Monday Night Football Preview: 49ers at Redskins

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Welcome to the Gridiron Experts Ultimate Guide to Monday Night. Whether you are a fan of the teams doing battle, have fantasy football or gaming implications, or you’re simply looking for creative ways to increase your alcohol intake during the Monday Night Football telecast, we’ve got you covered. Week 12 brings us the 6-4 San Francisco 49ers against the 3-7 Washington Redskins.

San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins (+5.0)

Earlier this season, the 49ers had their first two-game losing streak under coach Jim Harbaugh. They enter Monday night on their second such streak. In fact, counting the bye week it’s been almost a month since San Francisco won a game. But a matchup against the three-win Redskins seems to be exactly what the 49ers need to get back on track. Washington is 19th in the league against the run and coming into Week 12 has surrendered as many rushing touchdowns (15) as any other team in the NFL. Accordingly, we have Frank Gore ranked as the #8 running back for the week and I expect him to get a lot of work in this game. Colin Kaepernick would seem to have a great opportunity against the Redskins’ 26th ranked pass defense, but San Francisco has the worst passing offense in the league at just 168 yards per game, and if they can help it, the 49ers will likely continue to limit the number of throws that Kaepernick has to make. He checks in as just our 19th rated fantasy passer for Week 12.

The Redskins enter the week as the top running team in the league and San Francisco’s run defense isn’t nearly as daunting as it has been in years past. Still, Washington has shown a propensity for falling behind early and I expect more of that in this contest. With the Redskins likely to be playing catchup, we think Roy Helu actually has more fantasy value in PPR formats than Alfred Morris. A reliance on the passing game should also favor Pierre Garcon, whom we rated as the #16 fantasy wide receiver for the week. Robert Griffin III might be forced to throw the ball enough to be fantasy relevant, but poor decision making in recent weeks and a tough matchup against the 49ers 10th ranked pass defense limits his upside potential. If you need a deep sleeper on Monday night, I think Aldrick Robinson could have a decent game here. With Leonard Hankerson and Jordan Reed out, Robinson could get some extra looks, including a few deep routes.

My Prediction:

I expect San Francisco to run the ball early and often against Washington, mixing in a few Colin Kaepernick passes here and there to Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis. The Redskins will likely try to follow suit in the running game, but once they fall behind, Robert Griffin III will be forced to make plays down the field. While I think he’ll hit enough plays to Pierre Garcon and company to keep Washington within striking distance, I predict they will fall short against an overall superior 49ers team. Five points is a little more than I would prefer to give a home team in primetime game, but I think San Francisco can cover it.

San Francisco 27, Washington 20

 

MNF Drinking Game

The matchup on the football field doesn’t have to be the only game in town on Monday night. Get a group together, grab your favorite beer and a bottle of liquor, and enjoy the Gridiron Experts MNF Drinking Game.

• Take one drink for every scoring play (touchdown, field goal, safety, etc.)
• Take one shot for every play that is reviewed (either by coach’s challenge or booth review)
• Take an additional one shot if a play is overturned on review
• Take one drink for every Colin Kaepernick pass attempt
• Take one shot for every Robert Griffin III completion of 20 yards or more
• Take one drink for every rushing attempt for someone other than Frank Gore and Alfred Morris
• Take one shot for every reception by a 49er other than Anquan Boldin or Vernon Davis
• Take one drink every time a famous Washington D.C. building or monument is shown during the telecast
• Take one drink every time Jon Gruden starts a sentence with “Mike,…” in reference to Mike Tirico

Beer of the Week

The Beer of the Week represents a tasty offering from the city/region hosting the week’s Monday Night Football contest. Feel free to incorporate the Beer of the Week into the MNF Drinking Game.

DC Brau On the Wings of Armageddon – With a name like that, it has to be good, right? When it was founded in 2009, DC Brau Brewing was the first brewery to operate inside the District of Columbia since 1956. On the Wings of Armageddon (OTWOA) was created in homage to Mayan and Hopi doomsday prophecies that include a transition from one world to another. OTWOA is an imperial IPA with strong aromas of citrus on the front end, along with light bread and biscuit notes. A balance of sweetness and bitterness masks OTWOA’s 9.2% ABV, making it a deceptively smooth brew with world-class flavor.