49ers Falter to Falcons, but Clinch Playoff berth

Week 15 - Following their epic last-second win in New Orleans to stun Drew Brees and the Saints, the San Francisco 49ers were riding high in possession of the NFC's number one seed, but were feeling the after effects of the street fight that left them with a depleted defense missing five of its starters. Having to continue without several key players on both the defensive line and in the secondary, the (11-2) Niners would return to action and play host to another NFC South opponent in the (4-9) Atlanta Falcons. With the dirty birds already eliminated from playoff contention and the 49ers needing a win or a Rams loss to clinch a playoff berth of their own, the game would be a battle of ex-employees and former coworkers as Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan spent the 2015-2016 seasons as the offensive coordinator in Atlanta alongside Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who served four seasons in San Francisco as the defensive quality control coach and defensive line coach from 2001-04.

For Niner fans, any hopes of an offensive explosion similar to the one that played out a week earlier in New Orleans which saw a season-high 55 combined points scored in the first half, went out the window rather early as neither team scored in the first quarter. Entering the half in a 10-10 tie, the 49ers would open the scoring with an NFL season-long 21-play touchdown-scoring drive that marked the most offensive plays on a drive since Week 17 of the 2011 season (Miami Dolphins). Running back Raheem Mostert would do the honors, helping the 49ers draw first blood as he darted up the middle for the 2-yard score. The Falcons would answer on their ensuing possession as quarterback Matt Ryan connected with Julio Jones in the end zone for the first time in 10 games, helping Jones snap the longest scoring drought of his career and tie the game at 7. With the Niners maintaining a 13-10 lead, both teams would struggle holding onto the ball and were bit by the fumble bug. Already across midfield and threatening to add to their lead, 49ers running back Matt Breida was stripped of the ball on the Atlanta 38 yard-line. Though the turnover would halt what appeared to be a promising drive for the 49er offense, the Falcons were unable to cash in as they were forced to punt. The Niners would also have to punt on their ensuing drive, but would benefit from a fumble on special-teams.

With Falcons return man Kenjon Barner pinned deep to return, tight-end Ross Dwelley was able to get a helmet on the ball when making the tackle which led to a fumble picked up and taken to the 1-yard line by 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Rewarding him for his efforts, Shanahan would dial up consecutive plays for Juszczyk who caught a touchdown pass from San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on 2nd and goal as the 49ers turned their NFL-leading 20th fumble into six points. Coming off NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Saints, it would be the lone touchdown pass on the day for Garoppolo who saw his fair share of pressures, despite only being sacked once. Following a rare missed extra-point by 49ers kicker Robbie Gould who had made 43 consecutive PAT's before kicking one wide-left, San Francisco led 19-10 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. However, the challenge would be a welcomed one for an Atlanta team that entered the game with the highest-scoring offense in the fourth quarter this year, having scored 121-points entering Sunday. With a 1-yard touchdown run by Qadree Ollison on his one and only carry of the game, the Falcons were once again on their way to adding to their league-leading mark. And with only a field goal to show for on San Francisco's ensuing drive, the Atlanta offense would be given the chance of going for the win.

What would take place in the final 1:52 of regulation would be some of the most bizarre football witnessed by Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers this season. Clinging onto a 22-17 lead, the San Francisco defense would allow a pair of big plays to the most dangerous player on the field in Julio Jones. Making it to the red zone and setting up shop at the 5 yard line, the Falcons thought they had the game-winner on a pass from Matt Ryan to tight-end Austin Hooper who was believed to make a miraculous grab between his legs. But upon further review, the call that was initially ruled a touchdown, was reversed after replay showed that the ball had made contact with the ground before the receiver was able to cradle it with his legs. As if things weren't wild enough, it would turn into a game of inches as Atlanta flipped the script on the very next play when Julio Jones scored the game-winning touchdown by barely crossing the goal-line that was initially ruled short. Both teams began to celebrate and had thought they won, the Niners on a stop at the goal-line and the Falcons on a close but successful touchdown. But after further review, there could only be one and the officials would reverse the call as replays showed that Jones did in fact break the plain ever so slightly to make it a 23-22 Falcons lead. With 0:02 remaining and the Niners in need of a last ditch effort on the ensuing kickoff, San Francisco tried their luck at a miracle by lateraling the ball, but would instead lateral into a fumble that was scooped up at the 3-yard line and returned for an Atlanta touchdown as time expired. Handing the Niners the 29-22 loss, the Falcons scored 19 of their 29 points in the 4th quarter, including 12 in the final five seconds.

Coincidentally, 49ers tight-end George Kittle and Falcons receiver Julio Jones each finished with 13 receptions for 134 yards on the day to lead their respective teams. While Jones scored two of his team's three touchdowns on offense, Kittle was held out of the end zone, but did manage to make some history as he passed Hall of Fame tight-end Mike Ditka for the most receiving yards by a tight-end in his first three seasons in NFL history. Having proved to be one of if not the best tight-end in the league today and a key component in Kyle Shanahan's offense, Kittle also made a number of key blocks that has helped his team along the way. Neither team's quarterback stacked the box score as Matt Ryan narrowly topped Jimmy Garoppolo in passing yards: 210 to 200, and threw two touchdowns to Jimmy G's one.

Week 16 Preview - Despite the loss, the 49ers did manage to clinch their first playoff berth since 2013 with the L.A. Rams suffering a blowout loss on the road to the Dallas Cowboys. Hoping to get back into the win column in preparation of the playoffs and big Week 17 showdown that could determine the fate of the NFC's No. 1 seed as well as the NFC Western Division crown, the (11-3) 49ers will host the (8-6) Rams in what will be the Niners' final home game of the regular season. After handing the Rams a 20-7 loss at the L.A. Coliseum back in Week 6, San Francisco will try to replicate a similar outcome and hopes to return to form on defense as they're expected to get both Richard Sherman and K'Waun Williams back on defense to help reinforce a 49er secondary that proved to be costly in the loss to Atlanta. But after having their way with Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks just two weeks earlier, the Rams are not to be taken lightly and are always a dangerous foe whenever the 2-time reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is on the field. The 49ers will have to account for him and plenty of others if they plan on proving that the upset loss to the Falcons was just a fluke and that they're still the team to beat in the NFC when they have all their key pieces on defense.


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