49ers at Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins threw a 5-yard touchdown to Josh Doctson with 25 seconds left and the Washington Redskins beat the 49ers 26-24 at FedEx Field. C.J. Beathard relieved an ineffective Brian Hoyer in the third quarter. Beathard threw for 54 yards and ran for a touchdown. Carlos Hyde ran for 84. Robbie Gould kicked three field goals. The 49ers fell to 0-6 with their sixth-straight one-score loss.[1][2][3]

Kirk Cousins threw a 5-yard touchdown to Josh Doctson with 25 seconds left Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field. The Redskins beat the 49ers 26-24 in the kind of Sunday-afternoon road loss where, even when the team got the lead, the closing-minute drive went the other way.

Brian Hoyer was relieved by C.J. Beathard in the third quarter after Hoyer threw for 79 yards on 23 attempts. Beathard threw for 54 in relief and ran in a touchdown. Carlos Hyde ran for 84. Robbie Gould kicked three field goals.

The kind of Sunday-afternoon road loss where Shanahan's first in-game quarterback change of the year produced a competitive showing and the defense still gave up the closing-minute drive. 0-6 with the Cowboys at home in primetime next Sunday.

Redskins 26, 49ers 24. Margin: -2. Six-game record: 0-6, -33 differential.

• Kirk Cousins: 5y TD to Josh Doctson with 0:25 left (game-winner).
• Brian Hoyer: 4-of-11 for 34 (relieved Q3); replaced by Beathard.
• C.J. Beathard: 7-of-15 for 54 in relief + 1 rushing TD.
• Carlos Hyde: 19 carries for 84.
• Robbie Gould: 3 FGs.
• 6 straight 1-score losses (NFL record for losses by 5 or fewer to start season).
• 49ers 0-6; Redskins 3-2.

A 26-24 loss to the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The 49ers fall to 0-6 with their sixth-straight one-score loss.

How it unfolded

The Redskins built a 16-0 first-half lead behind two Cousins touchdown drives. Robbie Gould kicked a field goal. Cousins threw another touchdown. Hoyer was relieved by Beathard in the third quarter. Beathard ran in a touchdown. Gould kicked another field goal. The 49ers cut it to 23-17 entering the fourth. Hyde ran in a goal-line touchdown. Beathard threw a touchdown to Garcon. The 49ers led 24-23 with 1:30 left. Cousins drove the Redskins 70 yards for the Doctson touchdown with 25 seconds left.

The turning point

Hoyer's third-quarter benching for C.J. Beathard. With the offense producing 0 points through 2.5 quarters and the season's results turning toward catastrophic, Shanahan made the in-game switch. Beathard's relief drive produced points immediately.

By the numbers

Hoyer 4-of-11 for 34 before the bench. Beathard 7-of-15 for 54 in relief plus a rushing TD. Hyde 19 carries for 84. Gould three field goals. Cousins 25-of-39 for 330 with three TDs. Josh Doctson 4 catches for 76 with two TDs.

Personnel watch

Shanahan's first in-game QB change of the year. Beathard's relief stint productive enough to be the discussion all week. Hoyer's third subpar start in six. The kind of Sunday road loss where the team's competitive identity required a midgame coaching adjustment.

What it means

0-6 with the Cowboys at home in primetime next Sunday. The Sunday road loss extends the pattern: six straight one-score losses, none by more than 5 points. The Beathard relief stint will be the week's dominant storyline as the kind of in-season QB change a rebuild often produces.