SANTA CLARA – Fred Warner cheered from a Levi’s Stadium suite together with his surgically repaired ankle elevated. Down beneath, the 49ers placed on a victorious present for his or her fallen linebacker and a prime-time viewers.
Sunday night time’s 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons delivered a much-needed morale increase.
Whereas Christian McCaffrey provided two dashing touchdowns and 201 yards from scrimmage, it was the 49ers’ protection that proved surprisingly stout, every week after shedding Warner to a dislocated and fractured ankle.
The 49ers (5-2) have but to lose back-to-back video games this season, preserving them tied atop the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams (5-2).
Subsequent up, the 49ers return to the street for a Sunday go to to the Houston Texans, who take a two-game win streak and a 2-3 report into Monday night time’s recreation at Seattle (4-2).
McCaffrey ran for over 100 yards for the primary time since 2023 (24 carries, 129 yards) and likewise delivered 72 receiving yards as Jones made his third straight begin and fifth this season rather than an injured Brock Purdy.
The 49ers’ protection might have lacked Warner, to not point out Week 3 sufferer Nick Bosa, but it surely repeatedly got here via with momentum-halting performs, typically through blitzes and a few of these from Warner’s substitute, Tatum Bethune.
Halfway via the fourth quarter, the 49ers produced a fourth-down cease from their very own 35-yard line. Quite than give the ball to NFL scrimmage yard chief Bijan Robinson or try a game-tying subject objective, the Falcons noticed Drake London drop a Michael Penix Jr. move towards Chase Lucas’ tight protection.
From there, the 49ers chewed up the clock, marched downfield, and, on third-and-13, Mac Jones delivered a 17-yard completion to McCaffery. Then got here the offense’s grand finale: a 4-yard landing run by McCaffrey, who was pulled throughout the objective line by guard Connor Colby whereas middle Matt Hennessy and guard Dominick Puni assisted. With 2 ½ minutes to go, the 49ers led by 10, and, in contrast to so typically final season, that margin would show sufficient.
The 49ers owned a 13-3 lead earlier than Robinson delivered the Falcons’ first landing with 6:28 left within the third quarter. Robinson scored on a 10-yard reception wherein he slipped from Bryce Huff’s grasp, zoomed previous a turned-around Dee Winters, then barreled via Ji’Ayir Brown and Bethune on the objective line.
McCaffrey artistically catapulted the 49ers into the lead 1:48 earlier than halftime. After his 1-yard landing run up the center put the 49ers forward 7-3, he somersaulted into the north finish zone, stood up and stretched his arms broad as if taking a bow for his second dashing rating in as many video games.
That capped a 13-play, 80-yard march requiring three third-down conversions, together with a 13-yard completion to McCaffrey on the 1.
The 49ers’ protection went with out an interception for the 14th consecutive recreation. Nevertheless it did create a key turnover. Huff’s strip sack and Alfred Collins’ fumble restoration led to Eddy Pineiro’s 55-yard subject objective for a 10-3 halftime lead.
Pineiro completed off the second half’s opening drive with a 43-yard subject objective, pushing the result in 13-3 and making him 17-of-17 on field-goal makes an attempt since changing Jake Moody in Week 2.
Tight finish George Kittle, again from a hamstring tear within the season opener, had no catches on two targets, however his blocking helped revive the 49ers’ dormant dashing assault. In spite of everything, the 49ers’ offense entered Sunday ranked first in passing yards (291.5 per recreation) they usually had been opposing the Falcons’ No. 1-ranked move protection, coordinated by former 49ers linebacker and San Jose native Jeff Ulbrich.
Atlanta scored first on a 38-yard subject objective from Parker Romo, however that got here after Huff and Sam Okuayinonu cut up a third-down sack to attenuate a 19-play, 10 ½-minute drive.
Robinson completed with simply 40 dashing yards (14 carries) and 52 receiving yards (six catches). Bethune had 10 tackles for the second straight recreation.
The 49ers had been poised to reply with their first factors, however the Falcons’ Kaden Ellis intercepted a Jones move that Jauan Jennings bobbled on the Falcons’ 18. Atlanta didn’t capitalize on that interception or on a pass-interference penalty towards Deommodore Lenoir, who almost had the 49ers’ first interception in 445 passes.
On the 49ers’ ever-growing harm listing, cornerback Renardo Inexperienced (toe) and middle Jake Brendel (hamstring) left with first-half accidents. Brendel has dealt with nearly all snaps since 2022, and Matt Hennessy changed him on Sunday’s third collection.
Purdy might be in line to return subsequent recreation after lacking his third straight begin Sunday night time and his fifth this season due to a toe harm. He practiced in restricted vogue final week and was upbeat Sunday after getting in a pregame exercise on the coaching fields.
Neither crew scored via the primary quarter, and the 49ers had just one possession, which began with a sack (allowed by Dominick Puni) earlier than McCaffrey and Brian Robinson keyed a drive that didn’t get previous the Falcons’ 42-yard line.
Warner made a shock look in pregame warmups, his ankle propped up on a scooter behind the top zone. He waved to the gang and was greeted by McCaffrey, Brown, linebackers coach Johnny Holland and referee Ron Torbert.
A number of gamers wore Warner-themed T-shirts in warmups, and linebackers Winters and Bethune wore Warner jerseys to the stadium.
Corridor of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis made a cameo at follow final week and was at Sunday night time’s recreation. Quite than drill directions, Willis stated his message to easily remind the 49ers that is “their time” and he’s as keen as anybody to see the outcomes.
