Crucial mistakes by defense and Penix prove too much to overcome as Falcons' 2-game win streak ends

ATLANTA (AP) — After a two-game winning streak had Atlanta over .500, a night of mistakes against San Francisco provided the painful reminder that the Falcons must avoid those miscues if they are to achieve their goal of their first winning season and first postseason since 2017.

The Falcons (3-3) struggled to contain Christian McCaffrey in their 20-10 loss at the 49ers on Sunday night. Those struggles became overwhelming when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and his teammates contributed to the difficulty with several crucial mistakes.

The most costly and glaring breakdown came when Atlanta's defense had only 10 players on the field late in the game when the 49ers led 13-10 and were facing a third-and-13 at the Atlanta 21.

If the Falcons had made a defensive stop, forcing a field-goal attempt, Penix would have had an opportunity to lead a potential game-winning touchdown drive. Instead, the short-handed Falcons defense gave up a 17-yard completion to McCaffrey, who scored on the following play. Suddenly, the Falcons trailed by 10 points.

Penix also had a crucial intentional grounding penalty at the end of the first half that wiped out a possible field-goal opportunity and a fumble on a sack to set up a Niners field goal.

“We have to do a better job coaching,” said Falcons coach Raheem Morris, who accepted responsibility for the defense having only 10 players on the field on the crucial play. "We have to do a better job playing. Ultimately, those things fall on us and we’ll get them fixed.”

When asked how the Falcons had only 10 players on the field, Morris said "It doesn’t matter. It’s my fault.”

It could be argued the defense played well enough to win despite McCaffrey running for 129 yards and two touchdowns and reaching 200 yards from scrimmage. The Falcons had given up only 13 points late in the game after beginning the day leading the NFL in total defense.

Defensive tackle Zach Harrison sacked Mac Jones on the 49ers' first snap and leads Atlanta with 3 1/2 sacks.

It will be difficult for the Falcons to win if their top playmaker is contained. Bijan Robinson rushed for only 40 yards on 14 carries.

Robinson, who had 52 receiving yards, was held under 100 scrimmage yards for the first time this season.

Though Robinson had a 10-yard scoring catch for Atlanta's only touchdown in the third quarter, his three-fewest rushing totals of the season have come in the team's three losses to Tampa Bay (24 yards), Carolina (72 yards) and San Francisco.

Tight end Kyle Pitts' 10 targets were his high mark since having 11 on Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston. He matched his season high with seven catches, and his 62 receiving yards were his second-highest total of the season.

Pitts has 30 receptions for 285 yards this season. Though his 9.5 yards per catch for the season is a career low, Pitts is on pace to surpass his career high of 68 receptions as a rookie in 2021.

After setting season highs with 10 catches for 158 yards in Monday night's 24-14 win over Buffalo, Drake London had only 42 receiving yards on four catches.

Penix limped back to the huddle following a hit late in the game. He completed the game and said in his postgame news conference he “got rolled up on but I feel good right now.”

Morris said Monday that Penix has a bone bruise. “Obviously he's sore,” Morris said. “There's a lot of toughness with this guy. I can't wait to see where he is on Wednesday.”

Former starter Kirk Cousins would be on standby this week if Penix can't play.

Inside linebacker Divine Deablo suffered a left forearm fracture. Morris said Deablo will miss some time but is expected to return this season. JD Bertrand replaced Deablo and set a career high with 10 tackles.

10:40. The Falcons held the ball for 10 minutes, 40 seconds on a 19-play, 60-yard drive on their second possession, which ended with Parker Romo's 38-yard field goal. It was Atlanta's longest possession by time since 1994.

The Falcons host Miami on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown (27) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)

Atlanta Falcons' Kaden Eliss (55) reaches up to intercept a ball bobbled by San Francisco 49ers' Jauan Jennings in the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff (47) forces a fumble against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) passes under pressure from San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chase Lucas (26) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. speaks to reporters after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Durzi scored 1:06 into overtime and the Utah Mammoth beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Monday night for their second win in three games.

Dylan Guenther and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, and Karel Vejmelka had 22 saves.

Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière scored goals, and Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each had two assists for the Rangers, who lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2). Igor Shesterkin stopped all nine shots he faced before he left with an apparent injury with 7 minutes remaining in the first period. Jonathan Quick replaced him and finished with 14 saves.

In the extra period, Durzi scored from the right doorstep off a pinpoint pass from Nick Schmaltz through traffic from the left circle.

Carcone tied the score 2-2 at 6:15 of the third as he drove toward the net and scored past Quick just before sliding into the goalie and knocking the net off its moorings.

Lafrenière got the Rangers on the scoreboard first, redirecting a pass from Mika Zibanejad in front for a power-play goal at 8:29 of the second period.

Guenther tied it 4:09 later, scoring on a rush as his first shot bounced off Quick's pad but he put the rebound past the goalie for his 21st of the season.

Trocheck gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead with their second power-play goal of the period as he redirected Artemi Panarin's point shot past Vejmelka with 3:24 remaining.

Shesterkin appeared to injure his leg when bent awkwardly with his skate on the ice as he attempted to avoid contact with Mammoth forward JJ Peterka, who was on the edge of the crease. Peterka did not appear to make contact with Shesterkin, who lay down in the net in pain while he was attended to by a trainer and then helped off the ice.

Quick came on to make the first in-game goalie substitution in the Rangers' 44 games this season.

After the game, the Mammoth announced they traded defenseman Juuso Välimäki to Carolina for future considerations.

Mammoth: At Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Rangers: Host Buffalo on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

CORRECTS TO GOAL MADE BY VINCENT TROCHEK - New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10), left wing Alexis Lafrenière (13) and Adam Fox, center, celebrate Vincent Trochek's goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière (13) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka makes a save in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) reacts after scoring his third goal of the game in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)