ATLANTA, Ga. — The Falcons gave San Francisco its first defeat of the season on Sunday in Atlanta, beating the 49ers 29-20 behind three touchdown throws from Michael Penix Jr. and a defense that took the ball away four times.
Atlanta turned those takeaways into 13 points. San Francisco had coughed the ball up just six times through its first six games, but rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels made two of the biggest plays late, picking off Brock Purdy with 2:34 left and then falling on a George Kittle fumble in the final minute.
Penix was efficient and clean, hitting 25 of 34 throws for 213 yards without an interception. He found tight ends Nick Muse and Kyle Pitts for scores, then stretched the lead to 26-14 in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard strike to Drake London. Bijan Robinson added 63 rushing yards.
The 49ers threatened to rally. A long replay review wiped out what looked like a 23-yard Purdy touchdown pass, and Za’Darius Smith sacked Purdy on the next fourth-down snap. Purdy later hit fullback Kyle Juszczyk from a yard out with 5:05 to go, but Eddy Pineiro pushed the extra point wide, his fourth miss this year, leaving it 26-20.
A poor Jake Bailey punt handed San Francisco the ball near midfield with about four minutes left, but Purdy’s second interception ended that chance and set up Nick Folk’s 31-yard field goal. Purdy finished 27 of 40 for 288 yards. San Francisco also played much of the opening half without running back Christian McCaffrey, who was slowed by a thigh injury.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak and moved Atlanta to 3-4. San Francisco fell to 6-1.
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