49ers vs. Washington: Live Updates and Analysis

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 14 "home" game in Arizona against the Washington Football Team.

This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 14 "home" game in Arizona against the Washington Football Team. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from my home in the Bay Area.

11:04 The 49ers probably expect a low-scoring game they can win with their defense. The opposing quarterback, Alex Smith, won't beat them with his legs. And Washington's starting running back, Antonio Gibson, is out with a toe injury. So theoretically, the 49ers defense can make Washington's offense look like the Rams offense when the Rams play San Francisco.

11:05 The key for the 49ers defense is to take away wide receiver Terry McLaurin on first down, and tight end Logan Thomas on second down. Those are Alex Smith's favorite targets and that's when Smith likes to throw to them. The 49ers need to force Smith to throw to another option or check down to a running back. Then the 49ers need to tackle that guy fast, because if they can get to third down, that's when Washington folds. They're a bad third-down offense.

11:08 The key to the game for the 49ers offense is to get Deebo Samuel the ball early and often. Last week against the Bills, he touched the ball just once in the first half. When he finally got his second touch, there was 2:30 left in the third quarter and the 49ers were losing by 17 points. Kyle Shanahan can't let Samuel become an afterthought ever again. How could Shanahan forget to call plays for his best player? 

11:59 Here are the 49ers inactives:

#WASvsSF @DignityHealth Inactives pic.twitter.com/du1YwKQTg3

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 13, 2020

11:59 No K'Waun Williams means another game of Dontae Johnson at nickelback, and that's bad news for the 49ers.

12:00 The 49ers just announced offensive line coach John Benton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not coach during today's game. I hope he's OK.

12:39 Here is my pregame show:

1:10 If Washington wins, it will take sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Meaning Washington should be extra fired up in the first quarter.

1:25 Washington wins the toss and defers, so the 49ers receive the opening kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

1:29 First play of the game, Deebo Samuel runs for 9 yards but injures his hamstring again and leaves the game.

1:32 On third and 4 from the Washington 42, Brandon Aiyuk drops a pass from Mullens, and the 49ers punt. Washington takes over at their 12.

1:33 Good opening script by Kyle Shanahan. He went up-tempo after the first first down and gave the first touch to Samuel. Brandon Aiyuk needs to step up now with Deebo injured. And it's time to get Richie James Jr. back involved in the offense.

1:37 First play, the 49ers blitz and force an incomplete pass from Alex Smith down the field. Great, aggressive play call from Robert Saleh. On third and 7, the 49ers blitz again, and Smith completes a two-yard pass Logan Thomas, who gets tackled immediately by Ahkello Witherspoon. Washington goes three and out. Great opening series for the 49ers defense.

1:44 On second and 7 from the 49ers 38, Trent Williams slips and injures himself during a screen to Aiyuk that gains 5 yards. On third and 2, Justin Skule gives up a sack to Chase Young. The 49ers punt and give up a 22-yard punt return. Abysmal sequence for the Niners.

1:50 On third and 7 from the 49ers 35, Alex Smith one hops an open Terry McLaurin, who beat Jason Verrett with a comeback route.

1:51 Washington misses a 53-yard field goal. The 49ers get the ball back at their 43.

1:53 Trent Williams returns to the game.

2:00 On second and goal from the 1, Jeff Wilson Jr. powers into the end zone for the touchdown. He put the 49ers near the goal line with an 11-yard run in the red zone. Raheem Mostert ran 4 times for 33 yards during the drive. And Mullens completed a 17-yard play-action pass to Aiyuk. Excellent drive.

49ers 7, Washington 10.

2:05 On third and 8, Alex Smith throws an errant pass intended for his running back in front of the first-down marker, and Washington goes three and out.

SECOND QUARTER

2:11 Mostert runs for 6 yards on the first play of the drive but injures himself again and leaves the game. But on third and 9, Bourne commits a false start. And on third and 14, Richie James gains just four yards on a screen pass. And the 49ers punt to the Washington 15.

2:16 On third and 5 from the 20, Smith throws deep into Richard Sherman's coverage but overthrows his target, and Washington goes three and out.

2:22 Trent Williams commits a false start on the first play of the drive, then Kyle Juszczyk gets trucked and gives up a nine-yard sack on the second play of the drive, and the 49ers eventually go three and out. Washington takes over at its 38 after the punt. Embarrassing series by the 49ers offense. Its best players can't execute the simplest things all of a sudden.

2:30 Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins makes a 51-yard field goal.

49ers 7, Washington 3.

2:34 On second and 4, Jeff Wilson Jr. fumbles and Washington recovers at the 49ers 26. Uh oh.

2:39 On third and goal from the 8, the 49ers rush just three defenders and Alex Smith panics, trips and sacks himself. Jordan Willis gets credit for the sack. Great defensive stand by the 49ers as they hold Washington to a field goal after the fumble.

49ers 7, Washington 6. 

2:42 On third and 8, Jordan Reed drops a high pass near the sideline and the 49ers go three and out.

2:48 On second and 10, Jason Verrett intercepts a long pass up the sideline from Smith. The 49ers take over at their 38.

2:53 Mullens tries to escape the pocket but gets the ball stripped, Chase Young recovers and returns it for a touchdown. Mullens was carrying the ball away from his body with one hand.

49ers 7, 49ers 13.

3:01 On third and 15, Nick Mullens throws the ball away as he gets hit, the 49ers punt and the first half ends.

3:02 How to beat yourself in the first half, the 49ers story: 7 QB hits allowed. 3 sacks allowed. 2 fumbles fumble returned for a touchdown.

THIRD QUARTER

3:14 Alex Smith is out and Dwayne Haskins is Washington's quarterback.

3:21 Washington marches down the field but the 49ers hold at the goal line and force a field goal. This half will determine who really wants to play in the face of adversity on the 49ers. They're sequestered on the road away from family, in last place in the NFC West as all three other teams have won or are winning big, and the 49ers were very sluggish in the first half, especially by offense. Let's see if they have any life.

49ers 7, Washington 16.

3:29 On third and 12, Mullens gets sacked for the fourth time in this game. This one was a coverage sack. After the punt, Washington gets the ball at its 34.

3:35 On third and 7 from the 49ers 39, Steven Sims drops a pass from Haskins, and Washington punts. James makes a fair catch at the 49ers 8.

3:48 On second and 2 from the Washington 24, Mullens escapes the pocket to his right and throws to Kyle Juszczyk who isn't look and gets intercepted, and the pick gets returned for a touchdown. That play perfectly sums up the 49ers' 2020.

49ers 7, Washington 23.

3:59 On first and goal from the 6, Mullens play fakes, rolls left and throws a touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk. That's a 75-yard touchdown drive. Mullens extended it by drawing a roughing penalty on third and 9, and by completing a 16-yard pass to Richie James on third and 10.

4:01 The 49ers go for two, and Mullens hits Bourne in the end zone. Which means the 49ers now are trailing by just one score.

49ers 15, Washington 23.

4:08 Dion Jordan sacks Haskins for an eight-yard loss on the first play of the drive, and Washington eventually goes three and out. Clutch play by Jordan. This game is far from over. The 49ers take over at their 26.

4:15 On third and 6 from the 49ers 42, Chase Young bats down a pass from Mullens, and the 49ers punt. Washington takes over at its 14 with 6:14 left.

4:18 On third and 10, Tarvarius Moore tips an overthrown pass to Jimmie Ward, who almost intercepts it, but the ball hits the ground.

4:23 Charlie Woerner drops a pass on third and 1, and the 49ers go three and out. They punt and pin Washington at its 1.

4:27 On third and 6, Dre Greenlaw tackles J.D. McKissic inches in front of the first-down marker, and Washington goes three and out.

4:30 Aiyuk returns the punt 10 yards to the 49ers 48. They have one timeout and 2:40 left.

4:35 On third and 2, Mullens completes a 22-yard pass to Bourne. But the completion doesn't count because Mike McGlinchey committed a holding penalty. And on fourth and 12, Mullens completes a 10-yard pass to Bourne. Not enough. The 49ers lose. Stay tuned for their grades.