The Falcons didn’t just beat the 49ers on Sunday - they finally put together the kind of complete performance that can change the mood around a season. Atlanta handed San Francisco its first loss and walked out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 29-20 win, its third victory of the year and first at home. For a team that arrived at Week 7 needing its best football, this was it.
The result pushed Atlanta to 3-4 and moved the Falcons to within a half-game of first place in the NFC South. More importantly, the offense set the tone early, and the defense closed the door late against a 49ers team that had not lost until Sunday.
Michael Penix Jr. kept driving the offense with the same calm, efficient feel he’s shown since coming back from a knee injury in Week 3. The quarterback finished 25 of 34 for 213 yards, three touchdowns and a 118.9 passer rating.
It was his second straight game with three touchdown passes and his fourth outing with a passer rating above 100 in four starts. Atlanta is 3-1 with Penix as the starter, and since returning he has thrown nine touchdowns against just one interception.
The Falcons’ defense made sure the final score held up, and rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was at the center of it. One week after a scary neck injury made it seem possible he might not play again this season, Daniels stepped in for Divine Deablo and delivered two huge turnovers. He intercepted Brock Purdy to basically slam the door, then recovered a fumble a few minutes later to finish the job.
Daniels wasn’t the only Falcon making plays on that side of the ball. Jessie Bates came up with an interception of Purdy in the third quarter, and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter recovered a fumble in the first half. Jeff Ulbrich’s defense did what few teams have done against Purdy: it made him look human for long stretches and timed its pressure well in the fourth quarter.
Tommy Rees also deserves plenty of credit for how the offense operated. Atlanta scored 23 unanswered points to build a 26-14 lead in the fourth quarter, and the play-calling kept the chains moving.
The Falcons were aggressive on early downs, especially on first down, and that approach helped control the game. Rees mixed in misdirection, play-action and even a hook-and-ladder, all while trusting Penix to handle the bigger moments.
The marquee running backs were present, but neither fully took over. Christian McCaffrey got going early, then left after the opening drive with a thigh injury before returning in the second half.
He finished with 39 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson, meanwhile, posted 63 rushing yards on 20 carries and added five catches for 59 receiving yards.
The 49ers clearly made stopping Robinson a priority, and McCaffrey still crossed the 100-yard mark in total offense despite the injury.
The standings also worked in Atlanta’s favor. Carolina, which led the NFC South, was routed by Tampa Bay 43-13 and dropped to 3-3. New Orleans was beaten 16-10 by Pittsburgh in Paris.
Next up, the Falcons head on the road for another NFC South test. They’ll face the Buccaneers next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Raymond-James Stadium in Tampa.
In Other News...
Raheem Morris Returns With A Test Michael Penix Must Answer
Raheem Morris is set to come back to Atlanta in a new role, this time guiding the undefeated 49ers defense instead of running the Falcons. For a team still trying to settle in under Michael Penix Jr., the matchup adds a familiar face to an already meaningful stretch, especially with the quarterback facing another early test in his development.
Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is expected to see Morris across the sideline when San Francisco visits. The reunion gives the Falcons a look at a coach who once led their sideline, and it puts Penix in front of a defense built to make life difficult as Atlanta tries to keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Harris Falcons Revival Is Slipping Away Fast
Christian Harris came to Atlanta this offseason looking for a reset, hoping the Falcons could offer the kind of fresh start that once seemed out of reach after injuries knocked him out of his job with the Texans. He got an early look during OTAs and appeared to have a path into the linebacker mix, but the room has shifted quickly around him as younger players have pushed their way up the board.
What looked like a chance to revive his career has now turned into a waiting game, and not a very encouraging one. Harris has slid behind Kendal Daniels, Harold Perkins Jr. and others, leaving him with a shrinking role and a spot on the roster that feels increasingly fragile as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Drake London Exit Put Falcons Offense In A Tense Spot
For a stretch in the third quarter against the 49ers, the Falcons had to make do without Drake London after he went off the field for a concussion evaluation following a helmet-to-helmet hit. Atlanta was already leaning on its top wideout, and before the injury scare, London had a team-high five catches for 43 yards, a reminder of how central he has become to the offense.
The good news for the Falcons was that London was eventually cleared and returned to the game, easing what could have been a much bigger concern in a tight spot. Even so, any time a receiver with that kind of role leaves the field after a hit like that, it puts the offense on edge and leaves Atlanta watching closely for the next update. [Read more 🡒]