Brock Purdy Needs Help. Winners And Losers From 49ers' Loss To Falcons

ATLANTA – So much for a perfect season.

The San Francisco 49ers coughed up four turnovers, blew an 11-point lead and fell from the ranks of the NFL’s undefeated with a big thud on Sunday, falling 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons.

"Unfortunately, we're not going undefeated this year," 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said. "That's how I look at it. I said all along, it's not just about winning. I felt like today we didn't get better. We took a step back.

"That doesn't mean that we can't use this vibe the right way, get healthy, get our mind right for what we have ahead of us and be better going forward, right? And I am so excited about the challenge.

Six days after surviving a furious rally by the Commanders on Monday night, the injury-ravaged 49ers (6-1) lost star running back Christian McCaffrey for much of the first half due to a thigh injury and couldn’t hang on to an early 14-3 lead.

Atlanta (3-4) stormed back after McCaffrey’s fill-in, Kaelon Black, fumbled away a scoring opportunity in the third quarter. As usual, Bijan Robinson was central to the efforts of the Falcons offense, producing a game-high 122 yards from scrimmage.

And while 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw two interceptions to contribute to his lowest-rated passing game of the season (27-of-40, 288, TD, 75.8 efficiency rating), Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. threw for three TDs without committing a turnover.

Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels had a huge role in finishing off the 49ers, collecting an interception and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.

Winners and losers:

WINNERS

Kendal Daniels

A week after being strapped to a stretcher and carted off the field in a scary scene, then taken to nearby Grady Hospital for a neck injury, the rookie linebacker was the first Falcons player announced to the crowd for pre-game introductions. Fitting. Then Daniels left a major mark on the game. He led the Falcons with 11 tackles and helped slam the door shut on the 49ers with a pair of big plays in the fourth quarter. Daniels made a spectacular interception – tipping the football to himself – and returned it 29 yards to set up the field goal that gave Atlanta a two-possession cushion. Then he finished the day with the recovery of a George Kittle fumble in the final minute.

Kevin Stefanski

It would have been so embarrassing if the first-year Falcons coach wound up on the losing end when matched against his predecessor, new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Well, thanks to his defense – coordinated by Jeff Ulbrich – forcing a season-high four turnovers, Stefanski wound up in the winner’s circle.

Jesse Bates III

The wily Falcons safety had fingerprints on two of the turnovers, with a diving interception and forced fumble that clearly made a big difference.

Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco’s dynamic running back missed much of the first half after suffering a thigh injury. But he still produced 100 yards from scrimmage, with 39 yards rushing and 61 receiving yards on six catches. And boy what a wonderful start. McCaffrey had 79 yards (including 2 catches for 40 yards) to power a game-opening drive that he capped with a 1-yard TD dive.

Za’Darius Smith

The 12^th-year veteran defensive end, a much-needed piece for the Falcons defense given the absence of second-year edge rushers James Pearce Jr. (suspension) and Jalon Walker (torn ACL), collected a huge fourth-down sack of Brock Purdy with the 49ers furiously trying to cash in while in scoring range in the fourth quarter. It was also the first sack given up this season by San Francisco’s All-World left tackle Trent Williams, which makes it doubly impressive.

Tight Ends

They were all over the place. Falcons backup Nick Muse scored his first NFL touchdown in the first half, wide open on first-and-goal from the 1. Kyle Pitts gave Atlanta its first lead with a 5-yard TD to open the second half. Charlie Woerner took a direct snap and converted a third-and-short into a first down. On the 49ers ledger, Luke Farrell recovered a fumble. George Kittle had a team-high eight receptions for 88 yards. And in the Fox broadcast booth, Greg Olsen brought deft insight, as usual. All on “National Tight Ends Day” at that.

LOSERS

49ers Infirmary

As if the 49ers don’t already resemble a M*A*S*H unit with such a lengthy injury list, San Francisco lost McCaffrey after their opening series with a thigh injury. He missed the remainder of the first half but was able to return after halftime. This for a team playing without defensive end Nick Bosa and devastated by injuries to its wide receivers corps, with Mike Evans (Achilles) on Sunday joining the list of missing wideouts that includes Deebo Samuel Sr., Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson and impressive rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.

Brock Purdy

Did we mention the 49ers are down on their luck with receivers? That surely makes it tough on the 49ers quarterback, who had a rough one without his most established wideouts and threw two interceptions for the first time all season – which matched his season total for picks heading into the game.

Raheem Morris

Unceremoniously dumped in January after just two seasons as Falcons head coach, Morris has landed as 49ers defensive coordinator and returned to the ATL with an undefeated team and a chance to deliver some payback. If only it turned out that way.

Kickers on PATs

No, it’s not automatic. Especially for 49ers kicker Eddie Piniero, who missed his fourth extra-point kick of the season as San Francisco mounted a rally in the fourth quarter. Nick Folk missed one for the Falcons, too, early in the game…and it was his first miss of the season.

ATL’s homefield advantage

Sure, they can “Swag Surf” with the best of them at the festive atmosphere of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Yet once again it was tough to figure out which was the “home” team as 49er fans showed up en masse – aided, of course, by the Falcons season ticket holders willing to sell their seats.

Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brock Purdy needs help. Winners and losers from 49ers' loss to Falcons