49ers' Brock Purdy drops in latest NFL QB rankings

The Atlanta Falcons handed the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the season Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite the defeat, the 49ers remain atop the NFC West standings with a 6-1 record.

It wasn't Brock Purdy's best performance. The 49ers quarterback completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 288 yards and a touchdown in the Week 7 loss but also threw two costly interceptions, finishing with a season-low 75.8 passer rating.

Purdy has also been sacked seven times over the past three games after avoiding a sack in each of San Francisco's first four contests.

The performance dropped Purdy three spots in Nick Shook's latest NFL quarterback rankings for NFL.com, from No. 2 to No. 5.

"49ers fans pining for Brock Purdy to win MVP are going to come at me for this ranking, but I'd like to direct them to the interception Purdy threw into the arms of Jessie Bates down the sideline in Sunday's loss," Shook wrote. "It was a throwaway attempt that never came close to being safe and led to an Atlanta touchdown to go ahead by two scores. The play reduced San Francisco's margin of error enough that a later interception (which was admittedly just a great play made by Kendal Daniels) all but ended the team's chances of a comeback."

Purdy once held the top spot in Shook's rankings before Josh Allen surpassed him. Now, Caleb Williams, Joe Burrow, and C.J. Stroud have also moved ahead of the 49ers quarterback following his struggles against Atlanta.

"Two picks in one game is not great, folks, especially in such a competitive contest," Shook added.

Through seven games, Purdy has thrown for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions, posting a 110.1 passer rating. He has also rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown. Purdy and the 49ers will look to bounce back from their first loss when they return from their bye week to face the Las Vegas Raiders on November 8.