The 49ers’ first loss of the 2026 season came with the kind of sloppiness that usually sends a road game sideways in a hurry.
San Francisco fell 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the giveaways piled up fast. Brock Purdy threw two interceptions, while George Kittle and Kaelon Black each coughed up fumbles. That’s a rough formula anywhere, and especially on the road.
When Pro Football Focus put numbers to the night, the grades told a pretty clear story: a few 49ers still played winning football, but too many others got dragged down by the chaos.
George Kittle still landed near the top of the offensive chart despite the fumble, earning an 82.6 grade. Christian McCaffrey followed at 80.4, with right tackle Colton McKivitz at 78.2 and right guard Dominick Puni at 78.0. Trent Williams rounded out the top five on offense at 72.8.
At the other end, the grades fell off sharply. Kyle Juszczyk checked in at 58.2, Christian Kirk at 52.6, Brandin Cooks at 52.0, Kaelon Black at 48.6 and left guard Connor Colby at 45.7.
Defensively, the 49ers got solid work from a handful of players, even in defeat. Deommodore Lenoir led the unit with a 75.7 grade, followed by James Thompson Jr. at 73.1 and Fred Warner at 72.6. Malik Mustapha came in at 65.4, and Mykel Williams posted a 62.9.
The lowest defensive marks went to Romello Height at 45.5, Osa Odighizuwa at 42.6, Jaden Dugger at 39.8, Sebastian Valdez at 38.3 and Jack Jones at 27.3.
Up front, Trent Williams stood out in pass protection with an 83.9 grade, while Puni scored 76.2, McKivitz 73.9 and Jake Brendel 72.5. Connor Colby was the clear outlier there at 45.4.
In the run game, McKivitz led the way at 78.8, with Puni at 74.5 and Williams at 69.0. Brendel posted a 54.8 grade, while Colby again came in last at 45.9.
For the pass rush, Gracen Halton topped the front seven at 58.7. Williams followed at 54.7, then James Thompson Jr. at 52.5, Sebastian Valdez at 51.9 and Keion White at 51.5. Osa Odighizuwa registered 48.6, and Romello Height was at 48.1.
In coverage, Warner led the way with a 72.7 grade, just ahead of Lenoir at 72.5. Mustapha posted a 60.6, Ji’Ayir Brown a 52.0, Dre Greenlaw a 49.5 and Renardo Green a 42.3. Jaden Dugger finished at 36.6, and Jack Jones came in at 27.0.
In Other News...
49ers First Loss Made One Thing About This Roster Impossible To Ignore
The first loss of the 2026 season did not come with much room for comfort, even if the 49ers still sit in control of the NFC West at 6-1 heading into Week 9. San Franciscos undefeated start and six-game road winning streak both ended in Atlanta, and the defeat came with the sort of issues that tend to travel with a team until they get cleaned up: shaky ball security, a pass rush that could not create enough disruption, and a game plan that had to survive through several key injuries.
Christian McCaffrey was part of the injury storyline, briefly leaving with a thigh scare before returning, which only added to the feeling that this was one of those Sundays where everything got tested at once. The bye week now arrives at a useful time for the 49ers, giving them a chance to reset physically and sort through a loss that exposed just how thin the margin can be when the core pieces are not fully at ease. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Be Running Out Of Time With Eddy Pineiro
Eddy Pineiros season has become a problem the 49ers can no longer keep brushing aside. During the game against the Falcons, the veteran kicker missed his seventh kick of the year, another jolt to a phase of the game that San Francisco expected to be stable when it brought him in.
The 49ers have enough moving parts elsewhere without having to wonder about every field goal and extra point, and the possibility of a change is starting to feel more realistic by the week. If they do decide to move on, the free-agent market offers a few familiar names to monitor, with Graham Gano, Matt Prater and Riley Patterson among the kickers who could come into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Halloween Party Turns Viral Scandal Into A Locker Room Debate
A recent Halloween gathering around the 49ers turned into more than a costume party when the teams festivities brushed up against one of the years stranger viral stories. Daejon Love, whose arrest and federal case made headlines after authorities said he ran fake investment schemes that targeted more than two dozen women, has become a familiar name far beyond the financial-crime beat, and the topic was apparently impossible to avoid once the 49ers started putting together their looks.
At least two San Francisco players leaned into the reference, with one showing up in a jersey and another in a jail outfit, turning a serious off-field case into the kind of locker-room debate that can follow a team long after the music stops. It was a reminder that viral stories have a way of bleeding into NFL culture quickly, especially when the subject already comes with enough controversy to make a Halloween costume feel like commentary. [Read more 🡒]