To think, as poorly as the San Francisco 49ers played in Week 7 on the road (and on a short week) against the Atlanta Falcons, they were in position to reclaim the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Maybe that's a small bit of solace.
Instead, they lost 29-20, ending the undefeated streak and falling to 6-1 before a much-needed bye week. Whether it was injuries, turnovers or penalties, the Niners did aplenty to beat themselves while also making a so-so Falcons squad look like a potential playoff threat.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has a lot to figure out over the next two weeks, particularly after looking at the biggest losers (and a couple of winners) from Sunday's showdown in Atlanta.
Winners and losers from 49ers' Week 7 loss to Falcons
Loser: K Eddy Piñero
Whatever feel-good sentiments San Francisco had about kicker Eddy Piñero a year ago are officially gone now, as the specialist missed yet another extra point against Atlanta. Had he made the try after fullback Kyle Juszczyk's fourth-quarter touchdown, it would've been a one-score game, and who knows how Shanahan would have called things thereafter.
Piñero has now missed four extra points this season and seven kicks total, prompting even Shanahan to call the kicker's future into question.
Too bad the 49ers gave Piñero that lofty extension last offseason. They look like losers for that right now, too.
Loser: QB Brock Purdy
Piñero didn't necessarily cost the Niners the game, but it's safe to say quarterback Brock Purdy did.
Sure, Purdy was without wide receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, but he still had Juszczyk, running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle at his disposal against a suspect Falcons defense.
Instead, Purdy tossed two awful interceptions and also underthrew wide receiver Jordan Watkins on what could've been a touchdown instead of a 35-yard gain.
This was sad, too, because Week 7 was shaping up to be the premier game in which Purdy could prove to the rest of the NFL world he didn't need all those top-end weapons to be successful and could lead a comeback like so many of the other MVP candidates can.
Purdy still can't, apparently.
Winner: WR Jordan Watkins
Speaking of Watkins, it might've taken him a little while to gain some footing with Purdy, but Week 7 was easily the second-year pro's best outing in his young career, finishing with three catches on six targets for 56 yards. Not only would he have had a likely touchdown, had Purdy not underthrown the ball, but Watkins nearly came down with his first-ever NFL score late in the game, only for it to be ruled an incomplete because he couldn't maintain contact through the ground.
From the trio of Watkins, Jacob Cowing and Brandin Cooks, the former is the only one worth keeping around when San Francisco finally gets healthy at receiver again.
Hopefully sooner than later.
Loser: RB Jordan James
Two 49ers running backs, Kaelon Black and Jordan James, fumbled in the contest—back to back plays, no less. And Black's fumble was recovered by the Falcons and emerged as, perhaps, the game's biggest turning point.
Unfortunately, James is the bigger loser here.
For all intents and purposes, Black has solidified the No. 2 role behind McCaffrey, and no one questions it. The rookie even recorded his first NFL touchdown in the game, a bright spot from his 12-rush, 63-yard effort that was gashed by the turnover.
James, meanwhile, had one rush for 6 yards and is clearly far, far behind Black on the depth chart, only getting called into brief service when McCaffrey missed a brief amount of time with a thigh injury.
Loser: DB Jack Jones
Veteran cornerback Jack Jones might've impressed during training camp, but he's emerged as a major liability within the secondary when the games actually count.
With nickel cornerback Upton Stout sidelined with a shoulder injury, Deommodore Lenoir bumped inside and gave up his boundary spot to Jones, who was regularly targed by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to great effect.
But the killer was when Jones was flagged for pass interference in the third quarter on a key 3rd-and-8 play at midfield, continuing the Falcons' drive that ultimately led to a touchdown.
At this point, rookie Ephesians Prysock needs to see more of the field over Jones.
Winner: RB Christian McCaffrey
Minor thigh injury aside, McCaffrey came close to putting the Niners offense on his shoulders, scoring one touchdown and coming up just shy of the goal line on another. And despite Black getting 12 rushing attempts, CMC's load was plenty balanced with seven rushes and six catches on the day, totaling 100 net yards on the ground and through the air combined.
While Evans' absence was definitely highlighted throughout San Francisco's offensive struggles, McCaffrey's availability becomes only more crucial for the 49ers to maintain any sort of prowess into the second half.
Good thing they're not overworking him.
Loser: 49ers pass rush
A week ago, a key Niners narrative was not needing still-injured All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa, who hasn't played since Week 2. Four sacks against the Washington Commanders would suggest that.
Sadly in Week 7, a zero-sack performance versus Penix reminded San Francisco fans more of the 2025 crop that generated a league-worst 20 sacks on the season than anything that showed improvement since.
Even worse, the 49ers failed to deliver one hit on Penix throughout all four quarters, and his availability to easily evade the rare pass-rusher who got into the pocket helped him post an impressive three-touchdown, 118.9-passer rating performance.
Maybe the Niners aren't so set on their pass rush after all.
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