The Atlanta Falcons turned four San Francisco turnovers into 13 points and handed the 49ers their first loss of the season, 29-20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 25, after rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels picked off Brock Purdy late in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta came back from 14-3 down to snap a two-game skid and improve to 3-4, and it was the Falcons’ first home win of the season. San Francisco, playing without several of its top receivers, dropped to 6-1.
"Somebody's gotta beat 'em"
Two turnovers for @KendalDaniels__ 🔥
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/4cQDQWqTkx
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 25, 2026
How it was decided
Kyle Juszczyk’s 1-yard touchdown catch with 5:05 left pulled San Francisco within 26-20, but Eddy Piñeiro missed the extra point, so a field goal could no longer tie it. Nick Folk added a late field goal for the final margin, and Daniels made sure there was no comeback: he jumped a third-down throw from Purdy and brought it back 29 yards, then fell on a George Kittle fumble on San Francisco’s last gasp.
Every score
- First quarter: 49ers, Christian McCaffrey 1-yard run on the opening drive, 7-0 San Francisco.
- First quarter: Falcons, Folk field goal, 7-3.
- Second quarter, opening play: 49ers, Kaelon Black 30-yard run, 14-3 San Francisco.
- Second quarter: Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. 1-yard pass to Nick Muse (conversion failed), 14-9.
- Second quarter, end of half: Falcons, Folk 33-yard field goal, 14-12.
- Third quarter: Falcons, Penix 5-yard pass to Kyle Pitts, 19-14 Atlanta.
- Fourth quarter: Falcons, Penix 21-yard pass to Drake London, 26-14 Atlanta.
- Fourth quarter, 5:05: 49ers, Purdy 1-yard pass to Juszczyk (Piñeiro kick missed), 26-20.
- Fourth quarter: Falcons, Folk field goal, 29-20.
Turning points
The 49ers looked in control after Black, a rookie, scored his first NFL touchdown, but the game turned on ball security. Black lost a fumble in the second quarter, Maason Smith forced another to end a San Francisco threat before halftime, and Jessie Bates III intercepted Purdy in the red zone, his 14th interception since he joined Atlanta in 2023. Muse, a late-summer practice squad signing, leaked out of a goal-line formation for his first career touchdown.
The second half belonged to Atlanta. Khalil Herbert’s 38-yard return of the opening kickoff set up a 59-yard drive that Pitts finished for the Falcons’ first lead, helped along by an 11-yard Austin Hooper catch-and-run. San Francisco then gifted four first downs by penalty on the drive that ended with London’s touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The 49ers were flagged seven times for 55 yards.
The numbers
Penix completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, a 118.9 passer rating, and he hit 11 straight throws in the first half. Pitts caught all five of his targets and became the sixth-youngest tight end in league history to reach 300 career receptions. No runner on either side topped Bijan Robinson’s 63 yards. London was evaluated for a concussion in the third quarter and returned.
Purdy went 27 of 40 for 288 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and he was sacked on a fourth down. McCaffrey hurt his left thigh on the opening drive, missed the rest of the first half and came back after the break. He finished with 39 yards and a touchdown on seven carries plus six catches for 61 yards.
“We understood it was going to be a 60-minute game,” Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said. Of Bates’ interception, he added, “That interception is as good as it gets.”
What comes next
The Falcons open division play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. EST. The 49ers have their bye, then host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, November 8, at 4:05 p.m. EST. The result and drive detail are in the 49ers-Falcons Game Center.
No published comments yet. Start the conversation.