Purdy throws 4 TDs as 49ers snap skid, beat Falcons 41-35

Atlanta, GA - Brock Purdy completed 30 of 36 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers ended Atlanta’s four-game winning streak with a 41-35 victory over the Falcons in Week 7.

Purdy finished with a 140.6 passer rating and only one interception across his 36 attempts. His longest completion covered 72 yards, part of a San Francisco passing performance that produced 411 official team passing yards and helped the 49ers finish with 530 offensive yards.

The result changed the direction of two teams that arrived with contrasting recent form. Atlanta entered at 4-2 after winning four consecutive games. San Francisco came in at 3-3 following two straight losses. The Falcons still produced 447 offensive yards and 35 points, but their winning streak ended against a 49ers offense that gained 83 more offensive yards.

"The efficiency is what I’m happiest about," Purdy said. "We didn’t waste many opportunities in the passing game, and our guys turned their catches into production. There are still things to clean up, but putting up 41 and getting the win is what we came here to do."

Ricky Pearsall was the leading beneficiary of San Francisco’s passing output. He caught five passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with the game’s highest receiving total. His 72-yard reception was also the longest completion of Purdy’s afternoon.

"The opportunities were there, and I tried to maximize every one of them," Pearsall said. "To finish with that kind of production and come away with the win is a great feeling. As a receiver, you want to make every target count."

San Francisco also received a 100-yard performance from Christian McCaffrey, who carried 20 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Purdy added 13 yards and another score on two rushing attempts. The 49ers finished with 119 rushing yards, giving them two 100-yard skill-position performances between McCaffrey on the ground and Pearsall through the air.

The offenses differed sharply in how they generated their yardage. San Francisco held a 411-228 advantage in official team passing yards, while Atlanta rushed for 219 yards compared with 119 for the 49ers. San Francisco converted seven of 10 third downs; Atlanta went 9-for-15 on third down and converted both of its fourth-down attempts.

Anthony Richardson Sr completed 16 of 33 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, posting a 79.9 passer rating. He was also a major part of Atlanta’s rushing production, gaining 83 yards and scoring once on nine carries.

Bijan Robinson led the Falcons on the ground with 134 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He also caught two passes for 85 yards and another score, including a 74-yard reception. Between rushing and receiving, Robinson totaled 219 yards from scrimmage and scored twice.

"There was a lot of production in the run game, and I was able to contribute as a receiver too," Robinson said. "But 35 points doesn’t feel the same when you leave without the win. We have to look at everything we did and be more complete the next time out."

Red-zone efficiency was mixed for both teams. San Francisco made six red-zone trips and scored three touchdowns without a field goal. Atlanta reached the red zone five times, coming away with two touchdowns and one field goal.

Neither defense produced a turnover advantage. Purdy and Richardson each threw one interception, while San Francisco recorded two sacks and Atlanta had one. Osa Odighizuwa accounted for 1.5 of the 49ers’ sacks.

The narrow final margin came with both teams generating substantial yardage in different ways. Atlanta recorded 27 first downs to San Francisco’s 26 and had two players exceed 80 rushing yards. San Francisco countered with Purdy’s highly efficient passing line, Pearsall’s 170 receiving yards and McCaffrey’s 106-yard rushing performance.

For Atlanta, the loss brought a four-game winning streak to an end. For San Francisco, the 41-point output and 530 offensive yards accompanied a six-point road victory after the 49ers entered the week on a two-game skid.

Up Next

The Falcons will travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8 as they look to rebound from the loss. San Francisco will next return home in Week 9 to host the Las Vegas Raiders and try to build on its 41-35 victory.