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Jeremy Perry
Commanders vs. 49ers Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
The Washington Commanders are now in trouble in the NFC playoff race. They had the New York Giants at home on Sunday Night Football and with a win, would have taken a truly giant step toward the postseason. Instead, they blew their chance in a 20-12 loss and have to face the hottest team in football to get back on track.
The San Francisco 49ers have won seven straight and are viewed as the favorite to make the Super Bowl from the NFC.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Washington is 6-2-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last nine contests. They are 4-0-1 straight up and 4-1 ATS in their last five road contests. As for the total, the under has cashed in five of their last six away games.
As for the 49ers, they’ve won seven straight and covered the spread in five consecutive contests. They’re also 8-1 ATS in their last nine as a home favorite. Of note, the under has cashed eight straight times when the 49ers have been a home favorite.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders know the enormity of the challenge they face this Saturday. They score an average of just 18.9 points per game and they are going up against a 49er defense which allows just 15 points per game.
The Commanders’ 20-12 loss to the Giants this past Sunday marked their first loss since Nov. 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. It was just their second loss since Oct. 9 when they fell to 1-4 on the season and seemed to be nearly done in the playoff race.
Washington certainly rallied, and Heinicke has delivered a number of fourth-quarter go-ahead scoring drives this season to win games for the Commanders, but in terms of 60-minute production, the Commanders’ offense has never been particularly good this season – with a few exceptions (such as the 32-21 win over the Eagles in Philadelphia, which remains the Eagles’ only loss of the year).
Washington needs to make plays in the passing game to stretch the field and get quick strikes, which reduce pressure on the offense to grind out 10-play, 75-yard drives and succeed in the red zone. Grinding out drives is a tough way to make a living against San Francisco and probably won’t work.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers were certainly disappointed when they saw the Minnesota Vikings come back from a 33-0 deficit to win on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. If the Vikings had lost that game, the 49ers would have had the inside track to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs behind the Eagles. Because the Vikings came back, however, the 49ers are still firmly in the No. 3 spot. They did beat the Seattle Seahawks to wrap up the NFC West, but getting that second seed matters because it means two home games in the playoffs, not just one.
The 49ers might have the best team in the NFC, but they don’t want to play two road games if they can help it – especially since they have a rookie quarterback leading the way these days. This game against Washington matters a ton in the race for that No. 2 seed. It’s not as though winning the division means the Niners’ regular-season goals are over. They’re not.
WAS
SF