There was one glaring problem for the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
In the 29-20 defeat, the 49ers turned it over four times. It's the 12th time under head coach Kyle Shanahan that San Francisco has committed four or more turnovers. They're now 1-11 in those games.
The turnover problem in Sunday's game was particularly glaring because of where the giveaways took place and how the 49ers defense responded. Three of San Francisco's giveaways happened deep in Falcons territory and not only wiped away potential points for the 49ers, but two of them led to points for Atlanta.
George Kittle's fumble at the Atlanta 19 on the 49ers' final drive won't count here because San Francisco needed points and then a handful of
small miracles to come back from a 19-point deficit. Nevertheless, his fumble was the third inside Atlanta's 30. The first two were backbreakers.
Rookie running back Kaelon Black was the first 49ers player to commit a turnover. He lost a fumble at the Atlanta 28 near the end of the first half with the 49ers leading 14-9. The Falcons took the free possession and marched 51 yards for a field goal that cut the 49ers lead to 14-12 at halftime.
Quarterback Brock Purdy was guilty of the second giveaway. The Falcons led 19-14 in the third quarter, but San Francisco drove to the Atlanta 25. Purdy on a second-and-14 tossed his first interception of the contest to Falcons safety Jessie Bates. Again, the interception likely wiped points off the board for San Francisco. Meanwhile the Atlanta offense cruised 90 yards for a touchdown that gave them a 26-14 lead.
Between the two turnovers the 49ers may have lost out on at least six points while giving up 10. That's a 16-point swing in a game that was decided by nine.
San Francisco can't expect to win any games where they give the opponent four free possessions, but they'll be in an especially deep hole if they continue coughing the ball up deep in opponent territory.
More 49ers: 49ers vs. Falcons highlights: SF falls in ugly 1st loss
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: One major, glaring issue from 49ers Week 7 loss to Falcons
