With Atlanta receiving the ball to start the game, Mariota and company moved the chains with ease on their game opening-drive, converting on three third downs before reaching the end zone to cap off a 13-play, 74-yard touchdown-scoring drive. Finding themselves trailing early, it would be the first touchdown allowed in the first half this season by the San Francisco defense who looked every bit as a team missing more than half of their starters on defense. Unfortunately, the offense would not look any better on their first possession which ended with a three and out punt. While the 49er defense would force punts on each of Atlanta's next two possessions, the offense shot themselves in the foot when a rush attempt on third and 1 from running back Jeff Wilson Jr. backfired as the ball carrier was striped of the ball, making for an easy scoop and score for the Falcons defense.
In what would be a reunion game for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan who spent two seasons as Atlanta's offensive-coordinator and helped coach the Falcons high-octane offense to a Super Bowl appearance in 2016, things for his current offense couldn't have gotten off to a more lousy start on Sunday. The 14-0 hole in the opening quarter would be the largest deficit faced by San Francisco this season. But with a long ways to go before the end of regulation, the 49ers would have plenty of time to turn things around. And at the start of the second quarter, San Francisco's offense would do just that. With the busiest game of the season thus far for 49ers tight-end George Kittle, QB Jimmy Garoppolo connected with receiver Brandon Aiyuk for touchdown passes on back to back drives to tie the game at 14-all midway through the second quarter. But just when San Francisco appeared to swing all the momentum in their favor, Atlanta stormed back with a touchdown of their own as Mariota took it in himself for an easy score from 3-yards out. Looking to answer just before the half, Garoppolo launched a deep ball down the field to Deebo Samuel, but was picked off for an interception.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, San Francisco again came out flat on offense to start the half and were held to a three and out punt. Meanwhile, Atlanta came out guns blazing on offense just like they did to start the game. Capping a 10-play, 65-yard drive was second-year tight-end Kyle Pitts who after missing the previous game with a hamstring injury, hauled in his first touchdown reception of the season to put his team ahead 28-14. Rearing its ugly head again would be the injury bug which bit San Francisco two more times as cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin) and right-tackle Mike McGlinchey (calf) each left the game in the first half and did not return. Asked to fill in for the injured McGlinchey was Jake Brendel who had a rough day at the office and was called for three of San Francisco's five penalties on the afternoon, including one on a 39-yard pass from Garoppolo to Aiyuk that was brought back due to a holding call. A pair of drops on deep balls to Ray-Ray McCloud and Charlie Woerner would sum up the day for San Francisco who had their chances but let them slip thru their hands in what would ultimately be a 28-14 loss.
With only 50-yards of rushing to show for on the day for the 49ers, Atlanta on the other hand had their most productive rushing day yet this season, despite being without their starting running back Cordarrelle Patterson, tallying 168 yards on the ground with 59 of those yards coming from Caleb Huntley, 51 from Tyler Allgeier and another 50 from Mariota. While Mariota would only throw for 129 yards on the afternoon, he took what the defense gave him and showed his accuracy by connecting on 13 of 14 passes for a pair of touchdowns thru the air and another on the ground. Jimmy Garoppolo nearly threw for 300 yards passing before finishing with 296, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, with both George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk each hauling in eight receptions for 83 yards.
Week 7 Preview: Returning home to Levi's Stadium to face the (4-2) Kansas City Chiefs in what will be a rematch of 2019's Super Bowl 54, the (3-3) San Francisco 49ers are hoping to get multiple key players back from injury in anticipation of the big game. With the loss on Sunday to Atlanta and wins within the division from both Seattle and Los Angeles, the 49ers are currently in a 3-way tie for first place, but do own the tie-breaker with a 2-0 record against NFC West foes. Looking to stay on track and remain atop the division, coach Shanahan is hoping for some good news on the injury front regarding left-tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and defensive-end Nick Bosa (groin), as well as Mike McGlinchey (calf), Charvarius Ward (groin) and Talanoa Hufanga (concussion) who left Sunday's game vs Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are coming off back to back hard fought games after a 1-point win over the rival Raiders on Monday Night Football and a last-minute loss at home on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight-end Travis Kelce as dangerous as any at their respective positions, Week 7 will be no easy task for the 49ers who will need every bit of help they can get come kickoff.
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