The San Francisco 49ers didn’t win with style points on Sunday night, but they did win with toughness. Behind a massive performance from Christian McCaffrey, another steady outing from Mac Jones, and a patchwork defense that refused to break, the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 20–10 at Levi’s Stadium.

It was a victory defined by resilience, truly a Kyle Shanahan master class given the circumstances. San Francisco lost multiple starters on both sides of the ball but continued to find ways to manufacture stops and sustain drives.

History for Mac Jones, Workhorse Night for McCaffrey

In just his fourth game as a 49er, Mac Jones continued his hot start, throwing for 265 yards to become the first quarterback in franchise history to eclipse 1,200 passing yards through his first four games. Jones wasn’t flashy, but he was efficient, leading scoring drives when San Francisco needed them most.

His top weapon, Christian McCaffrey, reminded everyone why he is the San Francisco offense. McCaffrey entered Week 6 with more touches than any player in the NFL, and somehow added to that total. He finished with around 200 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

The matchup carried a unique subplot, as McCaffrey faced Bijan Robinson, who spent much of the offseason training alongside him. Their mutual respect was evident before kickoff, but once the game started, McCaffrey stole the spotlight.

Middle Eight Momentum Swing

Head coaches around the league have long preached the importance of the “middle eight,” the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second. On Sunday, that philosophy proved decisive.

With under a minute to go before halftime, Robert Saleh’s defense forced an errant throw that led to a key interception. That turnover set up a field goal by Eddy Piñeiro, who quietly remains perfect on the year at 17-for-17 since joining the team.

That sequence gave the Niners both points and momentum heading into halftime, while the Falcons, out of timeouts, had to end the half on a 10-second runoff for intentional grounding, their second straight week with a chaotic end to the second quarter.

Depth Tested Again

Injuries were once again a major storyline for San Francisco. Linebacker Tatum Bethune, already filling in for Fred Warner, left the game with an injury, forcing Curtis Robinson, a third-stringer who had never taken a defensive snap before tonight, to call signals for the entire unit.

Robinson responded admirably, showing composure under pressure and helping the 49ers defense limit Atlanta to just 10 points. Meanwhile, center Jake Brendel exited in the first half with a hamstring issue, replaced by Matt Hennessy, who held his own in the trenches.

Despite the attrition, Saleh’s blitz packages kept Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons offense guessing, generating consistent pressure and forcing hurried throws all night.

Finishing Strong

McCaffrey’s physicality and the defense’s discipline carried the Niners across the finish line. A late red-zone stop sealed the win, underscoring this team’s ability to adapt, survive, and grind through adversity.

With the victory, San Francisco improves to 5–2, staying firmly in the NFC playoff picture despite the growing injury list. The 49ers will travel to the Houston Texans next week, hoping for better news on Bethune and Brendel, and a little luck in keeping what’s left of their roster intact.