Singletary has 49ers playing with heart

As a middle linebacker, Mike Singletary played with intensity and passion, and he was the heartbeat of great Chicago Bears defenses. As a coach, he's not much different.

It's no surprise to see how Singletary has inspired the once-lifeless San Francisco 49ers since being named interim coach on Oct. 20.

The 49ers, 2-5 under former coach Mike Nolan, are 4-4 with Singletary calling the shots. The interim tag is expected to be dropped, with Singletary being named head coach, maybe as soon as Monday.

It's the best move San Francisco has made in years. It's also a boost for the NFL, which needs fewer sideline sleepwalkers such as Dick Jauron and Norv Turner.

The 49ers are 3-point favorites over the Washington Redskins on Sunday at Candlestick Park. With the positive response Singletary has received from his players, I'll lay the field goal and expect a strong effort from San Francisco.

The Redskins are stumbling to the finish line under first-year coach Jim Zorn. In losing three of their past four games, their offense has produced a total of 40 points.

Singletary has toughened up the 49ers' defense, which has allowed fewer than 17 points in five of the past six games.

San Francisco has one of the NFL's top young players in outside linebacker Patrick Willis, who is third in the league in tackles with 134.

A quarterback switch, requested by Singletary, also has improved the 49ers. Shaun Hill is 4-3 as a starter since taking over for mistake-riddled J.T. O'Sullivan.

San Francisco is out of the playoff picture, but Singletary's situation gives the 49ers motivation for Sunday.

Handicapping the final week of the regular season, which often has a preseason feel to it, is not an impossible challenge. Plenty of meaningful games will be played this week.

I went 2-8 the past two weeks, and only the Arizona Cardinals were worse. So it's time to finish strong.

Here are four more plays for Week 17 (Home team in CAPS):

• Cowboys (+2) over EAGLES: Despite all that has gone wrong for Dallas, the Cowboys, 9-6 straight up and 7-8 against the spread, can earn an NFC wild-card spot with a win. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo just needs to make more plays than the Eagles' inconsistent Donovan McNabb.

• Panthers (-3) over SAINTS: A lot is on the line for Carolina, which can wrap up the NFC South and a No. 2 playoff seed. The Saints' Drew Brees needs 402 passing yards to break Dan Marino's single-season record of 5,084 set in 1984. But Brees passed for only 231 yards in a 30-7 loss at Carolina on Oct. 19.

• Dolphins (+3) over JETS: The slumping Jets have failed to cover in four straight games, and Brett Favre is in a funk. The stage is set for Miami quarterback Chad Pennington to end his former team's season. The Dolphins are on a four-game winning streak and can clinch the AFC East.

• Broncos (+8) over CHARGERS: Will San Diego's trash talking inspire Denver quarterback Jay Cutler? The Broncos were impressive in road victories over the Falcons and Jets. Expect the Chargers to win a close game that is poorly officiated.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 41-36-3

Las Vegas Review-Journal sportswriter Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.