McCaffrey’s late touchdown lifts 49ers to 20-10 over Falcons

The game was a bit closer than the score indicates, but in some ways, it wasn't. 

The Falcons couldn't keep up with the 49ers' offense, led by Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 124 yards and totaled two touchdowns. 

The 49ers led, 13-10, but a key fourth-down decision was foiled and the Falcons' defense couldn't hold on, as McCaffrey's second TD extended the lead to 10, and they held on the rest of the way. 

Christian McCaffrey has compiled 186 scrimmage yards and his second touchdown gave the 49ers a 20-10 lead over the Falcons with 2:26 remaining in the game. 

It was a deflating drive, after the Falcons gave up the ball on a turnover on downs with 8:16 left. 

McCaffrey had a big 18-yard catch on 3rd-and-14 to get to the 4-yard line, then ran it in with some help from his offensive line. 

After gaining momentum with their touchdown, the Falcons got another big play from their defense, stopping the 49ers on a 3rd-and-1 and forcing a punt. 

The offense gets the ball back, trailing, 13-10.

The Falcons stayed in the game with a big-time TD drive, capped with a 10-yard screen pass to Bijan Robinson. 

The big play on the drive was a 45-yard kickoff return by Jamal Agnew, which set the Falcons up at the 49ers' 48-yard line. 

From there, Robinson had a couple of nice runs, along with a 17-yard catch by tight end Kyle Pitts. Robinson added an 8-yard screen run and scored on the 10-yard screen pass from Penix. 

It was a big answer after the 49ers extended their lead to 10 points, but now the Falcons have momentum on offense, and they'll just need a stop on defense to help them have a chance to tie or get the lead. 

The 49ers took the kickoff and got down the field behind McCaffrey again and a 43-field goal pushed their lead to 13-3. 

The difference has been the Falcons' inability to stop the 49ers' run game, especially with Divine Deablo out because of a forearm injury. 

Mac Jones has been steady but hasn't had to do anything extraordinary to keep the offense moving. 

Like last week's game, the Falcons were making a push to score just before halftime, with a pair of long passes by Penix, one to Drake London for 19 yards and another to Darnell Mooney for 38 yards, setting up the Falcons at the 49ers' 22 with less than a minute left. 

But, as the 49ers were doing all of the first half, they put pressure on Penix, who tried to throw the ball away. It was ruled intentional grounding, and in the final two minutes, led to a 10-second runoff, ending the half. 

There's plenty for the Falcons to clean up, but they have to start by establishing the run game with Bijan Robinson and getting more time for Penix to throw. 

The Falcons' defense held after the Penix fumble, but a quirky third-down play helped set the 49ers up for a field-goal try. 

Atlanta got pressure on Mac Jones, and his arm was going forward for a pass attempt. After review the officials determined that it was a pass, which an offensive lineman caught. The question was whether it was a fumble or a pass, and by virtue of it being a pass, the 49ers got more yardage and they were able to attempt a field goal. 

The 55-yarder put the 49ers ahead, 10-3, with less than a minute left in the half. 

The Falcons' offensive line has struggled so far tonight, both in getting running lanes for Bijan Robinson and in creating time for Michael Penix Jr. to throw. 

Penix was sacked, and after a fumble, the 49ers took over with a chance to add to their lead before halftime.

Inside the 2-minute warning, the 49ers took the lead, with a 1-yard run by Christian McCaffrey. He's had his way in the backfield, with 12 carries for 76 yards in the first half, and the Falcons don't have an answer for the San Francisco rush attack. 

Jauan Jennings has been effective in the passing game, and the Falcons are reeling.

Former Falcons draft pick Matt Hennessy takes over at center for the 49ers. 

Starting center Jake Brendel has a hamstring injury and is out.