Redskins vs. 49ers: Complete Week 12 Preview for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers are riding a two-game winning streak and are now shifting their focus to the visiting Washington Redskins in Week 12.

San Francisco is a 7.5-point favorite over Washington, per OddsShark. The game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET this Sunday, November 23, on CBS.

The 6-4 49ers are coming off a 16-10 victory over the New York Giants, in which the defense forced five interceptions from quarterback Eli Manning. San Francisco needed these turnovers given that its offense netted just two field goals in four red-zone appearances during the contest.

San Francisco's red-zone woes have been a primary concern. The offense ranks 31st in the NFL in red-zone efficiency, per Doug Williams of NBC Bay Area, and the general lack of execution in the second half has continued to plague the offense.

The 49ers' first-team offense has yet to muster a fourth-quarter touchdown on the year.

"

That does it. 49ers will win 16-10. Again, no fourth quarter score. One field goal off of five interceptions.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) November 16, 2014"

Red-zone and fourth-quarter woes have put pressure on a defense to maintain leads late into games. Considering the plethora of injuries suffered on the defensive side of the ball, it is remarkable to consider how effective this unit has been at keeping the 49ers' playoff hopes alive thus far.

San Francisco will need its defense to continue its winning ways down the stretch. With the offense in need of some continuity and production, the 3-7 Redskins provide a perfect opportunity for the 49ers to have a statement game.

Let's break down how this will happen.

49ers' Week 11 Recap

The 49ers needed their makeshift defense to come away with a 16-10 victory over the Giants in Week 11.

This defense has been forced to bear the brunt of San Francisco's injuries in 2014. All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman has been absent, and fellow linebacker Patrick Willis is lost for the year. Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey has missed each game through 11 weeks, and fellow DT Ian Williams is also on injured reserve with a fractured leg.

San Francisco has also dealt with significant absences in its secondary.

But the defense was able to overcome such adversity thanks to the stellar play of rookie linebackers Aaron Lynch and Chris Borland.

Borland is making a name for himself after taking over for Willis in Week 6. Since that point, he has jumped atop the 49ers' leaderboard in tackles (47) and has been nominated for Rookie of the Week accolades three weeks in a row, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com.

Yet his 12-tackle, two-interception performance against New York in Week 11 earned him Defensive Player of the Week commendation, per Eric Branch of SFGate.com:

"

#49ers LB Chris Borland was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 12-tackle, 2-INT game vs. #nygiants.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 19, 2014"

Borland's performance was one of the numerous reasons behind San Francisco's victory over the Giants. Equally important was the return of linebacker Aldon Smith, who had sat out the previous nine games while serving a suspension for various off-the-field incidents.

Smith may not have impacted the stat sheet as much as one would have hoped, but he was instrumental in bringing pressure. Safety Antoine Bethea—who is also having a Pro Bowl-caliber season—was quick to praise his defensive teammates, which can be viewed in the above frame.

The return of Smith did have some consequences.

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks benched himself after the first quarter having been frustrated with his lack of playing time. Brooks later stated via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area that he didn't bench himself, yet his choice of words resulted in him being removed from the lineup:

"

Ahmad Brooks: "I did not take myself out of the game. But words said by me could not be taken back, so they decided to not put me back in."

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 19, 2014"

The two sides have worked things out, and Brooks is expected to be back in action against the Redskins.

San Francisco's defense forced five interceptions during the contest. Yet the 49ers were able to generate only three points off these turnovers. In all, San Francisco produced zero touchdowns in four red-zone appearances, calling into question the general lack of consistency and production on offense.

The victory is nice, but it was anything but perfect.

News and Notes

San Francisco's defense saved what would have been an overwhelmingly disappointing game against New York.

With the offense struggling, the 49ers relied on their defense—notably Aldon Smith and Chris Borland—to carry the team to victory.

Washington figures to be one of the easier opponents San Francisco will face down the stretch. With matchups against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals looming, the 49ers must use this game as a final tune-up before having to face off against division rivals with major playoff implications on the line.

Aldon Smith's Return

The 49ers' pass-rushing efforts were reinforced by the return of Aldon Smith on Sunday. Smith—who has 42 career sacks—would complement a defense that had just 15 prior to Week 11.

Smith didn't exactly hit the charts as expected. He posted zero tackles over 54 defensive snaps, but the outside linebacker did account for two quarterback hits.

Combined with linebacker Aaron Lynch, Smith was able to put pressure on quarterback Eli Manning, which unquestionably led to some of the five picks thrown by the Giants signal-caller.

One of the drawbacks from Smith's return was the benching of Ahmad Brooks, who expressed frustration at his limited role. But the 30-year-old veteran is now expected to play on Sunday, per head coach Jim Harbaugh (h/t Taylor Price of 49ers.com):

"

Harbaugh impressed with @AldonSmith & Aaron Lynch, expects Ahmad Brooks to play Sunday. READ: http://t.co/iy8kCRGF2N pic.twitter.com/0wLDSZ5EN4

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2014"

The combination of Lynch and Smith gives San Francisco an edge in its pass rush—an aspect the defense will need over the remaining weeks.

Chris Borland Shines

San Francisco's third-round draft pick has already broken beyond any doubts whether his 6'0", 248-pound frame could translate into an effective NFL linebacker.

Instead, Chris Borland is easing the pain of Patrick Willis' season-ending toe injury. 

Borland leads the team with 47 tackles—another 13 of them on Sunday—and his two interceptions in one game marked something that neither Willis nor NaVorro Bowman had ever done in their respective careers:

"

Chris Borland has done something Willis and Bowman have never done... 2 INTs in the same game.

— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) November 16, 2014"

The performance earned him a third consecutive nomination for Rookie of the Week awards, and he also was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

Red-Zone Woes

The 49ers red-zone offense stands as the 31st-best in the NFL. San Francisco is just 13-for-33 in red-zone touchdowns on the season, per Doug Williams of NBC Bay Area, and its 39 percent touchdown rate is a far downgrade from the 53 percent posted a year ago.

San Francisco was 0-for-4 against New York. The 49ers' first red-zone trip resulted in a Frank Gore fumble—his first on the season. Two subsequent trips resulted in field goals, and the final red-zone appearance called for a kneel-down in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.

These stats have been an ongoing problem—an issue that has forced the defense to hold onto slim leads late into games. That might work against teams like the Giants or Redskins, but what of tougher opponents like the Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals when those matchups come to the forefront?

Gore elaborated on the frustrations, via Maiocco:

"

Every team would be frustrated but, you know, we just want to win. However it is, as long as we get the ‘W’ on our side, you know we’re cool with it. We’ll watch the film and try to clean up what we’re not doing in the red zone. I hurt us on the fumble in the red zone, and that could have been, if not seven, that could’ve been three points.

"

Equally concerning has been the 49ers' inability to score in the fourth quarter. San Francisco has just two fourth-quarter touchdowns this year—cornerback Dontae Johnson's pick-six against the St. Louis Rams in Week 6 and a Blaine Gabbert touchdown pass to wideout Bruce Ellington in garbage time against the Denver Broncos in Week 7.

Defensive Transactions

The defense has survived a flurry of significant injuries in 2014. Despite these setbacks, the 49ers still rank No. 4 in the league in fewest yards allowed per game (308.8), according to StatMilk.com (subscription required).

Players like Borland and Lynch have helped offset some of the injuries. Standout play from defensive backs like Antoine Bethea and Perrish Cox have solidified the secondary.

But with losses to players like Jimmie Ward (foot) and Tramaine Brock (hamstring), the secondary has been required to make some transactions.

The 49ers signed cornerback Marcus Cromartie to their practice squad on Tuesday, per Igor Mello of CBS Sports. Brock is also expected to return at some point this season.

Having lost nose tackle Ian Williams (leg) for the season, the 49ers elected to activate fellow DT Glenn Dorsey (biceps) to bolster the depth along the defensive front.

Injury Report

Injuries    

Ian Williams, DT: Injured Reserve (shin)

Jimmie Ward, DB: Injured Reserve (foot)

Bruce Ellington, WR: Questionable (ankle)

Tramaine Brock, CB: Questionable (hamstring)

Dan Skuta, LB: Questionable (ankle)

Glenn Dorsey, DT: Probable (biceps)

San Francisco's secondary is wearing thin after it lost rookie defensive back Jimmie Ward for the season. This is a defensive backfield that had already placed cornerback Chris Cook on injured reserve and has been without No. 1 corner Tramaine Brock for much of the year.

These injuries have forced the 49ers to make some transactions, but at least this unit can look forward to getting Brock back onto the field. According to Eric Branch of SFGate.com, there is an outside chance that Brock returns to action in Week 12:

"

#49ers CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring) has chance to play vs. Washington, per source. Status won’t be known until end of week.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 18, 2014"

Glenn Dorsey will take over Ian Williams' spot at nose tackle, competing with second-year pro Quinton Dial for the No. 1 job.

San Francisco's return duties will likely be split between cornerback Perrish Cox and running back Carlos Hyde if rookie wideout Bruce Ellington is unable to go.

But the biggest injury news is linebacker NaVorro Bowman's return to practice.

Bowman's return opens up a 21-day window in which the 49ers will evaluate the All-Pro and determine whether they should open up a roster spot for him, per 49ers.com:

"

#49ers officially open the 21-day practice windows on LB @NBowman53, TE @GCells85, G @BTOM63 & CB @KeithReaser3. pic.twitter.com/6C1gGnFq1N

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 18, 2014"

There likely won't be any rush to get Bowman back onto the field. Instead of risking further injury to his surgically repaired knee, the 49ers can take a preventive stance, especially considering the rising play of rookie linebacker Chris Borland in recent weeks.

X-Factors and Matchups to Watch

The 49ers defense proved to be the X-factor for San Francisco in Week 11. It may have to again vs. the Redskins in Week 12.

According to StatMilk.com, Washington has the seventh-best NFL rank in average passing yards and total yards per game—270.8 and 380.4 yards, respectively.

But the Redskins have also given up 28 sacks on the year, which is just four less than the 32 allowed by the 49ers on the season.

A reinvigorated pass rush could be the primary difference-maker on Sunday.

Aldon Smith vs. Trent Williams/Morgan Moses

The pass rush will be a primary factor in forcing quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Redskins offense to settle for punts and field goals during this upcoming contest.

Aldon Smith may not have recorded a sack against the Giants last Sunday, but he did make his presence felt—creating pressure and drawing blockers, which opened up lanes for other pass-rushers.

Lining up opposite him will be left tackle Trent Williams, provided he will be able to go on Sunday after being limited in practice with a knee injury, per Rob Carlin of CSN Washington:

"

Chris Baker, Lauvao, Trent Williams & Jordan Reed all limited.. Gruden says "a long road" for Trent.. #RedskinsTalk

— Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinCSN) November 19, 2014"

If Williams is unavailable, expect fellow left tackle Morgan Moses to take over the job. 

A banged-up Williams or a backup O-lineman present a juicy opportunity for Smith's prolific pass-rushing abilities.

Chris Culliver vs. DeSean Jackson

Covering No. 1 wideout DeSean Jackson will likely fall upon cornerback Chris Culliver on Sunday. 

This depends on whether Tramaine Brock returns to service, as described previously. Cornerback Perrish Cox will also fill in at the nickelback spot in the place for Jimmie Ward. 

Culliver will get the nod considering these factors, but it won't be an easy task. Jackson is averaging 20.5 yards per reception and leads the team with 819 receiving yards—a bona fide threat.

Yet stopping that threat will be the primary goal of the 49ers pass rush. If this unit can upset Griffin's timing, Jackson's impact could be kept at a minimum.

Anthony Davis vs. Ryan Kerrigan

Like the Redskins, the 49ers have also struggled in pass protection in 2014. San Francisco has allowed 32 sacks on the year—tied for fourth highest in the league.

Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has 7.5 of Washington's 25 sacks this year, and he stands as the most prominent pass-rusher on the Redskins defense this season.

He'll frequently line up opposite right tackle Anthony Davis, but may shift to the opposite depending on how Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett draws up his defense.

Anquan Boldin vs. Bashaud Breeland

Wideout Anquan Boldin is the 49ers' No. 1 receiver. While Michael Crabtree had the biggest offensive play from the 49ers' 16-10 victory over the Giants last week, Boldin's numbers reinforce the notion that San Francisco's passing game revolves around his ability to get involved in the play.

Boldin has 688 yards on 56 receptions in comparison to Crabtree's 509 yards on 43 catches.

Covering Boldin will fall upon Redskins top corner Bashaud Breeland. The 22-year-old defensive back leads the team with seven passes defended, but his 5'11", 197-pound frame may prove too little for Boldin's physicality.

While Crabtree hasn't necessarily generated the production one would expect out of a player in a contract year, he could be in for a big game against second-year pro David Amerson:

"

David Amerson is like a young DHall without playmaking ability (which he actually had in college). Allows a ton of catches. #Redskins

— Emmanual Benton (@Manny_PPI) November 16, 2014"

Amerson has struggled in coverage this season, which could open up the door for Crabtree if Breeland does a solid job of bottling up Boldin on the opposite side.

49ers Offense vs. the Red Zone

The 49ers can't score in the red zone. That has been well documented.

San Francisco's 31st-ranked red-zone offense will try to improve upon what has been a lackluster showing over its first 10 games.

Blaming offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been the easy route for many critics, but Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area points out, in light of the 49ers problems in Week 11, that the lack of execution is more problematic:

"

Because the plays failed, it’s easy to second-guess the play calls of offensive coordinator Greg Roman. But the players make the plays successful, and the 49ers are not making positive plays even when opportunities present themselves.

"

Maiocco concludes:

"

It’s a problem that has persisted through the first 10 games of the season. And it’s obvious they have not found the answer—other than they are not executing in those situations as well as the opposing defenses.

"

Yet the 49ers will have a good opportunity to correct these shortcomings against a questionable Redskins defense. According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Washington has the 18th-best defense in the red zone, which should allow San Francisco to make some headway here.

49ers X-Factor of the Week: LB Chris Borland

Linebacker Chris Borland could very well receive X-Factor of the Week accolades for the remainder of the season given how well the rookie is playing this year.

What makes Borland special is his innate ability to always be around the ball. It's one thing to go to where the play is developing, but it is another to consistently be in the right place at the right moment:

"

#49ers Justin Smith on Chris Borland: “The guy’s playing out his mind.”

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 16, 2014"

Borland leads the 49ers with 47 tackles. He also has one sack, five passes defended and two interceptions.

But it is his ability against the run which makes him so special—details of which are further provided by Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus:

"

Chris Borland's 19.8% run stop percentage leads all ILBs who have played 100+ run snaps. Next closest is Roland McClain at 13.2% #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) November 17, 2014"

Oh, and his three-consecutive Rookie of the Week nomination, combined for his NFC Defensive Player of the Week selection, pushes the rookie linebacker into this discussion.

Prediction

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Kaepernick and the offense will look for a better showing against Robert Griffin III and the Redskins.

It is hard to fathom San Francisco not improving upon its lowly red-zone totals that followed the team through Week 11.

Whether it be the play-calling or lack of execution, the 49ers have a prime opportunity to address an issue that has plagued them through 10 games. Washington's 18th-best red-zone defense presents a needed opportunity to improve in this area.

With the offense looking to improve, San Francisco's defense will look to carry over the momentum generated from its victory over New York a week ago.

Robert Griffin III knows that he will be facing a tough defense—statements that were pointed out via Redskins.com: 

"

#Redskins QB @RGIII talks about the 49ers strong defense. #WASvsSF WATCH | http://t.co/8RMGVwbtF4 pic.twitter.com/uaBRphpSTh

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) November 19, 2014"

San Francisco's defense will look to increase the total number of sacks Washington has given up in 2014, while hoping its own offensive line will prevent the rising number allowed to 49ers' opponents.

The Redskins O-line will have to contend with its own injuries and figure out a way to handle the pass-rushing combination of linebackers Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch—no simple task.

If the 49ers defense can bring pressure, receiving threats like DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon could be non-factors. This might also set up the opportunity for San Francisco to increase its number of generated turnovers.

Look for the defense to continue its stellar play against Washington. Linebackers like Lynch and Chris Borland will continue to make plays, and Smith could also play a prominent role in thwarting any passing threats.

The 49ers will stick to their running game, setting up the various play-action passes that come off of a respectable rushing attack.

Hopefully, some of these elongated drives will find paydirt in the end zone.

If San Francisco can put these pieces together, it can come away with a victory over a clearly inferior opponent in Week 12.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Redskins 14

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.