How the Falcons mitigated pressure for Penix<\/p>\n
After watching its quarterback struggle mightily against pressure the previous two weeks, Atlanta decided Sunday to get the ball out of his hands before the 49ers and their defensive coordinator (and former Falcons head coach), Raheem Morris, could pressure him.<\/p>\n
Penix finished the game with a career-low 1.7 air yards per attempt, according to TruMedia. For context, he averaged 10.2 air yards per attempt last week against Chicago. As a result, Penix also had a career-low 8.5 yards per completion. The payoff was that the Falcons kept their still-young quarterback out of harm\u2019s way and kept time of possession nearly even throughout the game. \u2014 Josh Kendall, Falcons senior writer<\/p>\n
Were injuries too much for 49ers\u2019 offense to overcome?<\/p>\n
The 49ers entered the game without Mike Evans and four other top wide receivers, then lost another high-level pass catcher, McCaffrey, for a chunk of the game with a thigh injury.<\/p>\n
McCaffrey played 16 snaps at receiver against the Washington Commanders last week and had three catches Sunday before leaving late in the first quarter. He made two more catches for 11 yards after re-entering after halftime but was obviously hindered by the injury.<\/p>\n
Backups Kaelon Black and Jordan James filled in during McCaffrey\u2019s second-quarter absence, with both fumbling on back-to-back plays. James would have lost his if tight end Luke Farrell had not wrestled the ball from a Falcons defender. Black did lose his.<\/p>\n
No receivers caught passes in the first half, although Jordan Watkins came on strong in the second half with three catches for 56 yards. He would have had a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but after a long replay review, he was ruled to have lost control upon hitting the ground out of bounds.<\/p>\n
Christian Kirk, activated from injured reserve Saturday, was targeted once \u2014 on a third-quarter scramble that led to a sideline interception for safety Jesse Bates III. Brandin Cooks was targeted twice without a reception. He also committed a false start penalty one play before Purdy\u2019s late-game interception. \u2014 Matt Barrows, 49ers senior writer<\/p>\n
Penalties doomed 49ers\u2019 defense<\/p>\n
For the second straight week, the 49ers had a barrage of defensive penalties. Though they may have been over-aggressive in Week 6 against the Commanders late in the contest, Sunday\u2019s miscues came from a tired and unsharp squad.<\/p>\n
The Falcons, for example, scored early in the fourth quarter following a drive that was aided by two penalties against cornerback Jack Jones and another by defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. Thompson was so late running onto the field that he was 5 yards behind the offensive formation when the ball was snapped.<\/p>\n
Jones played because nickel cornerback Upton Stout missed the bulk of the contest with a shoulder injury. That sent Deommodore Lenoir inside on nickel downs while Jones played outside. Later in the game, the team sent rookie Ephesians Prysock to play outside cornerback instead of Jones.<\/p>\n
The 49ers also gave up 3 points at the end of the first half when the Falcons, trying to induce an encroachment penalty on fourth down, got just that from defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. \u2014 Barrows<\/p>\n
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\n The 49ers struggled with injuries Sunday, including Christian McCaffrey missing part of the game with a thigh injury. (Brett Davis \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
A hiccup for the 49ers, or a sign of concern moving forward?<\/p>\n
The 49ers were marching to a 7-0 record and their bye week, up 14-3, but the fumbles and penalties seemed to give the Falcons life. That\u2019s life in the NFL, and after the loss, San Francisco\u2019s sitting at 6-1 and still in great shape atop the NFC West.<\/p>\n
Missing your top five receivers is a big deal when one of them is Evans. And on top of that, you can\u2019t lose McCaffrey for almost half a game with a thigh injury.<\/p>\n
But knowing Evans, he will plan to return from his Achilles injury, and even if he does not, Demarcus Robinson is expected back. And maybe pass rusher Nick Bosa, too. The 49ers\u2019 pass rush took a bye a week early in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Stout should also return, as the 49ers expect a trickle of healthy players to be back for the season\u2019s second half.<\/p>\n
The Niners host the Las Vegas Raiders before a tough three-game stretch: at Dallas, against the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 defense in Mexico City and then a home game against the Seattle Seahawks. \u2014 Vic Tafur, 49ers senior writer<\/p>\n
Why Falcons believe their win over 49ers was ‘an identity game’<\/p>\n
Josh Kendall<\/p>\n
Where the Falcons stand in the NFC South race<\/p>\n
They say Georgia\u2019s most famous sporting event, the Masters, doesn\u2019t begin until the back nine on Sunday. In that same spirit, the NFC South race doesn\u2019t really begin until Week 15, with every team having a 7-7 record. Days like Sunday are the reason why.<\/p>\n