Gameday Live Blog Week 15: 49ers vs. Falcons
A potential trap game could be in the works today as the 11-2 San Francisco 49ers host the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons. It has been quite an abysmal season for the Falcons in the 2019. They have failed to manage any consistency to reel off some wins. However, that does not mean the 49ers should overlook them in any fashion. This is a game that could allow them to feel a little too comfortable, especially since the Falcons are a much lesser opponent than the last three the 49ers have faced.
Not to mention that the 49ers will miss a bunch of key players in today's matchup. The Falcons have a chance to play spoiler for the 49ers who are aiming for a first-round bye playoff berth. This is a game that the 49ers should be able to handle, but it could present itself to be a challenge with the injuries. Will the 49ers be able to seal this one?
We have you covered for today's afternoon game at Levi's Stadium with updates and analysis. Join the conversation and give us your thoughts while this game plays out.
49ers Inactives
DE Dee Ford (quadricep, hamstring), DT D.J. Jones (ankle), CB Richard Sherman (hamstring), S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs), DT Jullian Taylor (elbow), CB K'Waun Williams (concussion)
Falcons Inactives
DE Allen Bailey (not injury related), G James Carpenter (concussion), T Ty Sambrailo (hamstring)
1st Quarter
15:00 - The 49ers will start on defense. The defense will surely like to start off better than they did last week against New Orleans. The inexperienced defensive backs might be tested early by a Matt Ryan deep-ball.
12:09 - San Francisco's defense forces a punt, despite a holding call on third down. Jimmy Garoppolo and the offense will start their first drive on their own 20.
3:06 - Shanahan opts to leave the offense on the field, going for it on fourth-and-1 on the Atlanta 36. Garoppolo finds Kittle for the conversion (Déjà vu?).
0:26 - Kittle catches a pass and lunges for the first down, but is short by a yard. The 49ers will start the second quarter with a third-and-1 on the Atlanta 16 yard line. The game is still scoreless.
End of quarter
2nd Quarter
15:00 - Garoppolo powers for three yards to get the drive-extending first down.
13:39 - Kittle catches his fourth pass of the drive to put the 49ers on the two yard line.
12:55 - Mostert speeds through the middle for the game's first touchdown. This is his fourth-straight game with a rushing touchdown.
49ers 7, Falcons 0
7:01 - The Falcons march down with a touchdown strike to Julio Jones. The touchdown is Jones' first in 10 games. The 49ers are holding Atlanta's run-game in check, but if tight end Austin Hooper and Jones keep getting open, the Falcons can be deadly.
49ers 7, Falcons 7
5:36 - Atlanta running back Brian Hill breaks off the team's longest run of the day, a 16-yard scamper to the 49ers' 40.
2:41 - Atlanta takes its first lead of the game on a Younghoe Koo 43-yard field goal.
Falcons 10, 49ers 7
2:31 - Former Falcon Tevin Coleman has a 37-yard run to put the 49ers in Atlanta territory. The run is his longest since week 8 against Carolina.
1:07 - Kittle catches three straight passes (40 yards) to give the 49ers second-and-goal on the three yard line.
0:27 - 49ers fail to find the end zone and Robbie Gould ties the game with a 22-yard field goal. Kittle saved a possible interception by swatting a floating throw away from Blidi Wreh-Wilson.
49ers 10, Falcons 10
Halftime
3rd Quarter
15:00 - Koo and the Falcons recover a successful onside kick, but it is called back due to Atlanta only having 10 men on the field. 49ers catch a major break and start with the ball on their own 31.
10:46 - Sheldon Day earns San Francisco its first sack of the game. That's big for Day, who is playing a lot more due to D.J. Jones' injury. Two plays later, the 49ers forced a punt. They will try to take the lead with a drive starting on their own 37.
9:06 - The 49ers received a free 15 yards, when they should have lost eight on a Grady Jarrett sack, thanks to a questionable Roughing the Passer call.
5:20 - Gould nails a 46-yard field goal to retake the lead for San Francisco.
49ers 13, Falcons 10
0:33 - Matt Breida's second fumble of the possession (his first went out of bounds) spoils another great Kittle drive (two catches for 37 yards).
End of quarter
4th Quarter
15:00 - Devonta Freeman's five-yard run is called back by a hold; four plays later, the Falcons punt.
10:44 - Ross Dwelley forces a fumble on Kenjon Barner's punt return, Kyle Juszczyk returns it to the one yard line. A touchdown would give the 49ers some much needed breathing room.
10:07 - The 49ers and Shanahan are trying their best to reward the fullback with a touchdown. After a run for no-gain, Juszczyk catches a one-yard touchdown to put the 49ers up 19-10. Gould missed the PAT.
49ers 19, Falcons 10
5:20 - Jimmie Ward and Jones battle for Ryan's deep-ball, which falls incomplete. Ward, however, was flagged for interference setting Atlanta up with a first-and-goal on the one. On the next play, Qadree Ollison ran it in for the score.
49ers 19, Falcons 17
1:48 - The wide receivers finally get involved, but the drive ends with just a field goal. A touchdown would have sealed the win, but a field goal at least forces Atlanta to get in the end zone.
49ers 22, Falcons 17
1:11 - Ryan finds Freeman and Russell Gage to get to the San Francisco 49.
0:47- He then hits Jones for a 25-yard catch and runs for another nine yards. The Falcons now have under 30 seconds with the ball on the 15.
0:08 - Ryan is hit as he throws on first-and-goal for an incomplete pass. The 49ers call a timeout to discuss the defensive plan.
0:04 - Austin Hooper makes an acrobatic catch and traps it between his knees for the go-ahead touchdown. The play is under review with the call on the field being a score.
0:05 - The play was reversed and Atlanta has one last chance to win the game. A second was also added on the review.
0:02 - Jones catches a pass right near, or on, the goal-line. The call on the field is short of the end zone. The play is once again under review. If the call stands, the 49ers would win.
0:02 - After review, it was ruled Jones broke the plane, giving Atlanta the 23-22 lead. The 49ers do have two seconds to try a Cal-Stanford miracle, but it seems like the Falcons came away with a huge upset.
0:00 - The Falcons recovered an errant lateral for a touchdown. This loss, although heart-breaking, will not matter too much if the 49ers are able to take care of business in their final two games.
Final: Falcons 29, 49ers 22
