49ers vs. Falcons Week 15 Live Blog
In this story:
SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 15 home game against the Atlanta Falcons. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
11:25 It will be interesting to see how the 49ers stop the run without linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who has an elbow injury. Since he went on a tear the past month, the 49ers run defense has been excellent. But it struggled earlier in the season. And today, it won't have linebacker Dre Greenlaw, either. So there will be lots of pressure on Fred Warner and Marcell Harris to shut down Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
The Falcons are similar to the 49ers in the sense that both teams are at their best when they run the ball most of the time, and both teams feature running backs who are technically wide receivers -- Patterson and Deebo Samuel. But the past three weeks, the Falcons have handed off to Patterson a whopping 45 times. So they feed him more than the 49ers feed Samuel.
If the 49ers shut down Patterson, they'll win easily. If Patterson has a good game, this one could come down to the end.
The 49ers will need Warner to play like the player they're paying him to be. And they'll need Arik Armstead to have a big game shutting down the run between the tackles. We expect Nick Bosa to sack Matt Ryan once or twice -- that's practically a given. What's not a given is the 49ers run defense without Al-Shaair.
11:38 Here are the 49ers' inactives:
Azeez Al-Shaair
Dre Greenlaw
Elijah Mitchell
Colton McKivitz
Maurice Hurst
1:03 The Falcons win the toss and defer. The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
1:06 JaMycal Hasty fumbles the kick return and the Falcons recover at the 49ers' 12.
1:15 On 4th and goal from the 1, Matt Ryan throws an incomplete pass intended for Kyle Pitts. Jaquiski Tartt had great coverage. Phenomenal goal line stand.
1:19 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 4-yard line, Garoppolo quickly checks down to Kyle Juszczyk for a gain for just six. Hey, it's better than a safety. After just a 39-yard punt, the Falcons take over at the 49ers' 49.
1:27 On 3rd and 2 from the 49ers 30, Matt Ryan throws an incomplete pass to Russell Gage, who ran a slant route and was covered well by K'Waun Williams. Next play, the Falcons make a 48-yard field goal. Another good response by the 49ers defense, which has shown up to play. Can't say the same for the 49ers offense and special teams.
49ers 0, Falcons 3.
1:31 Hasty lets the kickoff bounce in front of him, it pops up and hits him in the face then rolls out of bounds at the 49ers 9. Seriously.
1:38 On 3rd and 8 from the Falcons 15, Garoppolo gets hit by an unblocked blitzer as he quickly completes a check down pass to Hasty, who gains 3 yards. Impressive that Garoppolo avoided a sack. Next play, Robbie Gould makes a 30-yard field goal to tie the game.
49ers 3, Falcons 3.
SECOND QUARTER
1:50 On 3rd and 8 from the Falcons 45, Matt Ryan runs backward and gets sacked by Arden Key. The 49ers take over at their 22 after a 10-yard return by Brandon Aiyuk.
1:58 On 3rd and 2 from the Falcons 7, Juszczyk runs a draw for a touchdown. Excellent drive, which started with a false start by Brandon Aiyuk. Next play, he caught a slant and ran 36 yards. That woke up the 49ers.
49ers 10, Falcons 3.
2:10 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 30, Arden Key sacks Matt Ryan for a 5-yard loss, but drives Ryan into the ground for a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty. Good call. Terrible rule. Next play, Ambry Thomas commits a holding penalty, then gives up a touchdown catch to Russell Gage on the same play. The penalty is declined, and the game is tied.
49ers 10, Falcons 10.
2:24 On 1st and goal from the 10, Deebo Samuel takes the handoff and runs into the end zone for the touchdown with 33 seconds left in the half.
49ers 17, Falcons 10.
THIRD QUARTER
2:46 On 3rd and 8 from the Falcons 42, Nick Bosa strips the ball from Ryan and Warner recovers at the Atlanta 38.
2:49 On 1st and goal from the 6, Jeff Wilson Jr. runs for a touchdown. The Falcons are about to quit. If the 49ers can put them away in the third quarter, they can rest their starters in the fourth quarter, which would help them greatly for their upcoming game in four days.
49ers 24, Falcons 10.
2:59 On 3rd and goal from the 4, Arden Key hits Matt Ryan as he throws to a wide open receiver in the end zone, and the hit affects the throw, which falls incomplete. The Falcons kick a 22-yard field goal. That drive happened because Ambry Thomas gave up a 21-yard catch to Russell Gage, then Josh Norman gave up a 49-yard catch to Olamide Zaccheaus.
49ers 24, Falcons 13.
3:01 Nick Bosa is being evaluated for a concussion.
3:09 On 3rd and goal from the 5, Garoppolo throws a touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings, who lined up to the left and ran a quick out route from the slot. I predicted the 49ers would win 31-10. Now it's 31-13 and the fourth quarter hasn't even started yet.
49ers 31, Falcons 13.
FOURTH QUARTER
3:20 On 3rd and 4 from the Falcons 37, Ryan runs around and throws the ball away as he gets hit, then the Falcons punt.
3:22 Garoppolo hands off three times and the 49ers go three and out. That would have been a great time to play Trey Lance and let him hand off. Missed opportunity. The Falcons take over at their 34 after another short punt by Mitch Wishnowsky.
3:31 On 4th and 1 from the 49ers 8, Jimmie Ward tackles Patterson for no gain.
3:33 On 3rd and 9 from the 49ers 10, Garoppolo throws to Samuel, and the pass gets broken up by A.J. Terrell. Two straight three and outs for the 49ers offense.
3:34 The 49ers give up a 23-yard punt return and the Falcons take over at the 49ers 46.
3:43 On 4th and goal from the 1, Ryan throws incomplete through the back of the end zone. That's three times the Falcons have gotten inside the red zone and scored zero points.
