Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1 p.m. Eastern on Fox. San Francisco arrives 6-0 and on a short week after Monday night's 23-17 home win against Washington. Atlanta arrives 2-4 and still looking for its first home win. Nora Haskell measures the 49ers in rings, all five of them. Russ Amundsen measures the Falcons in NFC South math, and the math says nothing is decided in October.
Russ: Nora, welcome to Atlanta. Our roof opens like a camera lens. Look up and be amazed.
Nora: I've heard. I've also heard you're 0-3 at home.
Russ: We're saving the good stuff. The NFC South gets settled in December. Ask anybody.
Nora: Five Super Bowls, Russ. Montana, Young, Walsh. The Catch. Our trophy case has its own zip code.
Russ: And your defensive coordinator used to be our head coach. Raheem Morris coached the Falcons the last two seasons. So technically, our guy is running your defense.
Nora: Technically, we hired him. So technically, he's ours now.
Last game, 49ers: On Monday night, the 49ers beat Washington 23-17 at home to stay perfect. Before that, the 49ers won 32-29 in Seattle in a playoff rematch with the defending champions. Brock Purdy found Mike Evans four times for 75 yards on the go-ahead drive, then hit newcomer Brandin Cooks for a 7-yard touchdown, and Evans caught the 2-point conversion. After Seattle tied it, Purdy drove the 49ers into range for Eddy Pineiro's go-ahead field goal with 1:56 left. The game had seven combined turnovers, a season high.
Nora: I don't get excited about October. I get excited about February. But Evans going up and getting the ball in Seattle? I'll allow myself one smile.
Last week, Falcons: Atlanta fell behind Chicago 31-7 and rallied to 31-23 before a late strip-sack ended it. Michael Penix Jr., a week after leaving the Baltimore game with a rib injury, threw three touchdown passes: a 13-yarder to Jahan Dotson and two to Kyle Pitts. Penix also threw two 2-point conversions, to Zachariah Branch and Drake London. But the Bears sacked him five times, and Bijan Robinson got just nine carries. And the scariest moment of the day ended in the best way: rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was carted off with a neck injury, then walked back into the locker room on his own after a hospital visit. Praise God for that.
Russ: Kevin Stefanski said the slow start was on the coaches. I agree. Bijan Robinson with nine carries is like owning a sports car and leaving it in the garage.
The matchup: The Falcons run for 5.2 yards a carry, and San Francisco allows just 3.7. That's the heavyweight fight. Christian McCaffrey against Jessie Bates III and the Falcons' second level could decide it, and Atlanta may be short-handed at linebacker after Daniels' injury and Divine Deablo's arm injury. Purdy has been sacked rarely this year. Penix has not. Nick Bosa against the Falcons' tackles is the one-on-one to watch.
The numbers: Atlanta has scored 142 and allowed 153. San Francisco has scored 177 and allowed 110 through six games, all wins.
Nora: One more, Russ. Remind me who won the last time these two franchises met in a Super Bowl?
Russ: We've never met in a Super Bowl, Nora.
Nora: Exactly. One of us keeps getting there.
Russ: That's cold. I'm going to go eat a peach and think about the standings.
Two old NFC West rivals from the days before the NFC South existed, and a Sunday afternoon that should tell us a lot about both.
My call: 49ers 27, Falcons 22.