NFL Week 9 Predictions: Why Washington Redskins Will Shock 49ers

You’ve seen this situation before.

One team (49ers) is on a remarkable win streak, holding gobs of momentum at the moment. Then there is the struggling team (Redskins) that has lost three straight and look like toast in the NFC East.

I’m here to tell you that the Redskins +3.5 is the pick to make.

It starts with their defense. Washington is fifth in the NFL with 23 sacks, and they use that pressure to force opposing QBs into poor decisions.

49ers QB Alex Smith has been smart with the ball thus far in 2011 (two INTs), but his extensive track record of dumb mistakes can’t be forgotten after a handful of good games. He is due for a horrific performance. Considering WR Michael Crabtree is the main receiving option with TE Vernon Davis nursing a hand injury…it’s hard to imagine where the passing yards are going to come from.

RB Frank Gore is going to need a huge game for the 49ers to score more than a handful of points. With a sure-handed linebacking core led by London Fletcher, I foresee Gore rushing for under 80 yards.

I expect the Redskins to dominate on defense and potentially even get a score from the unit.

On offense, there aren’t many positive things to say about QB John Beck. I personally think Rex Grossman gives the team a better chance to win, but Beck does value the ball more than his counterpart.

He won’t be throwing the pigskin down the field, but the 49ers shut down that aspect of offenses anyway, so it’s not a huge deal. With WR Santana Moss out, it’s up to WR Jabar Gaffney and TE Fred Davis to find the soft spots over the middle and keep the chains moving.

It’s not going to be terribly exciting, but I think Beck is due for a bounce-back performance after his stink bomb against the Bills.

The running game is going to play better as well. Ryan Torain has been awful of late, but don’t give up on the speedy and strong back just yet.

Also remember that the 49ers are a west coast team playing in the dreaded early-game situation and that the team hasn’t won six games in a row since Steve Young was the QB in 1998.

Just when you think the 49ers are on the fast track to a bye in the playoffs and the Redskins are dead as a doornail…the NFL once again makes us re-think everything we previously thought.

Key Trends:

49ers are 0-2-2 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

Redskins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.

49ers are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a road favorite.

Prediction: Redskins 23 49ers 20

(Spread courtesy of Covers.com)