[How to watch Falcons vs. 49ers | Inactives | Live blog]
The Atlanta Falcons (3-2) take on the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) in an NFC showdown on Sunday Night Football from the site of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Falcons are coming off a huge win over the Buffalo Bills last week at home, while the Niners suffered their second defeat of the year in Week 6, falling to Tampa Bay on the road. Going back to 2013, this matchup is almost even, with the 49ers holding a 4-3 record in the last seven meetings over the Bucs.
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Atlanta had its biggest win of the season last week, beating Buffalo 24-14. Michael Penix Jr. continues to play well, passing for 250 yards against the Bills and a touchdown in the victory. Running back Bijan Robinson’s star also continues to rise as he rushed for 170 yards, caught six receptions for 68 yards, and had one rushing touchdown. The Falcons’ defense did a good job of keeping Bills quarterback Josh Allen in check, limiting him to 181 passing yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Atlanta’s defense also sacked Allen four times. They’ll need to bring that same intensity against a tough, albeit banged-up 49ers team.
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Despite missing multiple star players, the Niners entered the week in a three-way tie atop the NFC West alongside the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. With names like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk missing from the roster, head coach Kyle Shanahan has been able to keep this ship afloat. In the Week 6 loss to Tampa Bay, 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner was also added to that list of injured stars with a season-ending ankle injury. Luckily, the 49ers will see Kittle make his return from injury, having been out on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1.
Once Warner went down, the Niners’ defense showed little resistance against the Bucs’ offense led by early MVP candidate Baker Mayfield. Offensively for the Niners, Mac Jones passed for 357 yards but couldn’t get it in the end zone and was picked off twice. Christian McCaffrey was also held in check with just 54 yards rushing despite a touchdown. McCaffrey also caught seven receptions for 57 yards in the loss. If Atlanta can set up camp in San Francisco’s backfield the way Tampa Bay did (six sacks), it’ll be another long day for this Niners offense.
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Date: Sunday, October 19
Time 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara, California
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock, NFL+
Falcons-49ers inactives
Falcons inactives: Edge Jalon Walker, CB Billy Bowman Jr., WR Ray-Ray McCloud III, OL Jack Nelson, DL LaCale London
49ers inactives: QB Brock Purdy, RB Jordan James, WR Jordan Watkins, WR Ricky Pearsall, OL Drew Moss, DL Yetur Gross-Matos, CB Upton Stout
Falcons vs. 49ers live blog
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Falcons and 49ers face off in primetime:
Live23 updates
Sun, October 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM EDT
Ryan Young
Penix nearly found Washington deep on the left side, but Washington couldn’t quite make the catch. So the Falcons will punt it away now with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
Ryan Young
The momentum here has totally changed. The Falcons just forced a quick 3-and-out after Juszcyk was stuffed on a short run, so they’ll get the ball back right away after Robinson’s touchdown.
Ryan Young
There’s Bijan Robinson. The Falcons finally found the end zone for the first time tonight after a quick drive, capped by a screen pass to Robinson for the 10-yard touchdown.
We’ve got a 3-point game again midway through the third. The Falcons needed a score there.
Ryan Young
The 49ers went on a nice 11 play drive to open the third quarter, but it stalled out with a few incompletions and a stuffed run just outside of the red zone.
Eddy Pineiro drilled a 43-yarder, so their lead is now 10.
Ryan Young
The 49ers will get the ball out of the break, too.
49ers
Mac Jones
9/14, 69 yards, 1TD
Christian McCaffrey
76 yards, 1 TD on 12 carries
Jauan Jennings
26 yards on 3 catches
Falcons
Michael Penix
13/19, 128 yards
Bijan Robinson
22 yards on 7 carries
Darnell Mooney
50 yards on 2 catches
Ryan Young
Atlanta wasn’t going to knee this to halftime. Penix just hit London for a 19-yard gain, and then immediately picked up 38 more after Mooney made a wild grab on the left side.
But the drive fell apart at the 49ers 22 yard line when Penix threw it away. He was hit with an intentional grounding call, which wiped the last 10 seconds off the clock.
It’s halftime now. What a brutal end to the quarter for the Falcons.
Ryan Young
The 49ers nearly fumbled it away themselves, but Eddy Pineiro came out and hit a 55-yarder of his own. We’re all tied up now.
Ryan Young
Bryce Huff just drilled Michael Penix in the back, and the 49ers quickly jumped on the ball in the pile. What a huge shift there to put the 49ers in a great position to add more points now before the break.
Ryan Young
Christian McCaffrey is having a huge night, and it’s not even halftime. He’s up to 76 rushing yards on 12 carries already, and he just punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to put the 49ers in the lead just before the break.
Ryan Young
The Falcons failed to convert on that interception, and had to punt it away pretty quickly. So the 49ers will take back over deep in their own territory midway through the second.
Ryan Young
Kaden Elliss was in the perfect spot just now to take advantage and five Atlanta a massive momentum shift early. The ball went flying off of Jauan Jennings’ hands and right into Elliss’ arms for the first turnover of the night.
Ryan Young
The 49ers just sacked Michael Penix on third down to get a huge stop and push the Falcons out of the red zone. They settled for a 38-yard field goal instead for the first points of the night.
Ryan Young
We’re scoreless after 15 minutes tonight, but the Falcons are driving here and will have a shot to put points up on the board out of the break. Michael Penix is 9-12 for 56 yards so far, too.
Ryan Young
Mac Jones got the 49ers across midfield, but he completely missed Jauan Jennings there on third down. So they’ll come out and punt and try to pin the Falcons deep.
Ryan Young
The Falcons had nothing working on that first drive, so they’ll punt it away not even two minutes into this game. Mac Jones and the 49ers offense are on their way out for the first time now.
Ryan Young
The Falcons have won the toss, and will receive. This matchup is officially off and running at Levi’s Stadium.
Sun, October 19, 2025 at 8:07 PM EDT
Sun, October 19, 2025 at 7:59 PM EDT
Sun, October 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
While we’re waiting for SNF to start, the Denver Broncos just pulled off one of the wildest finishes of the year, completing a 19-point fourth-quarter comeback for a one-point win.
Read more on the madness here.