The Falcons are ready to play upset. The San Francisco 49ers ruined the team's chances of getting to the Super Bowl last season but a last-minute failed touchdown ended that effort. Their defense and offense is spotty, but if the team can put things together, they might escape with a win to help end their season on a high note.
Atlanta is not quitting on the year. They have won two of there last three games, against teams with losing records. That is certainly not how the team expected the year to go, but injuries and underachieving veterans have not helped the cause. The Falcons are hoping winning the turnover battles gives them the edge. They have forced 11 turnovers over the past three games, including seven against the Redskins.
San Francisco is on a four-game win streak. Their offense has improved greatly behind quarterback Colin Kaepernick who boosted a 104.7 passer rating and seven touchdowns during that streak. That is certainly much better than how he looked in the first 10 games where he committed 12 turnovers. Frank Gore has seen a late-season surge as he recorded his seventh 1,000-yard season in his career. He is prepared to make a run against the Atlanta run defense ranks in the bottom five of the league, giving up 131.4 yards per game.
In the preseason, a late-season matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers looked like a preview for the NFC title game once again. The two teams have not seen each other since meeting last season in the NFC Championship game where the 49ers took home the win. However, Atlanta's season is over and this matchup is not as marquee as once thought.
The 49ers are looking to clinch a birth to the postseason, but they cannot afford to look past the Falcons.With the Arizona Cardinals defeating the Seattle Seahawks, this is a must-win game for the team. They look to close out the reign of Candlestick Park with a win and celebration for their return to the playoffs.
