The 49ers are in no mood to celebrate following 6th straight win to open the season

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The feeling around the San Francisco 49ers after their latest victory was more relief than celebration.

The Niners looked like their dominant selves for most of the first three quarters Monday night before hanging on for a 23-17 win over the Washington Commanders that gave them a sixth straight win to open the season.

“You don’t want to just be a 6-0 team. You want to be a team that’s on the rise,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “Because the only thing that matters is being at your best when your best is needed later on in the season. Finding ways to win while also finding ways to get better as a team overall, that’s the goal. It’s not just about winning.”

The 49ers scored three touchdowns and one field goal on their first six drives to get out to the big lead, but didn't get a first down at all in the fourth quarter after star receiver Mike Evans left with an injury.

The defense that allowed just three points on Washington's first five drives, gave up two long touchdown drives to help the Commanders get back into the game before making two stops late to preserve the win that gave San Francisco its first 6-0 start since 2019.

The Niners won their next two games that season and went all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to Kansas City. They started 5-0 in 2023 and made it to the Super Bowl before losing again to the Chiefs.

That's one reason why the 49ers know there's no reason to celebrate after six straight wins this season.

“I feel good that we just won a game,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I mean, 6-0 is better than any other options in your record, but definitely, I feel good when the year’s over and you’re the last team to win the last game of the year. So, I’ll wait until that moment.”

Pass rush. The Niners had four sacks, giving them nine in the past two weeks and their first back-to-back games with at least four since 2023. San Francisco has 15 sacks on the season after having a league-low 20 all of last season. Eight of those sacks are by players age 25 or younger with Mykel Williams and rookies Gracen Halton and Romello Height adding to that total on Monday.

Fourth-quarter offense. San Francisco had a chance to put the game away on offense late in the game but fell short. The 49ers went three-and-out on their final three possessions, netting just 2 yards on those three possessions to put pressure on the defense. The game marked the first time since the 2005 season opener that San Francisco won a game without generating a first down in the fourth quarter.

S Malik Mustapha. After beginning the season on the bench after dealing with injuries in training camp, Mustapha has stepped up in a big way the past two weeks with Marques Sigle out. He stopped Cooper Kupp short of the first down to seal a win against Seattle in Week 5 and made two big plays late on Monday. He stopped Jeremy McNichols for no gain on third-and-3 from the 17 just before the two-minute warning with the Niners protecting a six-point lead and then broke up a pass near the end zone to Treylon Burks on the next play to get the ball back.

K Eddy Pineiro. Pineiro missed his third extra point of the season to go along with his three missed field goals for a league-worst six missed kicks. He is the second Niners kicker to miss at least six kicks in the first six games of a season with Robbie Gould missing seven in 2019. Pineiro's problems on extra points are perplexing with his 90.9% career rate ranking 45th of 49 kickers with at least 100 attempts since the PAT was moved back in 2015.

Evans left late in the first half with Achilles tendinitis after missing practice all last week because of soreness in his Achilles tendon. His status for this week is unknown. ... LB Luke Gifford (groin) and DB Upton Stout (shoulder) also left the game with injuries Monday night, putting their status in doubt this week. ... DE Nick Bosa (calf) could return after missing the past four games. ... WR Christian Kirk (calf) has a chance to be activated from IR this week after returning to practice last week.

2. Purdy is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history to open a season 6-0 with at least 15 total touchdowns rushing and passing and two or fewer turnovers. Tom Brady also did it in 2015.

The 49ers visit Atlanta on Sunday in search of their third 7-0 start since joining the NFL in 1950. They also did it in 2019 and 1990.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (13) cannot catch a pass while being defended by San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha (6) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anthony Cirelli scored twice, Nikita Kucherov had three points to tie Tampa Bay's career scoring record, and the Lightning extended their strong start by beating the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 on Tuesday night.

The Lightning (7-2) are off to their best start since opening 7-1-1 in 2020-21, when they repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

Vegas had won seven of eight.

Kucherov has at least one point in all 15 games he's played against the Golden Knights. That ranks behind only Mario Lemieux (26 games against Calgary) and Tomas Sandstrom (17 games against Tampa Bay) among players who scored in every game against an opponent. Connor McDavid had a 17-game streak against New Jersey that ended in January.

With a goal and two assists, Kucherov increased his total to 1,137 career points, pulling even with former teammate Steven Stamkos for the club record.

Brandon Hagel, John Carlson and Victor Hedman also scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 shots.

Ivan Barbashev scored his first goal of the season for the Golden Knights, and Mark Stone got his fifth in three games. Carter Hart made 15 saves on 21 shots.

Cirelli gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead 6:44 into the second period off a pass from Kucherov, then scored unassisted to make it 4-2 at 10:09.

Both teams played a wide-open game. Each side scored twice in the first period before the Lightning broke it open with three goals in the second for a 5-2 lead. Those five goals came on 14 shots, the last from the left point by Hedman that somehow got by Hart late in the second.

Kucherov's breakaway goal early in the third made it 6-2.

Golden Knights forward Brett Howden, drafted 27th overall by the Lightning in 2016, played in his 500th career game. It was his 322nd for Vegas.

Lightning: Visit the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Golden Knights: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, second from left, celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman John Carlson (74) scores against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli, right, celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)