ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. threw three touchdown passes, Atlanta scored 13 points off four turnovers and the Falcons handed the San Francisco 49ers their first loss, 29-20 on Sunday.
asserted
Falcons → throw → Sunday
San Francisco (6-1) was already thin at wide receiver before its offense faced additional limitations when running back Christian McCaffrey missed much of the first half with a thigh injury.
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McCaffrey → face → injury
Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels intercepted Brock Purdy’s pass intended for Jordan Watkins with 2:34 remaining.
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Daniels → intercept → 2:34
Daniels then recovered a fumble by George Kittle with less than a minute remaining.
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Daniels → recover → minute
The 49ers had only six turnovers in their first six games.
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49ers → have → games
Penix threw scoring passes to tight ends Nick Muse and Kyle Pitts before giving Atlanta (3-4) a 26-14 lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Drake London in the fourth quarter.
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Penix → throw → quarter
Penix completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards with no interceptions.
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Penix → complete → interceptions
The 49ers’ comeback attempt was hurt when a lengthy review by the officials took away Purdy’s apparent 23-yard touchdown pass to Watkins.
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review → hurt → Watkins
Following the ruling, Purdy was sacked on fourth down by Za’Darius Smith.
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Purdy → follow → Smith
Purdy’s 1-yard scoring pass to fullback Kyle Juszcyk with 5:05 remaining cut Atlanta’s lead to 26-20 before Eddy Pineiro extra-point attempt was wide left — his fourth miss of the season.
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attempt → remain → season
A shanked punt by Atlanta’s Jake Bailey allowed San Francisco to start a possession at its 47 with about four minutes remaining.
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Francisco → shank → minutes
The 49ers wasted the excellent field position and opportunity to mount a go-ahead drive when Purdy threw his second interception that led to Nick Folk’s 31-yard field goal.
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that → waste → goal
Purdy completed 27 of 40 passes for 288 yards with one touchdown and the two picks.
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Purdy → complete → touchdown
Bijan Robinson rushed for 63 yards as the Falcons snapped a two-game skid.
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Falcons → rush → skid
McCaffrey was limited to seven carries for 39 yards.
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McCaffrey → limit → yards
McCaffrey’s backup, Kaelon Black, lost a fumble at the Atlanta 29 that was recovered by Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second quarter.
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that → lose → quarter
A long Atlanta drive set up Nick Folk’s 33-yard field goal.
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drive → set → goal
In the third quarter, Jessie Bates III intercepted Purdy’s pass at the Atlanta 10 to set up the touchdown drive capped by the scoring pass to London.
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III → intercept → London
The 49ers leaned heavily on McCaffrey on their opening touchdown drive.
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49ers → lean → drive
McCaffrey had two catches for 40 yards, including a 24-yard gain to the Atlanta 5.
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McCaffrey → have → Atlanta
He had four carries for 29 yards, including a scoring fourth-down leap over the pile from the 1.
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He → have → 1
McCaffrey had a 5-yard catch on the 49ers’ next drive before leaving the game with the thigh injury.
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McCaffrey → have → injury
He was listed as questionable to return as he was examined in the injury tent.
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he → list → tent
McCaffrey emerged, put on his helmet and tested the thigh by running on the sideline before heading to the locker room.
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McCaffrey → emerge → room
Black’s 30-yard scoring run on the first play of the second quarter gave San Francisco a 14-3 lead.
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run → give → lead
McCaffrey returned for the second half and was used as a decoy on some plays.
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McCaffrey → return → plays
Cornerback A.J. Terrell (groin) started after coming off injured reserve but his brother, rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell (back), was inactive.
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brother → start → reserve
Falcons: Visit Tampa Bay next Sunday.
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Falcons → visit → Bay
The Aporia
