Commanders' 29.8 points allowed meet a 49ers offense at 30.8

The Washington Commanders (1-3-1) visit the San Francisco 49ers (5-0) on Monday, October 19, with a defense allowing 29.8 points a game, 30th in the NFL, facing the league's third-highest scoring offense.

Kickoff at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara is 8:15 PM ET. Washington brings the league's sixth-ranked rushing attack, at 139.6 yards a game.

The Commanders' defense decides how long this stays close. It also allows 268.8 passing yards a game, 29th, against a San Francisco passing offense that ranks second by efficiency. Brock Purdy has 13 touchdown passes and two interceptions in five starts, so the secondary must hold for four quarters.

Washington's best counter is on the ground, where the 49ers' run defense ranks 24th by efficiency. San Francisco still allows 97.6 rushing yards a game, 11th in the league, so the gap is narrower than the ranking suggests.

Jayden Daniels has three starts this season and no interceptions. Terry McLaurin leads Washington's receivers with 203 yards. For San Francisco, Christian McCaffrey has 286 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and Mike Evans has 326 receiving yards and three scores.

Evans is questionable with a rib injury. Nick Bosa is out with a knee/calf injury, as are receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. and Brandon Aiyuk, so Purdy has fewer targets than he began the season with. Five 49ers are out and five are questionable.

Washington is without its leading rusher. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has 239 yards, is out with a groin injury, as are defensive end Charles Omenihu and quarterback Marcus Mariota. Receiver Stefon Diggs is questionable with a hamstring injury. Four Commanders are out and six are questionable.

San Francisco has won all five games, the latest 32-29 at Seattle. Washington tied the Giants 27-27 last time out, after a 30-13 loss to Indianapolis.

Sportsbooks' prices give San Francisco a 78% chance to win and Washington 22%.