Finally, it all became too much for the 49ers to overcome.
asserted
49ers → become → ?
San Francisco turned the ball over four times in opposing territory, failed to force a takeaway and allowed the Falcons to extend multiple drives via penalties and missed assignments.
asserted
Falcons → turn → penalties
Despite scoring the game’s first two touchdowns, the Niners allowed Atlanta to score on four consecutive possessions and were handed their first loss of the season, 26-20.
asserted
Atlanta → score → season
The defeat sends San Francisco into its bye week at 6-1, still on top of the NFC West.
asserted
defeat → send → West
Our report card:
Quarterback: C
Brock Purdy got the ball to begin the third quarter in an unfamiliar position: Trailing 19-14.
Purdy had been asked to author just one second-half comeback this season, when he rode Mike Evans down the field for the go-ahead score Week 5 in Seattle.
asserted
he → get → Seattle
Without Evans at his disposal against the Falcons, it went differently this time around.
asserted
it → go → Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. led Atlanta down the field on its first possession of the second half, and the next two chances Purdy got to retake the lead ended in an interception and a fourth-down sack.
asserted
Purdy → lead → interception
It looked like Purdy was trying to throw the ball away after being forced out of the pocket on second-and-14 from the Atlanta 25, but it went straight into the arms of Jessie Bates III.
asserted
it → look → III
The 49ers were back in Falcons territory on their next trip down the field, but after a touchdown completion to Jordan Watkins was overturned, Purdy missed a third-down throw to Christian McCaffrey and succumbed to the pass rush on fourth down, giving the ball right back.
asserted
Purdy → overturn → down
Including Kaelon Black’s fumble on the 49ers’ final drive of the first half, San Francisco drove into Atlanta territory on three straight possessions that produced zero points.
asserted
that → include → points
The 49ers had crossed midfield again with less than 3 minutes left, trailing by six, when Purdy was picked off for a second time by rookie linebacker Kendall Daniels.
asserted
Purdy → cross → Daniels
Purdy had thrown only two interceptions through his first six games; he was picked off twice against the Falcons for his first multi-interception game since Week 12 of last season.
asserted
he → throw → season
B
McCaffrey spent most of the second quarter in the medical tent with a thigh injury but otherwise was the 49ers’ only viable offensive weapon besides tight end George Kittle.
asserted
McCaffrey → spend → Kittle
He touched the ball six times for 69 yards on the 49ers’ opening drive but gained only 31 yards the rest of the game for an even 100 from scrimmage.
asserted
He → touch → scrimmage
With McCaffrey sidelined, Kaelon Black broke off a 30-yard touchdown scamper that put the 49ers up 14-3 on the first play of the second quarter.
asserted
that → sideline → quarter
But he also coughed up a fumble on the Niners’ next trip into Atlanta territory — one play after third-string running back Jordan James put the ball on the ground and was saved by his teammate falling on it.
asserted
James → cough → it
For the first time this season, the 49ers had to navigate a game without Evans.
asserted
49ers → have → Evans
Brandin Cooks and Jordan Watkins started the game as the 49ers’ top two receivers, but it took until the 8:36 mark of the second quarter for a receiver to even record a target, let alone a catch.
asserted
receiver → start → target
Watkins eventually made his presence felt in the second half, but he was unable to hang on to a difficult catch over C.J. Henderson in the end zone.
asserted
he → make → zone
Watkins got both his feet down but was determined not to have possession of the ball when he hit the ground.
asserted
he → get → ground
Kittle also had trouble hanging onto the ball after hauling in his team-leading eight catch of the day, allowing the ball to be punched out for the 49ers’ fourth turnover in Falcons territory.
asserted
ball → have → territory
He and McCaffrey combined for 149 yards through the air; seven other 49ers to be targeted by Purdy combined for 139 yards.
asserted
49ers → combine → yards
“I was really proud of a lot of guys,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
asserted
Shanahan → say → guys
“I thought our wideouts stepped up.
asserted
wideouts → think → ?
Jordan Watkins made some big plays.
asserted
Watkins → make → plays
We ran the ball really well.
asserted
We → run → ball
We had one punt in the game.
asserted
We → have → game
“But when it comes down to the turnovers, we’ve got to protect the ball better.”
asserted
we → come → ball
Offensive line: C+
After going four weeks and 123 dropbacks without allowing an opponent to get to Purdy, the 49ers offensive line has surrendered multiple sacks each of the past three games.
asserted
line → go → games
The most consequential came with San Francisco facing a fourth-and-10 from Atlanta’s 23 early in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Francisco → come → quarter
Purdy was bum-rushed and went down almost instantaneously, giving the ball back to the Falcons trailing 26-14 with 11:30 to play.
asserted
Purdy → rush → 11:30
The 49ers sure missed Nick Bosa, who was ruled out for the fifth consecutive game.
asserted
who → miss → game
Not only did they fail to record a sack of Penix, they didn’t lay a single hit on the Falcons quarterback.
asserted
they → fail → quarterback
Penix was regularly able to roll outside the pocket on the rare occasions the 49ers’ pressure got home, including on his touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts Sr. that put Atlanta up 19-14.
asserted
that → roll → Atlanta
The Falcons gave the 49ers a gift when a wide-open Jahan Dotson dropped a pass on third-and-4 around midfield.
asserted
Dotson → give → midfield
But Osa Odighizuwa returned the favor by jumping offsides on fourth down, allowing the Falcons to kick a field goal and cut the lead to 14-12 at halftime.
asserted
Falcons → return → halftime
“It was a big turning point,” Shanahan said.
asserted
Shanahan → say → ?
“That allowed them to lap us.
asserted
them → allow → us
Because they got the ball out of the half and went down and scored.
asserted
they → get → half
Gained 10 points without us touching the ball.”
asserted
us → gain → ball
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
