ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. threw three touchdown passes and the Atlanta Falcons capitalized on four San Francisco turnovers to hand the previously undefeated 49ers their first loss of the 2026 season, 29-20, on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Falcons Upset Undefeated 49ers 29-20 Behind Penix’s 3 Touchdowns and 4 Forced Turnovers
The Falcons (3-4) snapped a two-game skid and secured their first home win of the year. San Francisco (6-1) entered the game as one of the league’s top teams but was undermined by injuries, penalties, and uncharacteristic mistakes. Atlanta scored 13 points off the 49ers’ turnovers.
Penix completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards with no interceptions. He connected with tight end Nick Muse for a 1-yard score in the second quarter (extra point failed), hit Kyle Pitts for a 5-yard touchdown that gave Atlanta its first lead in the third quarter, and found Drake London for a 21-yard score early in the fourth to push the lead to 26-14.
Brock Purdy finished 27 of 40 for 288 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions—matching his total from the 49ers’ first six games. His second interception, thrown on third-and-9 with 2:34 remaining and intended for Jordan Watkins, was picked off by rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels. Atlanta converted that into a Nick Folk 31-yard field goal. Daniels later recovered a George Kittle fumble near the Atlanta 19 with under a minute left.
The 49ers led 14-3 early after Christian McCaffrey’s 1-yard touchdown leap on the opening drive and rookie Kaelon Black’s 30-yard scoring run. McCaffrey, who left with a thigh injury in the first half, returned in the second half but was limited to seven carries for 39 yards and six catches for 61 yards. Black added 63 rushing yards. The 49ers also saw a potential 23-yard touchdown to Watkins overturned on review and a later McCaffrey score reversed.
San Francisco was already depleted at wide receiver, with Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) inactive, and played without edge rusher Nick Bosa for a fifth straight game. The 49ers committed seven penalties for 55 yards. Purdy’s 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk cut the deficit to 26-20 with 5:05 left, but Eddy Piñeiro missed the extra point.
Bijan Robinson contributed 63 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards for Atlanta. The Falcons’ defense, including a Jessie Bates III interception earlier in the second half, kept the high-powered 49ers offense in check when it mattered most.
The win gives Atlanta momentum heading into a road game at Tampa Bay, while San Francisco enters its bye week before hosting Las Vegas.