Michael Penix Jr. kept Atlanta’s offense moving, the Falcons’ defense kept taking the ball away, and the result was the upset that ended San Francisco’s perfect start.
In Atlanta’s 29-20 win Sunday, Penix threw three touchdown passes and the Falcons turned four 49ers turnovers into 13 points. That was the difference in a game that swung hard after the opening quarter and stayed in Atlanta’s control despite a late San Francisco push.
The Falcons needed the win, too. It snapped their two-game skid and handed the 49ers their first loss of the season.
Penix finished 25 of 34 for 213 yards with no interceptions. He found tight ends Nick Muse and Kyle Pitts for touchdowns before closing the scoring burst with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.
San Francisco, meanwhile, kept helping Atlanta out of tight spots. Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels made the biggest plays late, first picking off a Brock Purdy pass intended for Jordan Watkins with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter, then recovering a George Kittle fumble with less than a minute remaining. Jessie Bates III also stepped in front of Purdy at the Atlanta 10 in the third quarter, another turnover that turned into a scoring chance.
The 49ers opened fast enough to make it look like another tough afternoon for Atlanta. San Francisco jumped in front 14-3 on the first play of the second quarter, when Kaelon Black broke loose for a 30-yard touchdown. But from there, the Falcons answered with 23 straight points and built a 26-14 lead going into the final period.
Atlanta’s defense and San Francisco’s mistakes kept stacking together. Black later coughed up a fumble at the Atlanta 29, with Gervon Dexter Sr. jumping on it and setting up a 33-yard Nick Folk field goal. Purdy was also taken down on fourth down by Za’Darius Smith, one more costly play in a night full of them.
Purdy finished 27 of 40 for 288 yards and one touchdown, but the two interceptions hurt, and so did the sack on fourth down.
The 49ers made one last push. Purdy hit Kyle Juszczyk on a 1-yard touchdown with 5:05 left to trim the gap to 26-20, but Eddy Pineiro missed the extra point wide left.
Then Atlanta punted badly, with Jake Bailey shanking a kick that gave San Francisco the ball at its own 47 with about four minutes to go. Daniels quickly erased that opportunity with his interception, setting up a 31-yard Folk field goal that put the game away.
Christian McCaffrey’s day never fully got going. He was checked in the sideline injury tent, tested his leg by running, and left for the locker room before coming back in mostly as a decoy. He finished with 39 yards on seven carries.
Bijan Robinson led Atlanta’s ground game with 63 rushing yards.
Officials have not confirmed return timetables for inactive starters Mike Evans, who is dealing with Achilles tendinitis, and Deebo Samuel, who missed the game with a hamstring issue. Safety Marques Sigle also remained out with an ankle injury.
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 🡒]