The San Francisco 49ers' defense is as vulnerable as it's ever been heading into an important Week 7 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. With Nick Bosa and Fred Warner both sidelined, the Niners will have to lean on youth and unproven backups to pull out a win over Atlanta on Sunday Night Football.
The game might come down to one crucial matchup. Rookie cornerback Upton Stout is set to line up across from superstar receiver Drake London for a significant portion of the snaps.
It will be Stout's toughest test yet and a deciding factor in Sunday's result.
49ers' Week 7 fate could be decided by Upton Stout's performance
The rookie cornerback hasn't exactly had the perfect start to his career. He brings a unique tenacity to the table, but he's often vulnerable in coverage. Per PFF, he has an abysmal coverage grade of 39.1 through six games. Opposing quarterbacks have consistently picked on him, taking advantage of his small frame and inexperience.
So far this season, he's given up 20 receptions for 196 yards, allowing an opposing passer rating of 94.1.
In many ways, London is a nightmare matchup for Stout. The receiver uses his 6-foot-4 frame to overpower smaller defenders, positioning his body so that only he can reach the ball. At just 5-foot-9, the rookie cornerback will be at an obvious disadvantage. London lines up in the slot about a third of the time, while Stout plays there almost exclusively, so the two will have plenty of battles throughout the game.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. isn't afraid to throw the ball into tight windows, especially when targeting his best pass catchers. Against an undersized rookie cornerback, there's no doubt he'll feed his No. 1 wideout the ball.
To make matters even worse, the star wideout is coming off his best game of the season so far. In a prime-time win over the Buffalo Bills, London exploded for 10 catches, 158 yards, and a touchdown. He was targeted a season-high 16 times, putting Atlanta's passing game on his back. The Falcons offense as a whole is on a tear at the moment, setting San Francisco up for a difficult task in Week 7.
Without Bosa to put pressure on Penix, or Warner to help cover the middle of the field, the 49ers' young defenders will have to step up in a big way to keep this game from getting out of hand.
With a monumental matchup in front of him, that starts with Stout.