The 49ers faced some adversity going into their game against the Falcons, and they weren’t able to overcome it in a 28-14 loss in Atlanta.
They had some injury issues going in and had more injury problems during the game, but they had issues with turnovers and poor execution that aided their demise.
Here are our thoughts from throughout Sunday’s game:
First quarter
– These Falcons uniforms are awesome. The red helmet on the understated black jersey.
– Nice kick return for the Falcons to open the game. Special teams is still a problem for the 49ers.
– Easy work for Atlanta’s offense to open the game. The 49ers’ defensive line is getting pushed around.
– Samson Ebukam is hurt and Talanoa Hufanga left the game after the first play. Absolutely brutal.
– MyCole Pruitt touchdown catch. George Odum got cooked, as did the entire 49ers defense. That’s the first first-half touchdown the 49ers have allowed all year.
– Garoppolo had all day to throw on a third-and-4, but he couldn’t find anywhere to go with it. Two runs and a pass lead to an opening drive three-and-out. This one might get out of hand for San Francisco.
– And now a fumble return for a touchdown by the Falcons. Disaster for the 49ers. It’s 14-0, Atlanta and the largest deficit of the year for San Francisco.
– Two throws on the drive after the fumble and two completions for 20 yards.
End of 1st quarter: Falcons 14, 49ers 0
Second quarter
– Another fumble, this time it’s Brandon Aiyuk after a nine-yard catch, but Deebo Samuel fell on it to keep it at second-and-1.
– Tricky Garoppolo! He stepped up through pressure and tossed a little shovel pass to George Kittle for 12 yards.
– Now Aiyuk gets in for a touchdown on a little rub route from Wilson. Nice response from Garoppolo and the 49ers offense. The QB is seven-of-eight for 72 yards and a score. It’s 14-7, Falcons.
– Nice return by Ray-Ray McCloud! He’s been close to breaking one all season and this time he gets the 49ers down to the Atlanta 32 after a 35-yard run back.
– Aiyuk again. This time he gets in from 14 yards out on a drag route and the 49ers have tied the game. Unreal response after going down 14-0. It’s tied at 14 now.
– There’s a sack from Charles Omenihu. He flew past the Falcons LT for an easy takedown of Marcus Mariota.
– Third-and-13, the 49ers pressure Mariota and he steps through to run for 15 yards and a first down. San Francisco’s defense is struggling badly against the Falcons run game.
– Oof. Deommodore Lenoir started outside at corner and got worked by Drake London.
– Fred Warner looks lost against this offense.
– Atlanta makes quick work of the 49ers’ defense. They’re up to 82 rushing yards on 20 attempts in the first half and Mariota walked in for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Falcons 21, 49ers 14.
– Garoppolo’s doing a nice job of finding checkdowns.
– Half ends on a Garoppolo interception. He threw it into triple coverage on Samuel.
Halftime: Falcons 21, 49ers 14
Third quarter
– Garoppolo threw a dime to Ray-Ray McCloud on a deep shot and the receiver dropped it. Brutal, brutal drop that turned a possible touchdown into a third-and-10. The 49ers punted. That might be the game. Log that one.
– The 49ers defense has no answers today. Mariota is killing them on read options. He has 51 rushing yards.
– Kyle Pitts touchdown makes it 28-14 for the home team. The 49ers look entirely disinterested in playing this football game.
– Oh that was a fun wrinkle. Samuel was in the backfield with Ty Davis-Price as the fullback.
– Now a Charlie Woerner drop on a shot up the seam. Just an ugly, sloppy effort.
– Another missed tackle by Warner on a third-and-short. This is the worst game Warner has played in a long time.
– Hey the 49ers adjusted to the read option! It only took most of three quarters. Ebukam slipped a block and dropped Mariota for a loss on a third-and-2. Big series coming for the offense down two TDs.
End of third quarter: Falcons 28, 49ers 14
Fourth quarter
– There’s the ball game. Garoppolo’s second interception of the day. He tried forcing one in to Samuel and it was tipped in the air for an easy pick. San Francisco needed to be mistake-free and they weren’t.
– An incompletion! Mariota’s first incompletion of the game comes with 10 minutes left in the fourth.
– Garoppolo finally connected on a deep shot to Aiyuk and it was called back for holding. It wasn’t holding. The DT just tripped over Jake Brendel after bowling him over.
– The lack of urgency here is so bad. A draw play to Wilson loses yards AND kept the clock running. Holy smokes this is terrible.
– Kittle was open in the end zone and Garoppolo overthrew him with 3:16 to go. It’ll bring up a third-and-1. The 49ers have to score quick here.
– Another run play goes backwards on third-and-1. This play calling is baffling. Brunskill missed a block.
– Fourth-and-1 pass is forced in to Samuel again. Incomplete. Game over. A genuinely sad effort to stay in this game.
Final score: Falcons 28, 49ers 14
