The San Francisco 49ers offense wasted no time scoring, marching 64 yards in just over five minutes on 10 plays for a touchdown to start the game. Christian McCaffrey gained 16 and 24 yards on the drive.
The Falcons took the ensuing kickoff 61 yards. Fred Warner made a phenomenal third-down tackle, bringing down Bijan Robinson in the backfield for a three-yard loss. The Falcons settled for a field goal, making it 7-3.
The Niners’ second drive stalled after Connor Colby surrendered a sack. This came
after George Kittle picked up 17 yards on 3rd and 4.
The Falcons also went three-and-out on a penalty.
Christian McCaffrey missed the next drive. He ran up and down the sideline, trying to get loose. According to the broadcast, McCaffrey was dealing with a thigh injury.
On the first drive without McCaffrey, rookie Kaelon Black ran for 15, 7, and a 30-yard touchdown to give the 49ers a 14-3 lead. The drive took 1:41 off the clock and came in just four plays.
The Falcons answered with a touchdown on a 10-play, 68-yard drive. Atlanta’s kicker missed the extra point, making it 14-9.
Jacob Cowing took a 10-yard reverse for a first down. Jordan James’ first carry of the game was a fumble that safety Xavier Watts appeared to recover, but Luke Farrell wrestled it away. Black fumbled on the second consecutive play. The 49ers weren’t fortunate enough to recover this one. The giveaway came on Atlanta’s 28-yard line on 2nd and 1. The Niners were bound to put points on the board.
The Falcons took the rest of the first half with their next possession. They went to draw the Niners offsides with 29 seconds remaining. On 4th and 4, Osa Odighizuwa jumped offsides. Atlanta got a field goal out of the drive.
The Falcons began the third quarter with the football. They did whatever they wanted on the drive, gaining 8, 10, and 12 yards before Michael Penix found Kyle Pitts for a 5-yard touchdown. That gave Atlanta a 19-14 lead.
Jordan Watkins made the first wide receiver catch with just under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Watkins laid out for an impressive reception. Purdy kept the drive alive when there wasn’t anything there after scrambling. Kittle picked up a big chunk, then Farrell followed suit.
But Purdy got a little too greedy on his next scramble. Instead of throwing the ball into the stands, he cut it close, and the Falcons intercepted it. This turnover came on Atlanta’s 25, squandering another scoring opportunity.
The secondary continued to struggle. On 2nd and 20, Jack Jones committed an illegal contact penalty. On 3rd down, Bijan Robinson was uncovered on a coverage bust involving Dre Greenlaw, Jones, and Deommodore Lenoir. It looked like Greenlaw was in the wrong.
Jones committed pass interference on 3rd and 8. James Thompson was offside on 3rd and 2, on a play where it looked like the 49ers got hosed by the substitution rule. Penix found Drake London down the seam on the next play, giving the Falcons a commanding 26-14 lead. The 49ers. gave Atlanta multiple first downs via penalty on the drive.
The 49ers were aggressive on their next drive. Purdy found Watkins for 35 yards, but Connor Colby’s hold negated a 10-yard run by McCaffrey on the next play.
Purdy threw a seed to Watkins in the end zone with perfect placement. But for the second time in the game, Watkins couldn’t secure the catch through the ground. An incomplete pass and a sack meant the 49ers would come away with no points on the drive.
The Falcons helped the defense out on the next drive, after snapping the ball over Penix’s head. The 49ers got the ball back in 1:57.
Purdy found Jacob Cowing for an 18-yard gain on the next drive. Cowing drew a defensive holding penalty two plays later. A 15-yard facemask by the Falcons pushed the ball deeper into Falcons territory. Kittle gained 11 yards to put the Niners at the 11.
Purdy found McCaffrey just shy of the goal line, then threw to Kyle Juszczyk to make it a one-possession game, 26-20, after Eddy Pineiro missed the extra point.
The defense forced a quick three-and-out. Atlanta shanked the punt. The offense had great field position, plenty of time, and all three timeouts.
On 3rd and 4, Brandin Cooks flinched. That made it 3rd and 9. An underneath linebacker intercepted Purdy’s pass, sealing the game for the Falcons. That was San Francisco’s third turnover. Pineiro’s miss loomed large, as a Falcons field goal could make it a two-possession game.
The Falcons tacked on a field goal to make it 29-20, all but ending the game.
Fittingly, Kittle fumbled as the Niners were driving to make it a one-possession game.
