The Atlanta Falcons walked out of Sunday with a 29-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers, and they did it the hard way. San Francisco jumped in front 14-3 early, but Atlanta never blinked, and the Falcons’ offense kept the 49ers’ defense from settling in.
The turning point came when the game tightened late and the Falcons defense slammed the door. Atlanta forced two of the four total turnovers in the fourth quarter, and rookie Kendal Daniels delivered the finishing blows.
First, he picked off Brock Purdy. Then, in the closing minutes, he recovered a fumble to ice the victory.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski liked just about everything he saw afterward.
"Proud of the effort, obviously," Stefanski opened his post-game press conference. "Plus-four in the turnover margin is where it starts.
Really good finish there. When you're playing a good team - you know great coaches, great players on that side - you have to be about your business and take care of the rock.
We took care of it, we took it away, so that's a great recipe for winning in this league."
Stefanski also had plenty to say about Daniels, who came through one week after suffering a scary neck injury.
"That's remarkable, truly," Stefanski said of Daniels' performance. "That's unbelievable to just do that and then to make a play at the end. Man, really proud of that kid."
Michael Penix Jr. was another major reason Atlanta improved to 3-4 overall. He finished 25/34 for 213 yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 118.9, and Stefanski said the quarterback handled the 49ers’ defense well.
"I thought Mike was really good throughout the day. You know, that's a very, very good defense.
I mean they're excellent and they don't give up big plays. And we took our shots when we had them, and when we didn't, I thought Mike saw it really well."
Watch Stefanski and Penix's full post-game press conferences, as shared by the team's YouTube channel below.
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 🡒]