49ers report card after narrow escape against Commanders on MNF

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers escaped Monday Night Football with their perfect record still in tact.They took extended their lead to 20 points on their first possession of the second half and held for a 23-17 win as the Commanders whittled the lead away with 14 unanswered points after halftime.Grading the 49ers’ closer-than-expected win over Washington, which fell to 1-4-1:Brock Purdy is officially the highest-rated passer in NFL history. He attained the record with his fifth pass of the night, a screen to Christian McCaffrey for his 1,500th career attempt, and on his next throw, Purdy put the ball where only George Kittle could get to it in the corner of the end zone.The 49ers’ opening touchdown only served to set the tone for the rest of Purdy’s night, as precise and on-point as any other this season.Purdy completed 21 of 29 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.

And to boot, he outgained the Commanders’ dual-threat quarterback on the ground, too, with 28 yards on five scrambles.Missing many of their top receivers, the 49ers put the ball in Christian McCaffrey’s hands.He put it on the ground once but otherwise carried the load for the 49ers offensively in a way that he had yet to in five games this season.After leading the NFL with 413 touches last season, McCaffrey hadn’t gotten involved more than 19 times in a game this year.McCaffrey was responsible for two of the 49ers’ three first-half touchdowns and had 82 yards on 16 touches before halftime, more than he had in three of their five previous contests.San Francisco finished with 29 carries for 126 yards on the ground — 16 for 64 from McCaffrey — against a rush defense that had limited opponents to 3.9 yards per carry entering the game.Although he acted as the 49ers’ offensive engine, McCaffrey gets a demerit for a rare fumble that cost the 49ers points.

Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson punched the ball out of McCaffrey’s arms on the edge of the red zone, leading to his first fumble of the seas...