49ers vs Falcons preview: Can Atlanta cause an upset?
By Andy Davies
Week Seven of the 2026 NFL season is upon us, with the league past the quarter mark.
So far, there are three teams with perfect records, in the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.
Whilst the Chiefs and Vikings are one win behind, due to their respective bye weeks, the 49ers have the most wins, with a 6-0 record.
Incredibly, they are four wins clear of the Los Angeles Rams, despite their NFC West division rivals’ overwhelming status as Super Bowl LXI favourites going into the season. They even stand three wins clear of the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks.
The division is theirs to lose, as they will hope this could end up being the year they avenge their agonising 21st century Super Bowl losses.
They go up against the 2-4 Atlanta Falcons on the road tomorrow, going into this game as the favourites, but could this game be on upset watch?
Here is how the Falcons could potentially shock the Niners in Week Seven.
An offense that can go up against anyone
The Falcons are 2-4 for a reason, but this is not down to their offense.
In the opening two games, the offense struggled without Michael Penix Jr, the offense struggled. Since he returned in Week Three, they have averaged 31.5 points per game. Their lowest points total in this four-game stretch has been 23 and they have scored 80 points in their last two fixtures.
After the disaster of Cooper Rush and Jack Strand, Penix has come in and shown exactly why he was taken by the team. He has 944 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception in the four games. Had he not been on the sidelines in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens, he may have even guided them to a win.
The Falcons also boast the third best rushing offense this season. This is down to running back Bijan Robinson. The former Texas Longhorn has fast become one of the best and most dynamic running backs that the league currently boasts.
He will have a tough ask against their ferocious 49ers defense. This unit ranks eighth in the league against the run and 15th against the pass.
His dual threat capabilities mean that he could have success against a part of their defense that allowed the Commanders to score 17 points against them.
With wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr also in the mix, this is a potent offense that can score points at the click of a finger. They may have to rely on a shootout to get the win, and they certainly have the personnel to do this against San Francisco.
Even the best teams lose
The Miami Dolphins still stand in the record books as the only team of the Super Bowl era to go the entire season without losing a game.
The New England Patriots came close in 2007. They were one game and a miracle David Tyree helmet catch away from becoming the first team since Miami to achieve this feat. In fact, they were ahead against the New York Giants, with three minutes remaining on the clock.
Noone has come close since. It is extremely rare for a team to go the entire season without a loss. History would tell you that the Niners are likely to lose at some point. Could it be this weekend?
After the final team has lost a game in a season, members of the 1972 Dolphins raise a glass of champagne. This has happened in recent years in shock fashion. The last teams to lose a game in 2023 were the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers. They lost in shock fashion to the Jets and Browns respectively. A year before, no one thought the Eagles would lose their first game to the Commanders.
The NFL is full of shock results and the 49ers have shown some signs that there could be a loss incoming. Since Week Two, they have only won one game by more than six points. They almost suffered a surprise defeat to the Commanders last time out.
Had a Jeremy McNichols touchdown not been chalked off for a Chris Paul face mask penalty, the Commanders would have been in the lead with 4:19 remaining. In a game where neither team scored a point after this moment, you have to wonder What if?
Whilst a 49ers win is likely on Sunday, do not write off the power of the upset win.
ANDY DAVIES
NFL ANALYST
ANDY IS A SPORTS JOURNALISM GRADUATE WITH OVER SIX YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NFL WRITING AND PODCASTING. ANDY HAS BEEN TO EVERY NFL STADIUM AND IS THE HOST OF THE ACROSS THE POD PODCAST. HE HAS PRESS PASS EXPERIENCE AT THE LONDON GAMES AND MANY OTHER NFL BASED EVENTS SUCH AS SUPER BOWL LIX AND LX, HAVING INTERVIEWED THE LIKES OF AARON RODGERS, JUSTIN JEFFERSON, JASON BELL, OSI UMENYIORA, PATRICK MAHOMES, TRAVIS KELCE, DERRICK HENRY, SAQUON BARKLEY AND JALEN HURTS.
