Schedule Preview – 49ers

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August 18, 2022

By Noonefromtampa

The Commanders’ Christmas eve week 16 opponent is the San Francisco 49ers.  The teams last met in 2020, a game which Washington won 23-15. The game featured a 76 yard interception return for a touchdown by then rookie Kamren Curl.

The big question for the 49ers is which quarterback will end up being the number one QB for them. Trey Lance is the expected starter at the beginning of the season, with Jimmy Garoppolo recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. However, it is a long season and as Washington fans are all too familiar with – the quarterback in December is not always the same as the one who started in September.

There’ve been rumors that various teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns are interested in trading for Garoppolo once he is cleared to start practicing.

Game Details

Opponent: San Francisco 49ers

When: Saturday, December 24, 4:05 P.M.

Where: Away, Levi’s Stadium

TV Network: Fox

2021 49ers

Record: 10-7, lost NFC championship game to Rams

Offense: 7th [passing 12th, rushing 7th]

Defense: 3rd [passing 6th, rushing 7th]

Points Scored: 13th

Points Allowed: 9th

Head-to-Head: 18-11-1 in regular season from 1952 to 2020, 3-1 postseason

49ers Coaching

Kyle Shanahan the former Washington offensive coordinator has been the head coach of the 49ers since the 2017 season. He is 39-42 in his five seasons as head coach, plus 4-2 in playoffs games with an NFC Championship in 2019.

Chris Foerster, the former Washington offensive line coach (2010-2014) has been promoted to offensive coordinator after Mike McDaniel left for the Dolphins head coach job. Shanahan is the overall architect of the offense, Foerster is mainly the coordinator of the run game.

DeMeco Ryans became the defensive coordinator last year after Robert Saleh was hired as the Jets head coach. The 49ers defense was one of the best in the NFL last season, his first as the defensive coordinator.

49ers Schemes

The 49ers run a version of the West Coast offense that Kyle learned from his dad Mike and former mentor Gary Kubiak. Washington fans will remember the 2012 season and the good work Kyle did with Robert Griffin III and the rest of the offense.

The 49ers run a 4-3 defense.

Roster Changes

Key Losses: G Laken Tomlinson (NYJ), DT D. J. Jones (DEN), CB K’Waun Williams (DEN), DE Arden Key (JAC), S Jaquiski Tartt (PHI), G Tom Compton (DEN), RB Raheem Mostert (MIA), DE Kentavius Street (NO), S Marcell Harris (NYJ), CB Josh Norman (UFA), WR Mohamed Sanu (UFA)

Key Additions: CB Charvarius Ward (KC), S George Odom (IND), LB Oren Burks (GB), WR Ray-Ray McCloud (PIT), DT Hassan Ridgeway (PHI), DE Kemoko Turay (IND), DE Kerry Hyder (SEA), TE Tyler Kroft (NYJ), WR Malik Turner (DAL)

Draft Picks: LB Drake Jackson (2-61), RB Tyrion Davis-Price (3-93), WR Danny Gray (3-105), OL Spencer Burford (4-134), CB Samuel Womack (5-172), OL Nick Zakelj (6-187), DT Kalia Davis (6-220), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (6-221), QB Brock Purdy (7-262)

Key Players Returning: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, QB Trey Lance, G Daniel Brunskill, T Trent Williams, WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle, RB Elijah Mitchell, S Jimmie Ward, LB Fred Warner, DE Nick Bosa, DE Arik Armstead, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Emmanuel Moseley

Conclusions

The 49ers have a playoff caliber defense and if they can put together a decent offense, they should be able to contend for the NFC West division title. If Trey Lance can play at the same level he did in college, this team could go deep in the playoffs. Garoppolo may not be the same type of athletic specimen as Lance, but he does win games. If Lance takes off, Garoppolo may be dealt in trade during the season to a QB-needy team.

Noone’s Prediction

A long plane ride away game on the opposite coast usually does not fare well for the visiting team. I think this game will be a loss for Washington with a final score of 28-17.