Commander Country

Week 7 Game Recap: Washington can't score, fall 9-0 to 49ers

The Redskins looked to earn their second straight victory but fell short of reaching the scoreboard.

Tony Thompson

The 1-5 Washington Redskins were aiming for their first winning streak of the season against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field Sunday afternoon. The match-up of two of the NFL's most storied franchise had not been kind to the Redskins, having won only one of the past five contests. The streak continued, as the offense was unable to put any points on the board in a rainy afternoon at Fed Ex Field.

Washington fell 9-0, covering the 9.5-point spread but dropping to 1-6 on the 2019 season.

A full recap of the afternoon is below.

First Quarter

The Redskins received the kickoff to start the game and running game guru and interim head coach Bill Callahan decided the best way to start the game was a heavy dose of Adrian Peterson, who carried the ball seven straight times to start the game. He gained 36 yards for his efforts. The very next play, backup running back Wendell Smallwood got the team near the red zone with a 17 yard run.

The first pass has arrived on 3rd and 5 after ten straight carries. Case Keenum completed a shovel pass for a loss of two before kicker Dustin Hopkins came into shank a 39 yard kick in the rain. For those keeping score, the drive nearing nine minutes netted zero points.

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The 49ers convert a 3rd and 9 on a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to George Kittle. The weather looks like it might cause problems in the passing game. Washington's defense tightens up and forces the punt and will take over at their own 10 yard-line.

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The rain is clearly affecting the passing game. A dropped pass on second down by wide receiver Paul Richardson helps complete a three and out. San Francisco takes over at their 46 yard-line.

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Second Quarter

Both teams are determined to run the ball in the slop that is FedEx Field.  The 49ers converted two straight third downs on the ground, one on a scramble by Garoppolo and one by Tevin Coleman. 

Bill Callahan has challenged a four yard pass play on to turn a 3rd and 8 into a 3rd and 12. He was ultimately right, but that seems like a less than ideal use of challenges.

A sack by Matt Ioannidis and Ryan Kerrigan after Garoppolo fumbles the snap leads to a missed field goal from Robbie Gould. 

The game stays scoreless as the Redskins take over at their own 35 yard line. 

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The Redskins converted a 3rd and 9 on a Keenum pass to a wide open Terry McLaurin out of the slot. Two straight penalties put the offense in 2nd and 23. No matter, as an 11 yard completion to Trey Quinn and a screen pass to Smallwood got Washington into San Francisco territory with a first down. 

It's ultimately all for naught as the Redskins fail a 4th down conversion to keep the drive alive on a play with little imagination. The 49ers took over near the Washington 30 after stuffing an Adrian Peterson run up the middle. The scoreboard is still empty.

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The 49ers picked up a first down before stalling out as the Redskins defense holds strong, with Landon Collins delivering a blistering hit to end the drive.

The Redskins take over near their own 12 yard line with just under two minutes to go and their full complement of timeouts. 

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Right tackle Morgan Moses forgot the snap count which finished off a quick three and out. Tress Way punted the ball 57 yards, making the 49ers breaking the scoreless tie a bigger ask than it could have been.

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The half ends deadlocked at 0 after San Francisco is unable to put together a last minute scoring drive, highlighted by a Kerrigan sack.

Washington 0, San Francisco 0

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Halftime Stats

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Third Quarter

The injuries in the secondary continue to be a thing for this Washington team. Montae Nicholson was helped off the field after the second play of the third quarter.

Troy Apke, who replaced the injured Nicholson, comes up with an interception as the 49ers attempted to convert a fourth down play. It is the first of his young career.

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Washington started near midfield, even crossing it for one glorious moment before Keenum was swallowed up by Arik Armstead, forcing another punt. San Francisco will start their second drive of the half at their own 23 yard line.

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The Redskins defense sprung a leak, beginning to take in more water than they could handle. The 49ers moved the ball down the field on two plays in which the receivers were wide open before Washington slapped some Flex Tape on the hole. Nevertheless, Gould puts San Francisco on the board first.

Washington 0, San Francisco 3

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The referees decided to get in on the fun, calling three straight penalties, including a roughing the passer to get the Redskins back on track and pushing them near their own 40 yard line trailing by three. Two passes that required the receivers to go to the ground to pick up chunk yardage had Washington in good position to score until Adrian Peterson fumbled, killing the drive.

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As San Francisco's offense takes the field near their own 40 yard line with time running out in the third quarter, Montae Nicholson has been officially ruled out with an ankle injury.

Fourth Quarter

The Redskins recovered a fumble, but the play had been blown dead due to an official being out of position. Two players later San Francisco converted a 4th and 1.

After another chunk play in the passing game had the 49ers set up with a chance at a touchdown and likely clinching the game, the Redskins defense holds them to Gould's second made field goal of the game.

San Francisco 6, Washington 0

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The Redskins continue to try to establish the run, going as far as a shovel pass on 3rd and 6 despite being down by six and the clock under seven minutes. They were forced to punt for the fourth time.

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The Redskins defense has run out of gas. The team has also run out of timeouts. The 49ers will hold the ball until there's under 40 seconds left barring a turnover. There's two minutes left in the game.

Robbie Gould puts the game away with a 29 yard field goal to extend the San Francisco lead to nine.

San Francisco 9, Washington 0

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Keenum is sacked on the final play of the game. The Redskins fall to 1-6 on the season that's likely beyond saving at this point. Their miscues were ultimately their undoing. Between a missed field goal, failed fourth down conversion and an Adrian Peterson fumble, they did everything they could to keep themselves off of the scoreboard on Sunday afternoon.

Final Score: 49ers 9, Redskins 0

Published
Tony Thompson
TONY THOMPSON

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