ATLANTA – So much for a perfect season.
The San Francisco 49ers coughed up four turnovers and fell from the ranks of the NFL’s undefeated team on Sunday, falling 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons.
Six days after surviving a furious rally by the Commanders on Monday night, the injury-ravaged 49ers (6-1) lost star running back Christian McCaffrey for much of the first half
due to a thigh injury and couldn’t hang on to an early 11-point lead.Atlanta (3-4) stormed back after McCaffrey’s fill-in, Kaelon Black, fumbled away a scoring opportunity in the third quarter.
Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels had a huge role in finishing off the 49ers, collecting an interception and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
Winners and losers:
WINNERS
Kendal Daniels
A week after being strapped
to a stretcher and carted off the field in a scary scene, then taken to nearby Grady Hospital for a neck injury, the rookie linebacker was the first Falcons player announced to the crowd for pre-game introductions. Fitting. Then Daniels left a major mark on the game’s result with a spectacular interception and 29-yard return in the fourth quarter that set up a field goal that gave Atlanta a two-possession cushion. And he finished the day with the recovery of a George Kittle fumble in the final minute.
Kevin Stefanski
It would have been so embarrassing if the first-year Falcons coach wound up on the losing end when matched against his predecessor, new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Well, thanks to his defense – coordinated by Jeff Ulbrich – forcing a season-high four turnovers, Stefanski wound up in the winner’s circle.
Jesse Bates III
The wily Falcons safety had fingerprints on two of the turnovers, with a diving interception and forced fumble that clearly made a big difference.
Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco’s dynamic running back missed much of the first half after suffering a thigh injury. But he still produced 100 yards from scrimmage, with 39 yards rushing and 61 receiving on six catches. It’s too bad the injury disrupted his flow as CMC started so well to power a game-opening drive that he capped with a 1-yard TD dive.
Za’Darius Smith
The 12th-year veteran, a much-needed piece for the Falcons given the absence of second-year edge rushers James Pearce Jr. (suspension) and Jalon Walker (torn ACL), collected a huge fourth-down sack of Brock Purdy with the 49ers furiously trying to cash in while in scoring range in the fourth quarter. It was also the first sack given up this season by San Francisco’s All-World left tackle Trent Williams, which makes it doubly impressive.
Tight Ends
They were all over the place. Falcons backup Nick Muse scored his first NFL touchdown in the first half, wide open on first-and-goal from the 1. Kyle Pitts gave Atlanta its first lead with a 5-yard TD to open the second half. Charlie Woerner took a direct snap and converted a third-and-short into a first down. On the 49ers ledger, Luke Farrell recovered a fumble. George Kittle had a team-high eight receptions for 88 yards. And in the Fox broadcast booth, Greg Olsen brought deft insight, as usual. All on “National Tight Ends Day” at that.
LOSERS
49ers Infirmary
As if the 49ers don’t already resemble a M*A*S*H unit with such a lengthy injury list, San Francisco lost McCaffrey after their opening series with a thigh injury. He missed the remainder of the first half but was able to return after halftime. This for a team playing without defensive end Nick Bosa and devastated by injuries to its wide receivers corps, with Mike Evans (Achilles) on Sunday joining the list of missing wideouts that includes Deebo Samuael, Christian Kirk, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson and impressive rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
Brock Purdy
Did we mention the 49ers are down on their luck with receivers? That surely makes it tough on the 49ers quarterback, who had a rough one without his most established wideouts and threw two interceptions for the first time all season – which matched his season total for picks heading into the game.
Raheem Morris
Unceremoniously dumped in January after just two seasons as Falcons head coach, Morris has landed as 49ers defensive coordinator and returned to the ATL with an undefeated team and a chance to deliver some payback. If only it turned out that way.
Kickers on PATs
No, it’s not automatic. Especially for 49ers kicker Eddie Piniero, who missed his fourth extra-point kick of the season as San Francisco mounted a rally in the fourth quarter. Nick Folk missed one for the Falcons, too, early in the game…and it was his first miss of the season.
ATL’s homefield advantage
Sure, they can “Swag Surf” with the best of them at the festive atmosphere of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Yet once again it was tough to figure out which was the “home” team as 49er fans showed up en masse – aided, of course, by the Falcons season ticket holders willing to sell their seats.
Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brock Purdy needs help. Winners and losers from 49ers' loss to Falcons
