It was an eventful Christmas Eve for the Washington Commanders. Not only did the Commanders lose to the San Francisco 49ers 37-20, but Washington also made a quarterback change, going from Taylor Heinicke to Carson Wentz.
Before he was benched, Heinicke was having one of his best games and against the NFL’s top defense. Unfortunately for Heinicke, his interception in the fourth quarter led to head coach Ron Rivera making them move to Wentz.
For a bit, Washington’s game plan was similar to the one it employed in an upset win over the Eagles in Week 10. The Commanders won the time of possession battle but were outgained in total yardage, 371-349.
Ultimately, Washington’s defense didn’t do a good enough job in the end, allowing the 49ers to score on six of their seven second-half possessions.
Now, let’s look at some of the top images from Sunday’s game.
Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) warms up before…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) during…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers fan watches warmups before the start…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) warms up…Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson (24) warms up before the game against the San Francisco…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) and quarterback Carson…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; A San Francisco 49ers fan holds a banner before…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers mascot Sourdough Sam holds a sign…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Retired San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice before…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers fan smiles for the camera before…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) during…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) during warmups…Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) warms up before the game against the San Francisco…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) during warmups…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws the…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) throws a pass…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) warms up before…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera before the game…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera shakes hands with…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs…San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs with the football during the first quarter…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (3)…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) and defensive…Washington Commanders defensive end James Smith-Williams (96) tackles San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) as…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) and safety…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) and safety…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Tyrion Davis-Price (32) is…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) smiles…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) reacts…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) is tackled…Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders makes a touchdown catch during the second quarter in…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders makes a touchdown…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders makes a touchdown…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) is sacked by…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) is tackled…Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) makes a catch against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders catches a touchdown…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders makes a catch…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders makes a catch…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) celebrates after…Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera claps his hands after a touchdown against the San Francisco…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior…Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior to a game against the Washington…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: c at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders warms up…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Brian…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the…Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Darrick Forrest #22 of the Washington Commanders intercepts a pass…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the…Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders throws the ball during the first half in the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders runs the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Curtis Samuel #10 of the Washington Commanders makes a catch…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers unable to…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders carries the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Curtis Samuel #10 of the Washington Commanders is tackled by…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders celebrates a touchdown…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after a…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders makes a catch…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Trent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers scrambles with…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Arik Armstead #91 and Nick Bosa #97 of the San…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a…Jamin Davis #52 of the Washington Commanders on the field during the fourth quarter in the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jimmie Ward #1 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Jonathan Williams #41 of the Washington Commanders is tackled by…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Tyrion Davis-Price #32 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers stiff arms…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers throws…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Curtis Samuel #10 of the Washington Commanders scores a touchdown…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Antonio Gibson #24 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball…Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws the ball during the fourth quarter in the…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after…Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the fourth…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Curtis Samuel #10 of the Washington Commanders scores a touchdown…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Logan Thomas #82 of the Washington Commanders is tackled by…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws the ball…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders on the sidelines…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares to…Curtis Samuel #10 of the Washington Commanders scores a touchdown while defended by Jimmie Ward #1…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders and Brock Purdy…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers and Carson…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders and Brock Purdy…Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11). Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY SportsDec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Tyrion Davis-Price (32) runs…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) is sacked by…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scrambles with…Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders pose with Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders speaks with Nick…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) sits on…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) celebrates with wide…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) catches a…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) is tackled…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders speaks with Nick…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders speaks with George…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Charles Leno Jr. #72 of the Washington Commanders talks with…SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers and Carson…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson (24) is tackled…Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) runs…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks off…San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (1) celebrates after a play during the third quarter against…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) gives…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) hands the ball…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) walks off…Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates with wide receiver Cam Sims (89) after scoring…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) celebrates after a…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) gets…Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and tight…
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