the kickoff out of bounds. Extremely strange. The Commanders start at their 40.

2:03 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 49, Lenoir gives up a 44-yard deep catch to Jahan Dotson, but the play doesn't count due to offsetting penalties, and Washington punts a few plays later. That's the second long pass Lenoir has given up that hasn't counted. Washington will keep picking on him. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 14 with 3:03 left.

2:04 That touchdown run by McCloud was an excellent play call by Kyle Shanahan, who has been searching for a way to run to the right all season. That sure worked. Nice change up.

2:07 First play of the drive, Purdy throws a pass slightly behind Jauan Jennings, who reaches back, bobbles the ball and tips it to safety Darrick Forrest, who picks it off. Terrible play by Jennings. The Commanders take over at the 49ers 31.

2:17 On 3rd and 14 from the 49ers 21, Tashaun Gipson gives up a 14-yard catch to Curtis Samuel. Two plays later on 2nd and goal from the 4, Talanoa Hufanga and Deommodore Lenoir gave up a touchdown catch to Dotson in the back-right corner of the end zone, and the game is tied with 22 seconds left in the half. That mistake by Jennings was huge

49ers 7, Commanders 7.

2:21 McCaffrey runs up the middle for two yards as the first half ends. The 49ers will get the ball to start the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

2:41 On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 34, Purdy throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Kittle running up the seam. Great drive to start the second half.

49ers 14, Commanders 7.

2:44 The Commanders start from their 11 after their kick returner bobbles the kickoff.

2:46 On 3rd and 6 from the Washington 15, Heinicke throws an incomplete pass over the middle intended for his running back, and the Commanders go 3 and out. Nice adjustment on that third down by DeMeco Ryans to play bump-and-run man-to-man coverage and bring pressure rather than sit back in zone coverage like they did in the first half. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 43.

2:53 On 2nd and 7 from the 49ers 46, Aaron Banks commits a holding penalty, and the 49ers eventuall go three and out. After the punt, the Commanders take over at their 25. 

2:59 On 4th and 1 from the Washington 34, Taylor Heinicke does a quarterback sneak and comes up one inch short. The 49ers take over at the Washington 34.

3:04 On 2nd and 9 from the Washington 33, Purdy play fakes to his right, rolls left and hits George Kittle who cuts back against the grain and scores another touchdown. Purdy has reinvigorated his career.

49ers 21, Commanders 7.

3:09 On 1st and 10 from the Washington 43, Samuel Womack gives up a 51-yard catch to Terry McLaurin while Charvarius Ward is in the injury tent. Two plays later, Hufanga gives up his second touchdown catch of the game -- this time to McLaurin. Hufanga also committed an illegal contact penalty on the play that was declined. He's having a rough game.

49ers 21, Commanders 14.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:24 Robbie Gould makes a 26-yard field goal as the fourth quarter begins.

49ers 24, Commanders 14.

3:27 On 2nd and 8 from the Washington 21, Nick Bosa strips the ball from Heinicke and Jordan Willis recovers.

3:31 Robbie Gould makes a 23-yard field goal. This game seems over.

49ers 27, Commanders 14.

3:34 Heinicke throws an interception to Jimmie Ward. The 49ers take over at the Washington 25. A few plays later, Gould makes another field goal.

49ers 30, Commanders 14.

3:53 On 3rd and 10 from the 49ers 20, Carson Wentz throws a touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel, who beats Jimmie Ward. But on the two-point conversion, Nick Bosa sacks Wentz, and the 49ers still lead by two scores.

49ers 30, Commanders 20.

3:55 The Commanders attempt an on-side kick and it travels only four yards. Embarrassing. 49ers ball.

4:06 On 1st and goal from the 1, McCaffrey scores. This game is over. Stay tuned for the 49ers grades.

49ers 37, Commanders 20.