The Atlanta Falcons head into Sunday with little margin for comfort. They’ve dropped two in a row against quality opponents, and now the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers roll into Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
That sets up the kind of game that tells you something real about where a team stands. For Atlanta, it’s a measuring stick matchup, a chance to see how close - or how far - it is from the league’s top tier.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco thinks it stays tight. He has the Falcons losing by just two points, predicting a 49ers win that lands right on the edge.
"The 49ers are rolling as the league's best team, especially on offense. But losing Mike Evans will hurt.
The Falcons couldn't stop the Bears last week, so what's to think they will slow down Brock Purdy? They might not.
But the Falcons will keep up. It's close.
Pick: 49ers 30, Falcons 28
If the matchup feels familiar, that’s because these teams just played not all that long ago. Their last meeting came almost exactly a year ago, and San Francisco came away with a 20-10 victory.
In that game, Michael Penix passed for 241 yards and a touchdown, while Mac Jones finished with 152 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The difference was on the ground, where the 49ers controlled things. Bijan Robinson was held to 40 yards on 14 carries, and Christian McCaffrey powered the San Francisco attack with 129 yards on 24 attempts.
Sunday offers a new chance for Atlanta, but the message from the latest prediction is clear: this one is expected to be competitive all the way through.
In Other News...
Falcons Have A Bigger Michael Penix Jr. Problem Than Fans Realize
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons enough encouraging tape in his first four starts to make the future feel a little less foggy. He has moved the offense, hit deep shots and looked comfortable in play-action, and Atlanta has averaged more than 30 points per game with him steering the huddle.
The bigger concern, though, is what happens when defenses speed up the clock. The Falcons pass protection has been shaky, especially when blitzes force the issue, and the problems at tackle have left the offense too often trying to survive rather than dictate. Penix has shown he can do his part, but the next step for Atlanta may depend less on his arm than on whether the line in front of him can hold up enough to let those promising traits matter. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Linebacker Problem They Cant Ignore
The Falcons roster churn this week tells the story of a team trying to patch holes wherever it can, and linebacker has quickly become one of the most pressing spots. Along with signing quarterback Andy Dalton and moving on from Cooper Rush, Atlanta turned to the defensive side for reinforcements by bringing in edge rusher Charles Snowden from the Washington Commanders practice squad.
A rookie linebacker also landed on the practice squad as the Falcons look for some insurance at a position thinned by injuries. Undrafted free agent TJ Quinn, who spent time with the Green Bay Packers, is expected to help with depth at linebacker while Atlanta waits to see how the rest of the group settles in over the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Former Falcons Check-In Brings One Encouraging Sign And One New Concern
Week 6 offered a mixed little snapshot of a few former Falcons who are still carving out roles elsewhere, with Kirk Cousins providing the clearest reminder of the passer Atlanta once leaned on. Now with the Raiders, Cousins came through with a strong outing through the air in Buffalo, while Dee Alford also turned in a solid defensive game for the Bills and Nate Landman continued to factor into his new situation.
Elsewhere, the returns were much quieter. Tyler Allgeier saw a bigger workload with the Cardinals because of a backfield injury, but the production never really followed, and Darnell Mooneys game with the Giants barely registered. For Atlanta fans, the larger thread is less about the box scores than the way each former Falcon is being used now, since injuries and roster churn are still shaping what these ex-Falcons can actually do each week. [Read more 🡒]