Shanahan reflects on late-game playcalling after 49ers' 23-17 win over Commanders

San Francisco held a 23-3 lead into the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against Washington, but three consecutive three-and-out drives narrowed the margin to 23-17. The 49ers’ defense remained on the field for most of the period, while the offense struggled to sustain drives.

"It was a frustrating end there, just going three-and-out those last three drives on offense, having a chance to put them away," Shanahan said, noting that penalties extended the drives and that the defense showed resilience despite injuries to key players.

Shanahan added that the first half had appeared dominant, but a tipped pass in the third quarter limited the team to a field goal. He praised the defensive unit for overcoming penalties and personnel changes, including contributions from backups such as Jalen Graham and Ashtyn Davis.

The offense began the second half with a 65-yard drive that ended in a field goal, extending the lead to 23-3. Shanahan later said the drive was “awesome” but expressed disappointment that subsequent series resulted in sacks and failed conversions, suggesting a run play might have been more effective on one of the attempts.

Quarterback Brock Purdy acknowledged his role in the late-game setbacks, stating that he could have released the ball more quickly to avoid sacks. He emphasized the collective effort of the defense and described the overall game plan as solid.

San Francisco improves to 6-0 on the season and will look to address offensive consistency ahead of its next matchup, with wide receiver Mike Evans listed as a possible absence.