NFL News & Analysis

Refocused: Washington Redskins 26, San Francisco 49ers 24

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 15: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass in the first quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

QB Kirk Cousins opened the scoring with a touchdown pass to WR Josh Doctson, and Washington run out to a 17-point lead early. The 49ers benched QB Brian Hoyer in favor of C.J. Beathard, and he would lead a scoring drive that ended with a HB Carlos Hyde touchdown run at the close of the half.

The 49ers would find more offensive success in the second half, scoring 17 points, including Beathard's first career touchdown pass to WR Aldrick Robinson. However, Washington's lead, built on another field goal and a Cousins rushing touchdown, would hold, as CB Kendall Fuller would secure the game-ending interception and they would win 26-24. With that, we give you our PFF exclusive takeaways from the contest for each team.

Top 5 Grades:

CB Quinton Dunbar, 88.0 overall grade

G Brandon Scherff, 87.9 overall grade

S D.J. Swearinger, 86.3 overall grade

CB Kendall Fuller, 85.8 overall grade

T Morgan Moses, 82.5 overall grade

Performances of Note:

Brandon Scherff, 87.9 overall grade

A fine performance from the former first-rounder out of Iowa. In addition to planting at least three defenders on their backs, Scherff didn't allow a single pressure on 39 pass-blocking snaps (100.0 pass blocking efficiency). His 87.9 overall grade currently stands his single-game high this season after some early season struggles.

Morgan Moses, 82.5 overall grade

It's been an up-and-down season thus far for the 2014 third-round selection out of Virginia. However, the bye week gave Moses an opportunity to regroup, and he did just that with a season-high 82.5 overall grade. He limited the San Francisco front to a pair of pressures for the NFLs 11th-best pass blocking efficiency from an offensive tackle thus far this week.

CB Quinton Dunbar, 88.0 overall grade

Dunbar was targeted 14(!) times on the day, yet yielded an average of only 5.9 yards per target. Dunbar broke up two passes and should have added a third that luckily found the hands of Pierre Garcon on the final drive of the game.

CB Kendall Fuller, 85.8 overall grade

With Josh Norman and Breshaud Breeland out by the end of the game, this one could have gone much worse. Fuller though only allowed 1 catch all day on three targets while adding a pick and pass breakup to his stat line.

Top 5 Grades:

T Joe Staley, 85.5 overall grade

DI DeForest Buckner, 82.9 overall grade

S Jimmie Ward, 82.2 overall grade

S Jaquiski Tartt, 81.5 overall grade

CB Rashard Robinson, 81.0 overall grade

Performances of Note:

QB C.J. Beathard, 46.2 overall grade

Beathard see-sawed between some big time throws and head-scratching ones throughout the day. It's a good sign that he went 3-of-7 for 98 yards on deep passes (20+ yards downfield), but it was not so good that he completed only three passes on 11 pressured dropbacks.

G Laken Tomlinson, 77.9

It was an encouraging performance for the much maligned former first-round pick. Against a tough interior, Tomlinson allowed only two pressures on 53 pass-blocking snaps all day.

DI DeForest Buckner, 82.9 overall grade

Buckner is in the midst of a breakout season, and Washington witnessed nothing but more of the same from the former Oregon Duck. Buckner took up residence in the Redskins' backfield, slicing through multiple gaps to disrupt the offensive flow all afternoon. Accounting for five total pressures, the former top-10 selection recorded the fourth-highest pass-rushing productivity from interior defenders during Week 6 (12.1).

CB Rashard Robinson, 81.0 overall grade

With DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas wreaking havoc upon opponent's backfields, the 49ers defense desperately needs their secondary to step up. Robinson did just that in Week 6, permitting only one reception on four passes targeted into his coverage, and collecting an overthrown go route intended for Vernon Davis in the mid-second quarter for an interception. The effort currently ranks Robinson 11th among Week 6 cornerbacks with a miniscule 0.27 yards per coverage snap on 26 snaps in coverage.

PFF Game Ball: Quinton Dunbar, CB

*Grades are subject to change upon review

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