49ers Stun Falcons with Historic 4th-Quarter Comeback to Claim NFC Divisional Victory

SANTA CLARA, CA — In a thrilling NFC Divisional showdown, the San Francisco 49ers staged an unforgettable comeback, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the final minutes to edge out the Atlanta Falcons, 34-33. This victory not only advanced them to the NFC Championship but also set a record as the first playoff win in 49ers history when trailing by 13 or more points with under five minutes remaining.

Game Recap

The Falcons struck first with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Bijan Robinson, but a missed extra point left Atlanta with a 6-0 lead—a mistake that would loom large later. Christian McCaffrey answered for San Francisco, catching a 7-yard pass from Brock Purdy to put the 49ers up 7-6. The Falcons quickly regained the lead as Kirk Cousins connected with Drake London for a 54-yard bomb, ending the first quarter with Atlanta ahead 13-7.

In the second quarter, Younghoe Koo extended Atlanta’s lead with a 37-yard field goal. McCaffrey then powered into the end zone with a 7-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 13. However, the Falcons ended the half on a high note, with Cousins finding London for another touchdown, bringing the score to 20-13 in Atlanta’s favor at the break.

The third quarter saw Cousins and London connect yet again, this time for a 19-yard score that widened the Falcons’ lead to 27-13. Koo added a 54-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Falcons’ advantage to a seemingly insurmountable 30-13.

But just when it seemed Atlanta had the game in hand, Purdy and the 49ers mounted a furious rally. Purdy hit Eric Saubert for a 17-yard touchdown, although a failed two-point conversion kept the score at 30-19. After a Falcons field goal made it 33-19, the 49ers responded with a quick drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to George Kittle. McCaffrey followed up with an 8-yard touchdown run, and with 32 seconds left on the clock, the 49ers had clawed back to a stunning 34-33 lead.

That early missed extra point by Atlanta now became crucial, as it left the Falcons trailing by one instead of being in position for a potential tie. With the pressure on, the 49ers’ defense held firm as time expired, sealing a legendary comeback and sending Atlanta home with a stinging one-point loss.

Key Stats

• 49ers Passing: Brock Purdy threw for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns, completing 18 of 29 attempts.
• 49ers Rushing: Christian McCaffrey dominated with 22 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown, including a long of 35 yards.
• 49ers Receiving: Jauan Jennings led with 79 yards on 3 receptions, while Kittle added 41 yards and a touchdown. McCaffrey also contributed with 5 catches for 64 yards.
• Falcons Passing: Kirk Cousins threw for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 completions from 36 attempts.
• Falcons Rushing: Bijan Robinson managed 70 yards on 12 carries, including a touchdown.
• Falcons Receiving: Drake London was unstoppable, racking up 115 yards and 3 touchdowns on 6 catches.

Quotes from the Field

Jeffery Jarin, 49ers Head Coach: “I don’t even know what to say. These guys didn’t quit, you love to see that as a coach. We’ll celebrate this tonight but that’s it. Tomorrow we start preparing for the next round.”

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers Running Back: “It was all heart out there. We were down, but not out. This team has a lot of fight, and we showed it tonight.”

Kirk Cousins, Falcons Quarterback: “It’s a tough loss. We felt we had control, but credit to them—they made the plays when it counted.”

Chuck Davis, Falcons Head Coach: “To say I’m disappointed in the outcome would be an understatement. I don’t know what else to say. Hats off to the other side, they didn’t quit and neither did we, we just didn’t make that one or two plays that could have sealed the win for us tonight.”

Injuries

The 49ers suffered a significant injury as star wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. exited the game with a lower-body injury. Early indications suggest it could sideline him for the upcoming NFC Championship, but further evaluations are pending.

Up Next

With this victory, the 49ers await the winner of the NFC Divisional matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. The NFC Championship game promises to be another fierce battle as San Francisco continues its journey toward the Super Bowl.