Head coach Raheem Morris feels the sting as the Atlanta Falcons’ costly mistakes lead to a shocking 20-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. As the team slides to third place in the NFC South, Morris opened up about what went wrong in the game.

It happened on a third-and-13 play with the Falcons leading 13-10. Running back Christian McCaffrey found a chance and caught a 17-yard pass. The issue for the Falcons was that they had only 10 players on the field for the play, which helped seal the win for the 49ers.

Later, Coach Morris admitted the mistake. “There absolutely was [10 men on the field] and it’s absolutely embarrassing,” Morris said. “And it’s my fault. I’ll get it fixed.”

With San Francisco moving up to a 5-2 record, the Falcons fell to 3-3.

The Atlanta Falcons’ most catastrophic mistake Sunday night? Taking the field with only 10 defenders.

San Francisco capitalized ruthlessly. Facing third-and-13 from the Atlanta 21 with under three minutes remaining and clinging to a 13-10 lead, the 49ers exploited the personnel gaffe. 49ers quarterback Mac Jones hit Christian McCaffrey on a 17-yard slant to the 4-yard line, a conversion that should never have happened. McCaffrey punched it in on the next play, effectively sealing the 20-10 victory.

The blown assignment denied the Falcons (3-3) their best chance at a comeback. A stop would have forced a field goal attempt and given Michael Penix Jr. one final possession to win it. Instead, Atlanta’s defense wasn’t even fully dressed for the game’s defining moment.

Now, such mistakes are often seen in the game. And the penalties are their second-worst issue. The Falcons were flagged six times for 43 yards. In the fourth quarter, they also reportedly got away with a questionable play, illegally pulling McCaffrey into the end zone.

This wasn’t the only issue. Some fans noticed that on a crucial fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter, the team decided to go for a shotgun formation that didn’t involve running back Bijan Robinson. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw an incomplete pass, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Soon, fans began criticizing the playcalling and the decision to sit him. Robinson quickly made a name for himself after a thunderous six-week stretch, with his best performance in Week 6. He helped the team secure a win over the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen.

Against the 49ers, Robinson couldn’t extend his streak of 100-yard scrimmage games, recording 40 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards. However, had a 10-yard touchdown pass, which is again the most by a running back in the first three seasons of the franchise’s history.

However, many didn’t seem to like benching Robinson during an important play. On the other hand, fans criticized the QB on social media.

Michael Penix Jr. lands in hot water amidst injury concerns

The young quarterback finished the game, completing 21 of 38 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. With 10 seconds left in the first half, the Falcons had the ball inside San Francisco’s 25-yard line. Under pressure, Penix threw the ball away, intentional grounding. The penalty triggered a 10-second runoff that expired the half.

Atlanta had already burned its final timeout. The clock couldn’t be stopped. The opportunity evaporated.

Additionally, there were several other miscues throughout the game that explain why some fans have been upset with the player. Much of the criticism has fallen on the quarterback.

He faced constant pressure and was hurried or hit 11 times over 42 dropbacks. The real scare for the Falcons came after the game. The team’s concern is the quarterback’s health.

Michael Penix Jr. went down awkwardly on one of Atlanta’s final offensive snaps and limped noticeably afterward before ducking into the medical tent. The severity remains unclear. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said postgame that Penix gave him a thumbs-up on the sideline, signaling he was OK to finish, but the quarterback will undergo further evaluation.

“Obviously, we’ve got to let him go get evaluated,” Morris said. “We’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

An injury to the quarterback is the last thing that a team wants after its underwhelming performance.