Jayden Daniels Threw for 300. Four Sacks and a 3-for-12 Third-Down Day Sank Washington

Jayden Daniels Threw for 300. Four Sacks and a 3-for-12 Third-Down Day Sank Washington

The 49ers stayed unbeaten at 6-0 by winning the downs that mattered: 7 of 14 on third down to Washington's 3 of 12, with four sacks of Jayden Daniels.

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Jayden Daniels completed 29 of 40 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover on Sunday at Levi's Stadium. Washington still lost 23-17, and the reason is in two lines of the ESPN box score: third downs and sacks.

The San Francisco 49ers converted 7 of 14 third downs. The Washington Commanders converted 3 of 12. Daniels was sacked four times for 39 yards, and Washington's running game managed 53 yards, which left him throwing on schedule all afternoon.

How San Francisco Built the Lead

Brock Purdy hit George Kittle for an 11-yard score less than five minutes in, and Christian McCaffrey added one-yard touchdown runs late in the first quarter and with 13 seconds left in the half for a 20-3 lead. Eddy Pineiro's 33-yard field goal made it 23-3 in the third.

Purdy finished 21 of 29 for 264 yards. Mike Evans caught three passes for 94 yards, including a 54-yarder, and Kittle had five for 69. McCaffrey carried 16 times for 64 yards and caught nine passes for 53 more, though he also lost a fumble, San Francisco's only turnover. The 49ers ran for 126 yards as a team.

Washington's Comeback Ran Out of Downs

Daniels got the Commanders back in it with a one-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs with 15 seconds left in the third and a nine-yard score to Rachaad White with 9:22 to play. Chig Okonkwo led Washington with seven catches for 69 yards, and Treylon Burks added four for 66.

Then came the drive that defined the day: 13 plays, 61 yards and a turnover on downs. Washington's final possession went backward four yards. Sonny Styles led all tacklers with 13, and Washington's defense forced three straight three-and-outs in the fourth quarter, but 11 San Francisco penalties for 88 yards were the only thing keeping the Commanders in reach.

San Francisco (6-0) plays at Atlanta on Sunday. Washington dropped to 1-4-1. Stats from the ESPN box score.