4 lessons SF 49ers can learn from Washington’s win vs. Steelers

The SF 49ers hopefully paid close attention to the Washington Football Team’s shocking win over the previously undefeated Steelers.

There were two major upsets for Monday Night Football in Week 13, and the SF 49ers were unfortunately one of them after briefly being a one-point favorite against the visiting Buffalo Bills in the second half of the night’s doubleheader.

But the Bills are awfully good. Their win over the 5-7 Niners wasn’t too shocking.

Instead, the real shocker was the Washington Football Team pulling off a stunning 23-17 win over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, who were understandably much bigger favorites over Washington than San Francisco was over Buffalo.

And just like that, Washington has an equal record as the SF 49ers.

Now, both teams are poised to square off in a crucial Week 14 bout at State Farm Stadium. The Niners’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, while the Football Team is right in the thick of things in the lowly NFC East. The reality of the SF 49ers’ current injury situation and record means their margin for errors down the stretch is razor thin.

The Niners obviously weren’t watching the game, at least not closely as they were warming up for their own matchup on Monday.

But they would be wise to review the film closely, paying attention to all the reasons why Washington pulled off the upset.

Here are four of those lessons San Francisco hopefully took away from that stunner.

No. 4: SF 49ers won’t be able to run easily vs. Washington

Buffalo did a good job containing the SF 49ers rushing attack, limiting it to just 81 total yards and 4.1 yards per carry.

Yet Washington was overly effective preventing the Steelers from doing anything on the ground. In total, Pittsburgh managed a mere 21 rush yards on 14 attempts, averaging out to 1.5 yards per carry, and a lone long run of 9 yards vastly inflated that stat.

The Football Team has been gashed for big rushing totals this season, yet it has prevented opponents from crossing 100 rush yards in each of its last three contests, including the standout showing versus the Steelers on Monday night. Now, Washington is allowing 4.1 yards per attempt.

For the Niners, whose offense is centered around the run game, the need to get beyond what Washington did against Pittsburgh’s ground game is a major concern indeed.