49ers vs. Redskins: Full Week 7 preview, breakdown for San Francisco
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers visit the one-win Washington Redskins in Week 7 in what’s a revenge game for head coach Kyle Shanahan. Niner Noise previews what appears to be a lopsided bout.
On paper, the San Francisco 49ers should have no trouble dispatching the Washington Redskins in Week 7 and maintaining their perfect undefeated record this season.
The 5-0 Niners are riding the hot hand of their defense this season, which figures to make life hell for the 1-5 Redskins, their offensive line and quarterback Case Keenum, if he ultimately is the one taking snaps under center on Sunday.
Yet road games like this can be dangerous. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has just two road wins in the Eastern Time Zone, albeit both have come this season.
Still, there’s the risk of Week 7’s matchup becoming something of a “trap game,” where the 49ers end up playing down to the level of their opponent, suddenly finding themselves on the losing end for one reason or another.
But there’s plenty of reason for Shanahan to treat this game against the Redskins as more than just a road bout against a sub-par team.
Shanahan, of course, served as Washington’s offensive coordinator under his father, Mike Shanahan, from 2010 through 2013. Both Shanahans were ousted following plenty of front-office turmoil, among other things, at the end of 2013.
And Shanahan wasn’t exactly coy about his feelings on his former employer.
To say this is a grudge match could be an understatement. This should serve as motivation for Shanahan, but the game ultimately breaks down into a number of different facets and X-factors.
Niner Noise takes a look at all those and more ahead of this Week 7 contest.