--Coach Mike Singletary gave his San Francisco 49ers players a day off on Christmas, but he did have a request.

"I want them to make sure they tell their wives, make sure you tell your kids, you know what? 'I just need an hour. I just need some time here to get away and think about my game plan, and think about this and think about that,'" Singletary said.

That did not seem to be a problem for the players. Quarterback Shaun Hill said he planned to stop by the 49ers' practice facility.

"All my family is back home (in the Midwest), and I was planning on it being a work day anyway," Hill said. "I'll be in here and definitely giving football some time."

Rookie defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer said he planned to spend a lot more than an hour preparing to face the Washington Redskins in the season finale too.

"For me, I'm going to spend more than an hour because I definitely need it," Balmer said earlier this week. "It's the least we could do for him. He showed us a sign of faith by giving us the day off."

Balmer, the No. 29 overall pick in the draft, has seen little playing time and production in his first NFL season. While playing in the team's first 15 games, Balmer was credited with just six tackles and no sacks. Balmer expected to work his way into a more significant role as a rookie.

"It's been an up-and-down year," Balmer said. "As far as my confidence goes, the guys around me keep my confidence up. Every time I'm out there they believe I'm going to go out there and perform even when I'm at practice."

--With Mike Martz as offensive coordinator, the 49ers' offense has improved by a touchdown a game this season. Still, it appears as if Mike Singletary is looking at replacing Martz if - as expected - he gets hired for the head-coaching position.

Martz interviewed for the San Diego State head-coaching position several weeks ago. He was not hired, but that does not mean he will be retained in his current position with the 49ers. Singletary made no commitment when asked if he wants Martz back next season.

"I think Mike Martz has been great this season," Singletary said. "I think with everything that I ask him to do, he made every attempt, I think, to do the things that he needed to do.

"Going forward, I just feel after the season we have to sit down ... and look at what gives us the best opportunity to win going forward."

--Running back Frank Gore can become the first player in 49ers history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons when the 49ers close out the season on Sunday against the Washington Redskins at Candlestick Park.

Gore has been stuck on 978 yards since Dec. 7 when he sustained an ankle sprain on the 49ers' first drive of the second half against the New York Jets. He took part Wednesday and Thursday in limited practice.

"I'll be upset if I can't get it because of any injury," Gore said. "But I understand. I have more years. I really wanted to get it coming in. That was one of my goals."

Gore currently ranks No. 5 on the 49ers' all-time rushing list with 4,383 career yards. Joe "The Jet" Perry tops the list with 7,344 yards.

--The 49ers are wearing their 1980s "throwback" uniforms for the regular-season finale, and the team's offensive linemen have spearheaded another way to honor the past.

Many 49ers players this week will also sport mustaches as part of their "throwback" look.

"I've been working on mine for about four weeks," 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill said. "How sad is that?"

But others on the team have the ability to carry off the appearance of a 1980s player.

"Joe Nedney - his just looks like a garage floor broom with bristles just sticking off," Hill said. "It just looks unreal. But, Eric Heitmann's is very full. It's nice. He's got a lot of bounce to it.

"Adam Snyder said he hadn't seen his chin in like eight or nine years. He shaved off his goatee and everything. So, there are some interesting looks, for sure."

--Niners left tackle Joe Staley, a second-year player, looks like a real keeper. Staley continued to show improvement throughout his first season on the left side. He finished strong, including a shutout against AFC sacks leader Joey Porter.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said that's the kind of perfection he expects to see from Staley, a second-year pro who is completing his first season as the 49ers' left tackle.

"Our expectations for him and the standard we have for him is awfully high and he reached that standard or approached our expectations of what we think he's capable of in that game," Martz said of Staley's performance against the Dolphins' Porter.

"The bad news is we expect him (Staley) to be like that every week."

--When Mike Singletary took over as interim head coach, the 49ers owned a 2-5 record. Yet, Singletary said he fully expected the 49ers to rally and make the playoffs. As it was, the 49ers weren't too far from it.

The Arizona Cardinals, who clinched the NFC West on Dec. 7, have gone in the tank. The Cardinals are 8-7, while the 49ers take a 6-9 record into the season finale. One of the 49ers' most disheartening losses was their Nov. 16 defeat to the Cardinals when they were stopped 1 yard shy of the end zone on the game's final play.

"I'm disappointed that we're not (in the playoffs)," Singletary said. "When I took this job, I expected us to be in the playoffs. That's what I expected."

--Rookie receiver Josh Morgan grew up four blocks from RFK Stadium in Washington, he said. The 49ers play the Redskins on Sunday. You might think Morgan is scheduled to face the team he grew up following. You would be wrong.

"With my father it was Redskins, Redskins, Redskins," Morgan said. "I couldn't stand them."

BY THE NUMBERS: 44.6 -- The 49ers' third-down percentage since Mike Singletary took over as head coach. Through the first seven games of the season, the 49ers capitalized on third downs just 27.6 percent.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think the most important thing that has transpired right now is that we're just working hard, just trying to get things where they need to be. After this game, we just have to figure out what the direction is, and we'll go from there" - 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary on his future, as well as the team's future.