SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey had his first 100-yard rushing game since 2023, and the short-handed San Francisco 49ers finally delivered a strong ground game to beat the Atlanta Falcons 20-10 on Sunday night.
The usually run-focused 49ers (5-2) had struggled to generate much on the ground all season before getting back to their old style against the Falcons (3-3), helped by the return of tight end George Kittle. McCaffrey ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and totaled 201 yards from scrimmage—his first 200-yard game since 2019.
San Francisco won for the fourth time in five starts this season with backup quarterback Mac Jones playing in place of Brock Purdy. The 49ers’ defense also stepped up despite losing All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to an ankle injury last week and playing without star edge rusher Nick Bosa.
The 49ers made two key plays in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead. With the Falcons driving and trailing 13-10, they faced a third-and-1 at the San Francisco 35. The Niners stopped running back Bijan Robinson for no gain, and on fourth down, cornerback Chase Lucas broke up a pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Drake London, ending the threat.
San Francisco then moved the ball downfield on the ground before Jones connected with McCaffrey on a 17-yard pass on third-and-14 to get down to the 4-yard line. McCaffrey scored on the next play, with help from his offensive line that pulled him into the end zone.
Jones threw for 152 yards with an interception after averaging a league-high 313 yards through the air in his first four starts. Penix finished 21 for 38 for 241 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Robinson, but the Falcons’ offense managed just two scores on nine drives.
The running game helped San Francisco take a 7-3 lead on a 1-yard run by McCaffrey, and the pass rush helped extend the advantage to 10-3 at halftime. Bryce Huff’s strip sack of Penix set up a 55-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro. The 49ers then forced Penix into an intentional grounding penalty when Atlanta was in field goal range, leading to a 10-second run-off that ended the half.
**Injuries**
– Falcons: LB Divine Deablo (forearm) left the game in the first half and did not return.
– 49ers: C Jake Brendel (hamstring) and CB Renardo Green (toe) left in the first half and did not return.
**Up Next**
– Falcons: Host Miami on Sunday.
– 49ers: Visit Houston on Sunday.