THE PARTICULARS

• Time: 1:15 p.m.

• The line: 49ers by 3.

• Records: 49ers 6-9; Redskins 8-7.

• TV: Ch. 40; Ron Pitts (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (color), Charissa Thompson (sideline).

• Radio: KFBK (1530 AM), KNBR (680 AM). Joe Starkey (in his final play-by-play for the 49ers), Gary Plummer (color).

• Why watch: To see whether coach Mike Singletary can finish the season with a winning record. The 49ers, of course, can't finish any better than 7-9. But they have a chance to go 5-4 under their new head coach.

• Rewind: The 49ers hung around early but eventually were blown out 52-17 in 2005 in Landover, Md. Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington chased down rookie Alex Smith, injuring the quarterback's knee.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

49ers linebacker Patrick Willis vs. Redskins running back Clinton Portis The 49ers' inside linebacker still has an outside shot of defending his tackles title. Willis, who had more tackles than any defender last season, goes into today's game in third place with 134 tackles. Cleveland's D'Qwell Jackson leads the league with 141 tackles; Carolina's Jon Beason has 136. Willis has benefited in recent games from the improved play of nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, and the way the Redskins run the football, he'll have plenty of opportunities. His main target will be Portis, who is equally as good running up the middle as he is going outside and who hits openings as quickly as any running back in the league.

WHO'S THE MAN?

Mike Singletary

49ERS COACH

This is the last game in which Singletary has to wear the "interim" label. Team officials have been pleased with how Singletary has rallied the 49ers since the midway point, and they're prepared to offer him a multiyear contract this week.

49ERS THREE KEYS

• Frank Gore's left ankle is much better than it was a week ago, and he will probably start today. Gore has three priorities: 1. Winning the game; 2. Going over 1,000 yards on the season; 3. Gaining more yards than buddy Clinton Portis.

• There's a chance the 49ers will set a franchise record for sacks allowed for the second season in a row. Last year, they gave up 55. They've allowed 54 so far this season.

• Linebacker Parys Haralson already has the most sacks – eight – for a 49ers linebacker since 1997, and he'll have a chance to become the first 49er to record double-digit sacks since 2002.

REDSKINS THREE KEYS

• The Redskins (23 sacks) have had one of the most anemic pass rushes of any team this season. Defensive ends Andre Carter and Jason Taylor have combined for just 6 1/2 sacks this season.

• Clinton Portis, the league's rushing leader earlier this season, has been nicked up in recent weeks and now trails Minnesota's Adrian Peterson by 150 yards.

• Today's game will produce a rarity: Neither 49ers coach Mike Singletary nor Redskins coach Jim Zorn was a coordinator before becoming a head coach. Zorn most recently was the quarterbacks coach in Seattle.

INJURY REPORT

49ers

Probable: RB Frank Gore (ankle), T Adam Snyder (ankle), LB Ahmad Brooks (back), C Eric Heitmann (abdomen), S Michael Lewis (abdomen), S Mark Roman (head).

Redskins

Questionable: LB London Fletcher (foot), DT Kedric Golston (ankle), T Jon Jansen (knee). Probable: G Pete Kendall (knee).

49ERS STATISTICS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int

J.T. O'Sullivan 258 160 1,801 12 7

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Frank Gore 229 978 6 4.3

DeShaun Foster 67 190 0 2.8

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Isaac Bruce 59 827 7 14.0

Bryant Johnson 43 503 3 11.7

Frank Gore 42 367 2 8.7

REDSKINS STATISTICS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int

Jason Campbell 476 297 3,089 12 6

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Clinton Portis 313 1,407 8 4.5

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Chris Cooley 77 792 1 10.3

Santana Moss 73 976 6 13.4

Antwaan Randle El 50 577 3 11.5

49ERS SCHEDULE

Sept. 7 Arizona L, 23-13

Sept. 14 at Seattle W, 33-30 (OT)

Sept. 21 Detroit W, 31-13

Sept. 28 at New Orleans L, 31-17

Oct. 5 New England L, 30-21

Oct. 12 Philadelphia L, 40-26

Oct. 19 at N.Y.Giants L, 29-17

Oct. 26 Seattle L, 34-13

Nov. 2 BYE

Nov. 10 at Arizona L, 29-24

Nov. 16 St. Louis W, 35-16

Nov. 23 at Dallas L, 35-22

Nov. 30 at Buffalo W, 10-3

Dec. 7 N.Y. Jets W, 24-14

Dec. 14 at Miami L, 14-9

Dec. 21 at St. Louis W, 17-16

Today Washington 1:15 p.m.