Every single expert over at ESPN picked the San Francisco 49ers to take down the Atlanta Falcons this week and win their seventh straight game. The Falcons had other ideas.
Beating a previously undefeated team - one that began Week 7 at the top of every power rankings list - is impressive enough. How the Falcons did it is particularly special. They managed to get the job done with Bijan Robinson getting clamped down to just 3.2 yards per carry. Instead, it was a sharp performance by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and an opportunistic defense that Atlanta road to victory.
For their efforts, the Falcons earned an "A" grade from John Breech at CBS Sports for this week.
"The Falcons forced a total of four turnovers that led to 13 points, and that was
the difference in the game. We know this offense is good, and if the defense is playing at the same level, this team could be very dangerous going forward. The Falcons just proved that they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the NFL."
Perhaps the most-encouraging part of the win was the performance by rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels. With defensive centerpiece Divine Deablo sidelined by an arm injury, the Falcons were most-vulnerable at the second level of their defense - one that Kyle Shanahan routinely humiliates his opponents at.
Instead, Daniels and Harold Perkins put in a sensational game - highlighted by two forced turnovers in crunch-time by Daniels, including a high-point pick and a recovered fumble to seal the deal. It wasn't all splash plays, either. Daniels led the Falcons with 11 total tackles and Perkins finished second with nine more.
For a pair of Day 3 picks to be making an impact like this is a superb sign of things to come for this unit - and more proof that a championship window may be opening in Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons earn an 'A' grade for surprise upset win against Niners
