49ers at Falcons: Highlights, score and recap
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons will host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon in Week 15. Here are all the highlights, the game recap and the final score.
The Atlanta Falcons stomp the San Francisco 49ers 41-13 in Week 15. Atlanta improves to 9-5 on the year, while San Francisco falls to 1-13 on the season.
The Atlanta Falcons have their first winning season since the 2012 NFL campaign, as they handle the San Francisco 49ers, 38-13 on Sunday afternoon in Week 15. Atlanta surges to 9-5 on the year, while the 49ers have now lost 13 straight to fall to 1-13 on the year.
Atlanta had not played all that great at home this season (3-3) before Sunday’s blowout of the 49ers. The Falcons destroyed San Francisco predominantly with a strong running game. Atlanta had 248 rushing yards on the afternoon and got a magnificent performance from running back Devonta Freeman.
Freeman had 20 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns. If he didn’t fumble at the goal line, he would have had four rushing touchdowns on the afternoon. This was another game that helped Matt Ryan’s NFL MVP candidacy. Ryan completed 17 of 23 passes for 286 yards and two passing touchdowns.
Atlanta entered play as a 13.5-point favorite and easily covered the point spread. San Francisco would at times move the ball well on the Falcons defense, but not well enough to keep pace with the Atlanta aerial assault.
This ninth win gives Atlanta a great shot at getting into the NFC Playoffs as either the NFC South winner or an NFC Wild Card team. For San Francisco, the 49ers are poised to have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The only team worse than the 49ers this season is the 0-14 Cleveland Browns.
Three Stars
- Devonta Freeman: Freeman clobbered the 49ers on the ground. He had 20 carries for 139 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and a fumble. Freeman would have an additional two receptions for 16 receiving yards out of the Atlanta backfield.
- Keanu Neal: Neal was everything for the Atlanta defense. He had 11 tackles, five solo, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery.
- Matt Ryan: Ryan continues to toss over 200 yards weekly. He was 17 of 23 passing for 286 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Next Game
The 49ers are going to be playing in an absolutely unwatchable dumpster fire of a football game on Christmas Eve. Here’s a present nobody wants: San Francisco at the Los Angeles Rams. How many Angelinos are going to show up to that game? Someone has to win. Or a 0-0 tie would do. Kickoff from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be at 4:25 p.m. ET. FOX will carry the game.
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Atlanta will play its last road game of the season against the division rival Carolina Panthers in Week 16. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will be at 1:00 p.m. ET. FOX will have the telecast on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24.