The San Francisco 49ers (11-4) opened last week as an early 13-point favorite over the Washington Commanders (4-11). Considering how Washington has played — it has lost six straight games and eight of the last nine — and the 49ers are one of the NFL’s best teams, it wasn’t a surprise.
Quarterback Sam Howell’s recent struggles hindered Washington’s offense, and Jacoby Brissett replaced him last week. As Brissett was set to start his first game this season, he was listed on Washington’s final injury report with a hamstring injury.
Head coach Ron Rivera called Brissett a game-time decision for Sunday’s game but noted that he’d have no issue turning back to Howell if Brissett couldn’t go. When Howell was benched, Rivera said he needed a break, something offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy agreed with.
On Saturday, the Commanders signed Jake Fromm from the practice squad, which could indicate what they think about Brissett’s chances of playing.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Brissett had “an uphill battle” to play vs. San Francisco.
So, with it looking like Howell will return to the lineup against a terrific 49ers defense, how would it impact the final betting lines?
The spread moved one point in favor of San Francisco. Here’s a look at the final betting lines for the Week 17 game per BetMGM.
Moneyline (ML)
- 49ers -1000
- Commanders +650
Against the spread (ATS)
- 49ers -14 (-110)
- Commanders +14 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U)
- 49.5 (O: -110 U: -110)