San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders: 2011 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-11-06, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 19–11 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Beck (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -12.77 total EPA, and -3.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Gaffney (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.78 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Washington Commanders changed the game: (1:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short right to 29-R.Helu to WAS 26 for 9 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-31-D.Whitner at WAS 33. 31-D.Whitner to WAS 30 for 3 yar

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Gaffney · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Miller · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.87 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.18 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Edwards · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Ginn · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.94 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Hankerson · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.61 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +1.43 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Walker · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — B. Miller (Q2 31:09)
• Washington Commanders — J. Gaffney (J. Beck pass) (Q4 1:15)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q2 42:48)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q2 31:55)
• Washington Commanders — G. Gano (Q2 30:03)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q3 19:29)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q4 7:45)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 13–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the WAS 34 (Q2 42:48) — (12:48) 2-D.Akers 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the WAS 16 (Q2 31:55) — (1:55) 2-D.Akers 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the WAS 30 (Q2 31:09) — (1:09) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 49-B.Miller for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on WAS-26-J.Wilson, Illegal Contact, declined.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q2 31:03) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the SF 41 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 4-G.Gano 59 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the WAS 26 (Q3 19:29) — (4:29) 2-D.Akers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 8–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the WAS 3 (Q4 7:45) — (7:45) 2-D.Akers 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the SF 9 (Q4 1:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short right to 10-J.Gaffney for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the SF 2 (Q4 1:10) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-J.Beck pass to 85-L.Hankerson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Washington Commanders (Q2 31:18) — (1:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short right to 29-R.Helu to WAS 26 for 9 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-31-D.Whitner at WAS 33. 31-D.Whitner to WAS 30 for 3 yar [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.23]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 4-G.Gano 59 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +1.83]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 45:34) — (:34) 12-J.Beck pass deep left intended for 83-F.Davis INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at SF 44. 38-D.Goldson to SF 44 for no gain (83-F.Davis). [WPA -6.9% · EPA -3.23]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:09) — (11:09) 4-A.Lee punts 40 yards to end zone, Center-86-B.Jennings, Touchback. [WPA -5.8% · EPA -0.60]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 51:49) — (6:49) 12-J.Beck pass incomplete short middle to 29-R.Helu. [WPA -5.2% · EPA -1.40]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Washington Commanders (Q4 7:33) — (7:33) (Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short middle to 18-T.Austin to WAS 34 for 10 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-53-N.Bowman at WAS 36. 53-N.Bowman to WAS 36 for no gain (29-R. [WPA -2.7% · EPA -4.33]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 6:54) — (6:54) 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 85-V.Davis to WAS 41 for 4 yards (23-D.Hall) [91-R.Kerrigan]. FUMBLES (23-D.Hall), RECOVERED by WAS-30-L.Landry at WAS 41. 30-L.Landry to WAS 44 for 3 yards. [WPA -2.4% · EPA -3.97]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:09) — (1:09) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 49-B.Miller for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on WAS-26-J.Wilson, Illegal Contact, declined. [WPA +2.6% · EPA +3.87]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 31:18) — (1:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short right to 29-R.Helu to WAS 26 for 9 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-31-D.Whitner at WAS 33. 31-D.Whitner to WAS 30 for 3 yar [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.23]

Quarterback report card

J.Beck led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Beck (Washington Commanders) · 55 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · -3.1% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -12.77 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 29 dropbacks · 58.6% completion · +9.6% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.43 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, -0.97 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 12 drives, -12.96 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Gaffney (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Beck (WAS) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Smith (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 42:48 · WAS 34 · Score 3-0
   (12:48) 2-D.Akers 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 31:55 · WAS 16 · Score 6-0
   (1:55) 2-D.Akers 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 31:09 · WAS 30 · Score 12-0
   (1:09) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 49-B.Miller for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on WAS-26-J.Wilson, Illegal Contact, declined.
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 31:03 · WAS 2 · Score 13-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · SF 41 · Score 13-3
   (:03) 4-G.Gano 59 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
6. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 19:29 · WAS 26 · Score 16-3
   (4:29) 2-D.Akers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 7:45 · WAS 3 · Score 19-3
   (7:45) 2-D.Akers 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 1:15 · SF 9 · Score 19-9
   (1:15) (Shotgun) 12-J.Beck pass short right to 10-J.Gaffney for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q4 1:10 · SF 2 · Score 19-11
   (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-J.Beck pass to 85-L.Hankerson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.